Advancing Noise Modelling with Data Science and FME Enabled Automations: Insights from Defra’s National Noise Modelling

The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned the design and build of an environmental noise modelling system (NMS). The NMS provides an evidence base for noise assessments. It models noise from all road and rail sources at national scale. This multiple award-winning project involved scanning UK data landscape, development of FME based data engines to integrate over 25 data sources, automated modelling techniques, filling data gaps with data science and development of open data standard for NMS to unlock future innovations.

The modelling system is a cloud-based environment with hyper-scalable cloud database, which is a digital heart of the system, providing a web-based platform to help develop noise reduction strategies. The NMS is a great showcase of domain and digital leadership.

This presentation discusses innovative linking of data, technology and expertise never combined before to build Defra’s new national noise model bringing the noise modelling closer to the digital twin.​It showcases how FME Flow apps unlocked the value allowing approved users to download and extract insights.