Agency services

LÄRMKONTOR GmbH organizes conferences, conventions and seminars, ranging from work groups of ten people to conferences with additional workshops. We take over every task involved: the initial concept, the organization of the actual event as well as the creation of accompanying material and events such as conference transcripts and exhibitions.

From the car-friendly city to auditory urban planning

LÄRMKONTOR GmbH and the Internationale Bauausstellung IBA Hamburg (international building exhibition) present this conference which was taking place on 29. and 30. March in Hamburg.
The event opened with two lectures on the development of traffic noise protection regulations in practical traffic planning. In addition, two examples from Hannover and Hamburg were presented in order to demonstrate how urbanistic aspects can be combined with noise abatement measures. In conclusion of the first day, a look into the future focused on “quiet” mobility.

The second day led from topic-related noise mapping methods to future-oriented approaches to auditory city planning and finally concluded with an excursion to the presentation area of IBA Hamburg, the Elbe Islands Wilhelmsburg and Veddel.

Explaining complex topics in a way that is simple and easy to understand is hard. Images, sounds and animations can help where words are lacking. Because people need pictures. We design and realize multi-media information stands, computer-based explanatory systems, automatic demos and much more. Our main focus is always user-friendliness. And we are happy to supply the matching software as well.

Exhibition "Wilhelmsburg Perspectives"

The agency of urban development and environment in cooperation with DEGES commissioned an exhibition to inform residents about the relocation of the Wilhelmsburger Reichsstraße in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg. Between March and June 2011, this exhibition provided background information on the relocation of the Reichsstraße, presented the noise protection concept and provided an insight into the topics traffic, environment and urban development. In addition to the exhibition at the administration, the public presentation also took place on occasion of the plan approval procedure.
LÄRMKONTOR GmbH, together with public:news, who were in charge of the exhibition concept, provided the expert contents on the topics acoustics, sound and noise. The individual contents presented in the so-called “Noise Lounge” were the following:

Information boards "Sound and noise basics“

Four information boards explained the basics regarding sound and noise in a simple way. In total, ten short subject areas and explanatory charts provided information on questions such as “What is sound?”, “What is noise?”, “How loud is that?”, “Do you measure or calculate to analyse traffic noise?”, “Equivalent continuous sound level and noise rating level”, "Emission - transmission - immission" and on the effects of changes in traffic volume, speed and the number of trucks on the noise load.

NoisePoint

On occasion of the exhibition the NoisePoint was revised and updated by LÄRMKONTOR GmbH. Two touch screen terminals enabled interested citizens to get comprehensive information on the topic. It featured sample sounds via headphones, short video sequences, basics on acoustics, excerpts from legislation and regulations as well as bibliographical references on the entire topic.

Sounds of the city

On occasion of the exhibition regarding the relocation of the Wilhelmsburger Reichsstraße, the multi-media presentation “Sounds of the city” was revised as well. It provides an acoustic impression of the everyday soundscape of a large city. Sound samples and photographs walk the viewer through a number of various aspects.

Acoustic simulation

In order to demonstrate the effect of the planned noise protection walls along the relocated Wilhelmsburger Reichsstraße and the parallel railway tracks, LÄRMKONTOR GmbH created a comprehensive simulation. Video and sound recordings of passing trains were made in three locations and in two different heights. This served as a basis for a visual and acoustic simulation of different planning stages. The simulation could be steered via a touch screen terminal displaying all variations and possibilities. Visitors were able to pick any variation and compare the acoustic effects and changes in noise level.

Demonstration of sound absorption

The absorption or reflection by different surfaces was demonstrated as part of a simple installation using reflecting and highly absorbing surfaces that were exposed to sounds through a directed speaker from a short distance.

Demonstration "Noise? Noise! Quiet"

“Noise is someone else’s sound.” Kurt Tucholsky
The question whether someone perceives certain sounds as disturbing or disruptive depends largely on the individual. A normal sound level of 50 dB(A) does not usually have a disruptive effect on a regular conversation. However, with anything higher than dB(A) one can anticipate problems in the case of normal speech. A simple installation using the sound of a “waterfall”, visitors could experience the difference between a “comfortable burbling” and a “disturbing rushing”.