With the rise of electric vehicles, many assume that noise pollution from cars will decrease. However, 80% of car noise comes from the interaction with the road, and poor road conditions significantly increase this noise. To address this issue, Thomas Antoine from Renault Group developed the Apache program, which maps road conditions to identify areas needing repair to reduce noise pollution and its associated economic and health impacts. Antoine, along with Fadila Hrird, a master’s student specializing in geomatics, explains the program’s methodology and benefits. They emphasize the importance of not just focusing on vehicle technology but also on how vehicles interact with their environment.
The Apache program, an acronym for Appraisal of Pavement Acoustic CHaracteristics and Energy Efficiency, uses sensors to analyze road conditions and create detailed acoustic maps. These maps help local authorities make informed decisions about road repairs, benefiting both the vehicle’s acoustic environment and community budgets. The project involved a partnership with Bruitparif to incorporate road usage data, essential for understanding road deterioration and noise generation. The program has been successful in trials and has expanded, gaining interest from various cities. Antoine and Hrird’s analyses show a direct link between noise, CO2 emissions, and electric vehicle range, highlighting significant environmental and economic benefits from targeted road repairs. The Apache program, patented by Renault Group and awarded a Golden Decibel, showcases innovative solutions to environmental problems, promising further advancements with artificial intelligence.
