Geographia Technica, Vol 22, Issue 1, 2027, pp. 1-14
CASE STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE MONITORING AND SPATIAL MODELLING THROUGH GEOMATIC TECHNIQUES
Claudio DE NAPOLI 
, Valerio BAIOCCHI , Chiara MAGURANO
ABSTRACT: The study of outdoor acoustic wave propagation requires accurate three-dimensional representation of the environment in which sound propagates. Geomatic techniques, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), drone photogrammetry, and (Geographic information systems) GIS, provide the spatial data needed to feed acoustic simulation models with high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and georeferenced information on obstacles, barriers, and land cover. This paper investigates the integration of geomatic methods with acoustic propagation modelling tools, with reference to the ISO 9613-2 standard and the CNOSSOS-EU framework. This case study, conducted in a semi-rural area near Rome (Italy), demonstrates the workflow from DTM acquisition to noise map generation, comparing three software platforms: SoundPLAN (3D), dBmap (3D with manual terrain), and dBmap (2D flat-terrain). Results confirm that the quality and resolution of the DTM exert a decisive influence on the accuracy of predicted sound levels: the absence of terrain modelling can lead to prediction errors exceeding 12 dB(A) at the same receiver. This paper discusses current limitations and outlines future directions, including high-resolution LiDAR integration, advanced GIS plugins, shared noise databases, and the potential role of machine learning in acoustic scenario optimization.
Keywords: acoustic propagation; geomatics; Digital Terrain Model; noise mapping; GIS; ISO 96132; CNOSSOS-EU; SoundPLAN.
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