Ekrany akustyczne w krajobrazie – ochrona akustyczna czy degradacja krajobrazu?

The development of civilization has been accompanied by an increase in noise, which leads to higher economic and social costs. In recent years, motorways and expressways in Poland have been built to include noise protection barriers that, although they reduce noise levels have a negative visual impact on the landscape, increase the cost of investment projects and raise public outcry. In September 2012 the Ministry of the Environment increased permissible noise levels in order to prevent the excessive use of noise barriers [Stop hałasowi… 2013, Rozporządzenie… 2012]. The goal of this paper is to examine the impact of noise protection barriers on the landscape. The article discusses the problem of road design with regard to preserving the landscape and reducing noise, and reviews different kinds of sound barriers and their level of effectiveness. In addition, attention is drawn to landscape degradation as a factor in social conflicts arising from the construction of sound barriers. The paper is based on an analysis of literature, websites, press articles and field observations. In the course of designing acoustic screens, it is essential to take into account not only their effectiveness in reducing noise but also on how they influence the perception of the landscape. Raising permissible noise levels may reduce the construction of new sound barriers that would have an impact on the landscape. On the other hand, this may lead to an increase in noise pollution. Therefore, it is important to assess the impact of investment projects on the landscape, starting from an examination of landscape resources and visual conditions around roadways.