Geoda.ch
Traffic Noise and Tranquility
One in seven people in Switzerland has to endure excessive noise pollution, making our country one of the least tranquil in Europe. Traffic noise and lack of tranquility are major health issues that reduce life expectancy. It is estimated that the Swiss population loses approximately 69,300 life years every year that could have been lived in good health in the absence of noise pollution1. The Geoda.ch housing report provides detailed information on traffic noise and tranquility for all Swiss addresses, helping you to make informed decisions about your living environment.
As the world grows louder, silence and calmness has become the ultimate luxury - a serene refuge from the cacophony of daily life. Unfortunately, many of us are not so lucky as to live in tranquil isolation from noise and human made disturbances. In Switzerland, around 600,000 residential units are affected by a significant amout of traffic noise during the day and about 530,000 at night1. The dense road network and the high population density in many parts og Switzerland make it difficult for the government to remedy the problem.
“The constitutional goal of protecting the population from excessive noise has therefore not been achieved yet. ”
Find Your Peaceful Place with Geoda.ch
At Geoda.ch, we provide comprehensive information on traffic noise and tranquility for all Swiss addresses. Whether you're considering a new place to live or simply curious about your current area's tranquility, Geoda.ch helps you make informed decisions based on open-source data, supplied by the Swiss government through opendata.swiss 2.
A Geoda.ch housing report offers you comprehensive and detailed information about traffic noise and tranquility for any address in Switzerland. The report provides digitized values for five critical parameters: Tranquillity: An overall measure of the area's peacefulness. Road - Day: Noise levels from road traffic during the day. Road - Night: Road Traffic Noise (Nighttime): Noise levels from road traffic during the night. Train - Day: Train Noise (Daytime): Noise levels from trains during the day. Train - Night: Train Noise (Nighttime): Noise levels from trains during the night.
Each parameter comes with a drop-down option that provides a detailed explanation, helping you understand the impact of each factor on your quality of life. The drop-down includes a map showing the area surrounding the address, allowing you to visually assess environmental factors and how they contribute to the overall tranquility.
Tranquility Levels
The Tranquility Index is a value from 1 to 9 that reflects the overall peacefulness of an area by considering both positive and negative factors. Positive factors include:
- Natural Landscapes: Presence of forests, mountains, and open spaces enhances tranquility.
- Trees and Greenery: Vegetation not only beautifies but also dampens noise levels.
- Rivers and Water Bodies: Proximity to water can have a calming effect.
- Birdsong: Sounds of nature contribute to a serene environment.
- Absence of Man-Made Sounds and Light Pollution: Lower levels of artificial noise and lighting improve tranquility, especially at night.
Negative factors include:
- Constant Noise from Vehicles: Traffic noise from cars, trucks, and motorcycles disrupts peace.
- Crowds of People: High population density can increase noise and reduce serenity.
- Urban Development: Dense construction may lead to more noise and less natural scenery.
- Light Pollution at Night: Excessive artificial lighting affects nighttime tranquility.
- Low-Flying Aircraft: Air traffic noise can significantly impact the quietness of an area.
Calculated tranquility for the Swiss Plateau based on ETH-study7.
Traffic noise
Although we may get used to the noise, living with it is far from being problem-free. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), traffic noise can cause nuisances and health effects such as cancer, communication difficulties, headaches, sleep disturbances, stress, increased blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease, and hormonal effects 3. Noise can affect performance and impact children's learning and motivation4, 5. Thus, noise has harmful health effects on people and can lead to actual health effects with prolonged exposure. Every year, the Swiss population loses approximately 69,300 life years that could have been lived out in good health in the absence of noise pollution 1.
Traffic noise exposure in Switzerland, calculated by Federal Office for the Environment 1.
Noise also causes economic losses: properties exposed to noise lose value, noisy areas are less attractive to live and work in, and the health consequences of noise pollution are costly. The external costs generated by traffic noise in Switzerland in 2019 totalled an estimated CHF 2,830 million. Of this, CHF 2,277 million (80%) was accounted for by road traffic.