Open Menu

Visual-Acoustic Simulation as Planning Aid for Wind Farm Siting (VisAsim)

LEP WEB Prj visasim1

Source: EMPA, Abteilung Akustik / Lärmminderung (2010)

 

Description:

Planning of wind farms appears to be a complicated issue in Switzerland and infact all over Europe, which is arising from growing government and business frustration. Most significant factors behind support or rejection of wind farms in a specific landscape context are the visual landscape valuation and noise generated by rotating turbine blades. Current planning tools including 2D maps and data for noise levels however fail to integrate these factors into site-planning for identifying suitable places for wind power technologies.

The goal of the project VisAsim is to develop a visual-acoustic simulation tool, which integrates the realistic soundscape of wind turbine noise into interactive and immersive 3D landscape visualizations of alternative wind farm scenarios. In the first step, a visual and an acoustic model will be generated for specific characteristic landscapes (three cases) using state-of-the-art 3D visualization and acoustic modeling techniques. In the second step, the models will be linked. In order to make the tool ‘fit-for-purpose’ a strong collaboration with key stakeholders is planned in form of three workshops, in which the requirements for planning practice will be identified and the simulation tool will be tested iteratively for successive adaptation. High-end collaborative facilities such as the ETH Value Lab and the Landscape Visualization and Modeling Lab will provide sophisticated planning environments for testing the application of the tools in participatory planning processes.

The innovative aspects of acoustic al auralization are the real time estimation and implementation of spectral sound propagation attenuation and the continuous morphing between different emissions and environmental sound samples to allow for a dynamic variation of the main influence parameter wind speed. In the field of 3D landscape visualization the innovation consists of the combination of dynamic landscape visualization and corresponding environmental acoustics as well as the adaptation of the integrated tool to stakeholders’ needs for application in practice.

The resulting visual-acoustic simulation tool will enhance communication between relevant actors in the site-planning of wind farms. It will allow for a more comprehensive appreciation of values of landscape quality and help overcome fear and prejudice towards installation of new wind turbines.

 

Back to project list