ABAV is on track for its next symposium — this time at the Infrabel Academy in Molenbeek! The full‑day event will focus on rail noise and vibration, featuring insights from Belgian and international experts on impact assessments, vibration prediction, and noise mapping in urban and railway contexts.
Important note: there’s no parking for guests, so please come by metro or train — it’s not only convenient but perfectly in tune with the theme of the day. More info on accessibility will follow later.
A dedicated Infrabel workshop and round table will invite participants to exchange on best practices and current recommendations for noise and vibration impact studies.
Programme
- 09:00: Registrations
- 09:15: Welcome address & presentation of Infrabel (Filip Verbandt, ABAV president, & Christine Vanoppen, Manager I-CBE.01 Sustainability)
- 09:30: Recommendations for noise and vibrations impact studies (Juliette Florentin & Sander De Bock, Infrabel)
- 10:45: coffee break
- 11:15: presentations by
Naïma Gamblin (ASM Acoustics) - Etude des incidences sonores de la nouvelle liaison ferroviaire L161/3 / L25
Luc Schillemans (Tractebel) - The calculation and validation of noise maps
Prof. Geert Degrande (Departement Burgerlijke bouwkunde, KU Leuven) - A hybrid vibration prediction model for railway induced vibration
- 12:15: Lunch
- 13:15: presentations from
Jean-Laurent Simons et Benoît Fauville (Bruxelles Environnement) - Noise plan, noise and vibration agreement with Infrabel, and new urban developments in Brussels
Baldrik Faure (SNCF) - Rolling noise control at source: the UIC ACORD project
Jamie Wilkes (Network Rail's Technical Authority) - UK Noise & Vibrations Strategy and Technology Roadmap
Patryk Dec (SNCF) - Acoustic deterrence using superstimuli to reduce collisions between wildlife and trains
- 14:35: coffee break
- 15:00: presentations from
Anne Coulon et Anna-Rita Tufano (Vibratec) - Investigation of tram squeal noise
Prof. Georges Kouroussis (Mécanique Rationnelle, Dynamique et Vibrations, UMONS) - Railway-induced ground vibration: The impact of vehicle dynamics in predictive modelling
Bert Stallaert (D2S) - Railway induced structure-borne noise and vibrations in an urban context
- 16:00: networking drink (alcohol-free)
The event will include a demo session (45–120 min) and an Infrabel workshop offering participants a closer look at real‑world applications and solutions in railway acoustics.