WHIS®top: 4–5 dB More Noise Reduction Without Increasing Noise Barrier Height
Greater noise reduction using existing infrastructure. At the Gerlinger Höhe rest area along the A81 motorway in southern Germany, we installed the WHIS®top diffractor to improve the acoustic performance of an existing noise barrier. The result: an additional 4–5 dB of noise reduction, achieved in just two days of installation, without increasing the height of the noise barrier or modifying the existing foundations and steel posts.
Fast Installation with Minimal Modifications
One of the key advantages of WHIS®top is that it can be installed without modifying the existing foundations or steel posts. There was also no need to increase the height of the noise barrier.
The installation along the A81 motorway was completed in just two days. This makes WHIS®top an attractive solution for projects where additional noise reduction is required and work on existing infrastructure needs to be carried out as efficiently as possible.
A Tailored Solution for a Complex Structure
The installation also presented a technical challenge. The existing base structure featured significant variations in height and several bends. Careful preparation and detailed planning were essential to ensure that every component fitted precisely.
Thanks to this preparation, the WHIS®top elements could be accurately installed on site, despite the variations in the existing structure.
Collaboration to Improve Noise Protection Along Motorways
This project was made possible through close collaboration with Melanie Koltermann, Sven Kraushaar and Matthias Milesi from Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes. We would like to thank them for their commitment and excellent cooperation throughout the project.
We would also like to thank the Bundesanstalt für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen (BASt) for providing scientific support for the project.
Making Better Use of Existing Infrastructure
The installation of WHIS®top along the A81 demonstrates how existing noise barriers can be optimised without increasing their height or requiring major structural modifications.
As mobility demand continues to grow, innovative solutions that help reduce traffic noise along busy roads are becoming increasingly important. WHIS®top enables targeted improvements to existing infrastructure, delivering an additional 4–5 dB of noise reduction in this project.
