Good practice in the use of noise mapping software

After over 20 years of development, noise mapping software is, today, a professional tool that is widely used by many people with different backgrounds and experience in the applications, the data and the software used. The user has the possibility to influence the quality of the result of the noise mapping process. The major factors affecting good practice include: the user's knowledge of the standard, the user's knowledge of the software, documentation of software functions and its implementation of the standard, quality assurance of software implementation, documentation of software settings in calculation results, the user's analysis of the quality and impact of the input data. Several methods are available to ensure good practice and improve the quality of output through such methods as standardization and documentation, training and user certification. For example, in 2006, the European Commission Working Group Assessment of Exposure to Noise produced the Good Practice Guide for Strategic Noise Mapping and the Production of Associated Data on Noise Exposure Version 2. This article will describe the major factors where user influences the quality of the results and the methods to ensure good practice and improving the quality of output. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.