The Spanish center is doing research into a novel technology aimed at reducing the noise in cities. Under the umbrella of the Pass By project, Cidaut is working with new materials toward making pavement for sidewalks, highways and railways that reduces vibrations, noise and pollution to almost zero.
What’s outstanding about these materials is that they maintain the safety characteristics of the asphalt and its energy efficiency. As such a car does not have to use more fuel or does not require more effort in order to drive on an asphalt possessing these ‘quiet’ characteristics.
For example, in order to insulate a highway it tends to be made less rigid in order to create less noise, but on the other hand this leads to higher gasoline consumption for the vehicle because more effort is required to move it. The soundproofing material that Cidaut is working with is able to filter the energy that the car makes when driving by, and stops this from becoming noise for the surroundings. To do this, the insulating material has be molded for each specific situation. Further, the center uses recycled materials from old tires and plastic products. Tires have characteristics that are very good for reducing a highway’s stiffness and adapt very well to a car driving over it.
Cidaut is developing these new materials in a search for an equilibrium between all the components, reducing noises and vibrations both on highways and railways. According to those responsible for the project, this approach–keeping in mind all variables such as safety and energy use–is pioneering.
El Mundo