FS Engineering is a key partner, alongside RFI and Anas (acting as Project Coordinator), in the EU LIFE SILENT initiative, a scheme co-funded under the prestigious EU LIFE programme. The project focuses on developing sustainable, eco-friendly solutions to mitigate road and rail noise emissions in complex urban environments. It targets dense urban areas where traditional mitigation measures regarding noise propagation paths—such as standard acoustic barriers—are unfeasible due to reasons of expediency, such as limited space, visual impact problems, or restricted airflows.

Over the course of the project, teams will develop and field-test innovative noise-reducing road surfaces manufactured from non-toxic, recycled materials sourced from the paper and end-of-life tyre industries. Alongside these highways solutions, the project is pioneering low-height  acoustic barriers also made usuing recycled materials and next-generation technologies to suppress rail traffic noise directly at the source.

Launched in September 2023 with a 60-month duration, the LIFE SILENT project underpins FS Engineering’s broader commitment to delivering sustainable, innovative infrastructure, compatible with the urban communities and natural environments they serve.

The project operations – spearheaded and coordinated by the Production Services Directorate, in partnership with the Administration, Finance and Control Directorate of Anas – launched on 1 September 2023 for an overall duration of 60 months, will draw on the expertise FS Engineering’s Innovation & Technical POC, Sustainability, and Acoustics and Vibration Studies departments.

The initiative is backed by the LIFE Programme—the European Union’s dedicated funding instrument for environmental and climate action—and is overseen by CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.

PROJECT INFO

Coordinator: ANAS S.p.A

Partners: RFI, FS ENGINEERING, National Research Council, ARPAT – Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Tuscany, University of Bologna, University of Reggio Calabria, MOPI – Italian Society for Applied Research and the Development of New Materials, TEBAID Consortium – University of Cosenza Consortium for Advanced Biomedical Technologies.

Project budget: €2.65 million

European co-financing rate: 60%

Further information and updates are available on the Anas website at https://www.stradeanas.it/it/life-silent