Strategic noise mapping in Niš agglomeration

The European Council confirmed Serbia as a candidate country for accession to the European Union on 1 March 2012 and the first Intergovernmental Conference took place in January 2014, signalling the formal start of Serbia's accession negotiations.

The priorities for EU financial assistance to support Serbia on its path to EU accession are set out in the Indicative Strategy Paper for Serbia (2014-2020). The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) is the main financial instrument to provide support in implementing reforms.

The objectives, inter alia, are to align Serbian legislation with the EU environmental and climate change acquis, strengthen institutional capacities for implementation and enforcement, and to develop and improve environmental infrastructure, especially in the areas of waste management, water management and urban wastewater treatment. The current status and plans for transposition and implementation are described in the so called post-screening document approved by the Government. .

It is indicated, that the Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC (hereafter END) has been partially transposed in Serbian legislation by the Law on Environmental Noise Protection (OGRS, No. 36/2009 and 88/2010) and implementing legislation (2010). Transposition of the remaining provisions is foreseen mainly for 2017 by the adoption of amendments to existing legislation. Full transposition is envisaged by 2018. The implementation of the END is at an early stage. Competences in the area of noise are divided between the national, regional and municipal levels. The MEP and SEPA are responsible for the overall implementation of the END while the Environmental Inspection is in charge of enforcement. The implementation of the END will be done through the development of strategic noise maps and action plans by 2020.

At the end of 2016 Serbia has received the Screening Report where the assessment of status of transposition and implementation is provided. Considering advance stage in approximation, Serbia is invited to provide the Negotiating Position and start negotiations on Chapter 27. Nevertheless, the Screening Report states that the implementation is at an early stage and there is a need for strengthening the administrative capacity for the preparation of the strategic noise maps and noise action plans, including the municipal level.

The global objective of the project of which this contract will be a part is as follows:

To assist Serbia in developing measures to reduce noise emitted by major sources, in particular noise emitted by means of road, rail and air transport, as well as noise from industrial activities as required by the Directive 2002/49/EC.

Specific objectives of this contract are:

1. To produce strategic noise map for Niš agglomeration in line with the END.
2. To draw lessons from this pilot activity for overall implementation of the END requirements for strategic noise mapping in Republic of Serbia

Development of strategic noise map for Nis agglomeration:

• Collecting and evaluating the input data for noise mapping;
• Developing the acoustical model of Niš agglomeration;
• Performing in situ long term noise measurements on selected locations;
• Preparing the strategic noise map of Niš agglomeration;
• Preparing the explanatory materials and presenting the Strategic noise map to the public.

Preparing of guidance document for noise mapping and training of state and municipal authorities in noise mapping:

• Developing and elaborating a Guidance document;
• Organizing two one-day workshop.

The Expert will plan, coordinate, manage and supervise all activities. He/she will be responsible for organising data collection and noise modelling, supporting measures, for cooperation with all stakeholders; for delivery and quality assurance of all project outputs, for organizing and performing the training workshop.

• At least Master Degree in environmental or technical sciences, or in area relevant to the assignment, or alternatively Bachelor Degree in the same fields plus additional 3 years of general professional experience above the general professional experience duration fixed below.
• Must be fluent in English language (both written and spoken) and computer literate.

General professional experience

At least 12 years of postgraduate professional experience in the field of environmental noise protection (noise mapping, action planning, public information);

Specific professional experience

• Professional experience in preparing at least 3, preferably 5 strategic noise maps during last 8 years;
• Professional experience in implementation of END in at least 1, preferably 3 internationally financed projects for noise mapping;
• Professional experience in managing implementation (team leader or equivalent position) of at least 1, preferably 3 noise mapping project during last 5 years;
• Experience in providing training in environment noise protection will be considered as an asset;
• Knowledge and practical application of CNOSSOS-EU model will be considered as an asset.

The Expert shall be responsible for organising data collection, preparing the acoustical model and noise modelling, for quality assurance of noise mapping and preparing the output data of noise mapping in required format.

• At least Master Degree in environmental or technical sciences, or in area relevant to the assignment or alternatively Bachelor Degree in the same fields plus additional 3 years of general professional experience above the general professional experience duration fixed below;
• Must be fluent in English language (both written and spoken) and computer literate.

General professional experience:

At least 6 years of postgraduate professional experience in noise mapping;

Specific professional experience:

• Professional experience in organising data collection for noise mapping for at least 1, preferably 3 strategic noise maps during last 5 years;
• Professional experience in Noise modelling for development of at least 1, preferably 3 strategic noise maps during last 5 years;
• Experience in working for at least 1, preferably 3 donor funded project related to the noise mapping;
• Experience in providing training in environment noise protection will be considered as an asset;
• Knowledge and practical application of CNOSSOS-EU model will be considered as an asset.

The GIS Expert shall be responsible for supporting Expert 2 with regards to the geographical information systems and collecting and preparing the spatial and other relevant data for development of noise maps with particular emphasis on local knowledge and practices in Serbia.

• At least Master Degree in computer sciences, engineering, or in area relevant to the assignment, or alternatively Bachelor Degree in the same fields plus additional 3 years of general professional experience above the general professional experience duration fixed below;
• Must be fluent in English language (both written and spoken) and computer literate.

General professional experience:

At least 3 years of general professional experience in the geographic information systems and in the spatial planning or GIS area.

Specific professional experience:

• Professional experience in development of databases and application of GIS in at least 1, preferably 3 projects during last 3 years;
• Professional experience in implementing environmental noise GIS projects will be considered as an asset.

The Noise measurement expert shall be responsible for supporting the Expert 1 and Expert 2 with performing, evaluating and reporting on the in situ long term noise measurements in Niš agglomeration and the comparison of the results with the results of modelling.

• At least University Degree in environmental or technical sciences, engineering, or in area relevant to the assignment, or alternatively Bachelor Degree in the same fields plus additional 3 years of general professional experience above the general professional experience duration fixed below;
• Must be fluent in English language (both written and spoken) and computer literate

General professional experience:

At least 3 years of general professional experience in environmental noise measurements;

Specific professional experience:

• Postgraduate professional experience in at least 1, preferably 3 environmental noise monitoring project within the last 3 years;
• Professional experience in implementing environmental noise measurements in internationally financed project(s) will be considered as an asset.