Newsletter Edition 2017 – Q4

Dear IMMI users,

The update 2017 was released at the beginning of September. We have received a lot of positive feedback for all new features, especially for the new Indoor module. We are happy to see that this module has been so well received by you as IMMI users.

Also the expansion for directivity and the link to the software EASE was received with a lot of interest and was the reason for many lively discussions, especially at our information event for this topic in Berlin in September.

In our last newsletter for this year we will focus on the topic of geodata in XML formats. This data format has become more widespread in recent years and more and more data has become available in this format. It is also already being discussed in the Standards Committee for DIN 45687.

There will be another series of lectures for IMMI in November, consisting of Basic (2 days) and Advanced (1 day) lectures. For an overview, please visit our homepage and the section Events. We are also already planning a num-ber of interesting lectures and dialogues regarding IMMI for next year.

Enjoy reading this newsletter.

Your

Denise Müller and the entire IMMI team

IMMI – What‘s new?

Geodata in XML format

Geodata, i. e. digital data with spatial reference, has become available to the user through the internet from many different sources for many different uses. This Geodata is also made available to the user in XML format (Extensible Markup Language). This description language for the visualization of structured data in readable form offers many advantages. On the one hand the files are platform- and implementation- independent, and on the other hand they are directly readable, as they are ASCII files that can be opened with any text editor. They can, however, be very large files, which is a clear disadvantage.

Figure 1: Example of an XML file (excerpt)

„In computing, Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both hu-man-readable and machine-readable.“ (Excerpt from Wikipedia)

In the example above a book catalogue was created using an XML file. The individual books were given a clear „ID“ and filled with book attributes (author, title, genre, price, etc.). Here you can easily notice the hierarchic structure of the file.

If Geodata is provided in XML format it does not necessarily mean that the actual format is determined already. The XML format only provides the necessary language element, e.g. setting up a tree structure, elements, attributes and other structure elements, i.e. the XML format is just the basic concept used and not the actual format of the Geodata.

OpenStreetMap files

Geodata can be available in different XML formats, e.g. OpenStreetMap (*.OSM), CityGML (*.gml, *.xml) or other XML formats. We decided to focus on the Geodata of OpenStreetMap for this introduction.

„OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. The creation and growth of OSM has been motivated by restric-tions on use or availability of map information across much of the world, and the advent of inexpensive portable satellite navigation devices.

OSM is considered a prominent example of voluntee-red geographic information.Created by Steve Coast in the UK in 2004, it was inspired by the success of Wikipedia and the pre-dominance of proprietary map data in the UK and elsewhere. Since then, it has grown to over 2 million registered users, who can collect data using manual survey, GPS devices, aerial photography, and other free sources. This crowdsourced data is then made available under the Open Database Licence. The site is supported by the OpenStreetMap Foundation, a non-profit organisation registered in England and Wales. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)

The OpenStreetMap maps now include much more than just the original course of the street (hence the name „OpenStreetMap“), which makes it all the more interesting to IMMI developers and can therefore also be very helpful to our users. Aside from the orginal course of the streets, buildings, train routes, contour lines, barriers, flight routes, the course of borders, waterways and other Geo information is now available on „OpenStreetMaps“.

How can you get access to OpenStreetMap files?

On the internet there are countless platforms that allow the user to navigate with the OpenStreetMap maps and then download parts of the OSM maps and/or have them sent to the user via email (e.g. http://extract.bbbike.org/).The software IMMI already has features for its users that spare you the trouble of manually downloading or importing those OSM files You only need access to the internet and select the desired part of the map. OpenStreetMap files are at your disposal free of charge.The only downside is that there is no guarantee for the completeness of the available data.

Structure of OpenStreetMap files

OpenStreetMap files contain the basic elements „nodes“, „ways“ and relations“. In the first part all necessary nodes for this file are defined by an identifier (id). These nodes are defined using the X-/Y- coordinates (latitude, longitude) and thereby georeferenced. The ways are then defined using the references to the above mentioned nodes. The term „way“ does not only refer to ways. Other elements such as houses can also be displayed using this basic element. It is then further differentiated by using the parameter „tags“.

Figure 2: Definition of nodes, example

By using „nodes“ points are defined on the map via their X- and Y coordinates. They can be directly referenced from other elements via their „Id“. Additi-onal „tags“ can include further information, e.g. the author/creator of this element.

Figure 3: Definition of a street, example

A street definition is georeferenced by using the refe-rences („ref“) of the nodes and further described by additional tags, e.g. street name, street type etc.

Figure 4: Definition of a house, example

A house definition is georeferenced by using the references („ref“) of the nodes and further described by additional tags, e.g. type of house, address, house number, floors etc.Aside from the typical descriptions such as street and house number additional information can be available that provides the height of the house, number of floors or other charateristics of the house.

Future use of OpenStreetMaps in IMMI

We are currently working on including the above menti-oned characteristics of OSM for an effective modelling in IMMI. To do so, an import function was created which reads the different map features from the XML files and assigns it to the IMMI element groups. This means that users can easily use OpenStreetMap map elements (e.g. streets

and houses) in their current IMMI project and have the imported elements automatically generated as well. The process of getting from an empty map to an immission calculation could thereby be sped up immensely.

Figure 5: Assigning the „map features“ to the IMMI elements

By using a special dialogue the map features can be linked to IMMI elements. This means that the OSM elements will automatically be assigned to the IMMI elements during the import.

Entire cities or parts of cities with streets and houses can thereby be imported into the map. Aside from the geometrical information, street names and house numbers are also available to be assigned to the elements automatically.We plan on presenting the new functions to you with Update 2018. This update will focus on project modelling and provide you with many new features. So get ready for it!

Figure 6: Imported part of city in IMMI 3D viewer

XML exchange format for noise immission prognosis programs

QSI files also available in XML format

The existing norm DIN45687 was created by the NALS special advisory committee NA 001 BR-02 SO). With this norm – among other things – an exchange format was described/determined which regulates the exchange of project data between diffe-rent uses of programs for noise immission prognosis.

This QSI format is an interface that was defined in DIN 45687 for exchanging data between noise im-mission prognosis programs. The interface definition consists of the sound sources according regulations RLS-90, Schall 03 [1990] and ISO 9613-2 as well as the modell data. The current format is inspired by the common ArcGIS format (SHP, SHX, DBF).The standards committee for DIN45687 „Acoustics - Software products for the calculation of the sound propagation outdoors - Quality requirements and test conditions“ is currently working on replacing the data format QSI used in this norm with a new XML file format. This also shows that XML files will be standard practice for file exchanges using norms in the future.

Tip 1: Import from online map services

By clicking this button the import of background images from online map services is started. You have access to more than 15 different map services from different providers. In order to use this function the project has to be georeferenced.

Tip 2: Enable new maintenance period

To enable a new maintenance period choose the function Download current license key from WMS file server when starting the program. If it is available the hardkey will be overwritten and the new period enabled. This function is also accessible in the menu <Help | Program license | Load license from file server>

Tip 3: Switch between editing and const-ructing by clicking F4

You can easily switch between the edit ( ) and con-struction mode ( ) by clicking F4 on your keyboard.

Tips and Tricks

IMMI 2017 – new functions and special offers

Are you still working with an old version of IMMI? Take full advantage of IMMI 2017 and get even more features by signing a maintenance contract.

Highlights of IMMI 2017:

IMMI Indoor Noise Module for room acoustics for all expansion stages.

Optimized modelling of speakers by taking directivity into account

New element measurement point: Calibrating sound sources based on measurements

Improved self-explanatory user interface for faster and more efficent working

HIgher number of obstacles: for IMMI standard: from 200 to 1000; IMMI PLUS: from 1000 to 3000

Data interface ArcGIS and feature ArcGIS export of noise maps in contour areas

Special offer for an update to IMMI 2017 forcustomers with old IMMI versions*

IMMI Light 1.000 € IMMI Standard 1.500 € IMMI Plus 2.000 € IMMI Premium 2.500 €

* This special offer depends on the age of your version and not on its features.

* All prices are stricly net. This offer expires by the end of 2017!

Here you will find special offers for our customers

Be prepared for the future: Sign a maintenance cont-ract with a duration of at least 3 years and receive an additional discount of 20 % (yearly payment).

Advantages of a maintenance contract:

Software-Updates Hotline service if there are any question regarding

the use of the software 25 % discount when purchasing additional

element libraries Discount when purchasing additional licenses Access to the customer area on our homepage for

additional interesting information and instructions

Please use the link on our homepage to request a quote.

We are happy to announce our IMMI lectures for the next year. You can find an overview of all dates on our Website.

Our training program:

Wölfel-Dialog Teilnahme am internationalen Tag gegen den Lärm, Höchberg, 25.04.2018

Wölfel-Dialog IMMI 2018 – Neue Entwicklungen, neue Möglichkeiten, Höchberg, 03.05.2018

Seminar IMMI – Grundlagen, Höchberg, 12.-13.06.2018

Seminar IMMI – Gewerbe- und Industrielärm, Höchberg, 14.06.2018

Seminar IMMI Grundlagen, Höchberg, 16.-17. 10.2018

Seminar IMMI – Anwendung Luftschadstoffe, Höchberg, 18.10.2018

Seminar IMMI – Basic (Englisch), Höchberg, 13.-14.11.2018

Events and exhibitions:

DAGA, München, 19.-22.03.2018

Euronoise, Kreta, 27.05-31.05. 2018

Lärmkongress, Stuttgart, 07.-08.06.2018

Internoise, Chicago, 26.-29.08.2018

Euroregio und Tecniacustica, Cadiz, 24.-26.10. 2018

Performance – knowledge – experience – expertise

Wölfel GroupMax-Planck-Straße 15 / 97204 HöchbergPhone.: +49 931 49708 0 / Fax: +49 931 49708 150info@immi.eu · https://www.immi.eu

Wölfel group of companies

The Wölfel Group consists of three companies which have more than 80 employees who are engaged in challenging solutions in the field of vibrations and acoustics.

Wölfel Engineering focuses on engineering solutions in our central spheres of competence, i.e., vibrations, structural mechanics and acoustics. Our service offer comprises professional opinions by a consulting engineer and turnkey supply of a system for the solution of vibration problems.

Wölfel Monitoring Systems is the company for the development, production and sale of customized measuring and monitoring systems for oscillations, vibrations as well as sound and noise impact protection, including the associated services. In addition, Wölfel Monitoring Systems is a system house which provides technical support, training courses and application advisory service.

Wölfel Wind Systems focuses on serial production and delivery as well as installation of SHM and CMS systems and systems reducing vibrations and structure-borne noise for both onshore and offshore wind turbines.

Your personal contact

Denise MüllerPhone: +49 931 49 708 505Fax: +49 931 49 708 590denise.mueller@woelfel.de