State of the art noise prediction software
CadnaA Overview
CadnaA (Computer Aided Noise Abatement) is the leading software for calculation, presentation, assessment and prediction of environmental noise. Applications range from industrial sites, road and railway networks, airports or even entire towns and urbanized areas.
Unlimited project size: CadnaA can handle projects of any size thanks to the 64 Bit technology, multiprocessor support and parallel processing techniques. Learn more
Connectivity: CadnaA offers a huge variety of import and export formats. Learn more
Easy handling: CadnaA takes advantage of its "one piece of software – one file per project" concept with tools to set up your model with a few mouse clicks. Learn more
Presentation of results: With CadnaA, display and output results in a convenient and reliable way. Learn more
CadnaA Products
Explore our new range of CadnaA products, each tailored to specific applications and available for one-time purchase or subscription.
All products offer flexible licensing options, either on-premises (via local or server USB dongle) or through cloud licensing.
Optional software updates and hotline support are available.*
*For cloud licensing, a maintenance contract is required."
Available for one-time purchase or subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions about CadnaA
The questions prospective users ask most about CadnaA — answered right here.
See also: View all questions · Download the demo version
CadnaA by DataKustik is a leading choice for environmental noise mapping and prediction. It is used by engineering consultancies, road and railway authorities and airport operators in more than 60 countries for standards-compliant noise calculation and strategic noise maps.
CadnaA supports the major international and national noise standards, including ISO 9613-2, CNOSSOS-EU, the EU Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC, TA Lärm, RLS-19 and Schall 03.
All CadnaA products can import the following data formats as standard:
- AutoCAD (.dxf)
- Trimble SketchUp
- GIS formats: Geopackage (.gpkg) · ESRI shapefiles (.shp) · Atlas GIS (.bna) · GYpSiNOISE · MapInfo (.mif) · AED-Sicad
- ASCII text files: ASCII objects · ASCII grid DTM (.asc) · ASCII spectra · building height points · Winput DTM · train numbers (.txt) · elevation points (.xyz)
- XML formats: OpenStreetMap (.osm) · GML · CityGML · NMPB08 train classes (.xml)
- Further formats: EDBS · T-Mobil · Slip · SOSI · NTF · iTWO civil/STRATIS (.cst) · Noise Mapping England (.nme)
- QSI exchange format in accordance with DIN 45687
- Raster formats: CadnaA raster (.cnr) · ESRI ASCII raster (.asc, .hdr) · ASCII raster (.rst) · LimA raster (.ert) · SoundPLAN raster · IMMI raster (.ird) · AUSTAL raster (.dmna) · Miskam raster (.zwk) · NMGF raster (.grd)
- MS Excel files (.xlsx)
- ODBC interface: import of object attributes and libraries from external databases (e.g. sound power levels, absorption, sound insulation, directivities and acoustic-analyzer measurements)
- Loudspeaker directivity from CLF files (.CF1, .CF2 and XHN)
With the BMP option (bitmap and further interfaces) additionally
- Further CAD formats: AutoCAD (.dwg) · Microstation (.dgn)
- Google Maps bitmap (Google Maps import interface)
- WMS services (Web Map Services)
- GeoTiff DTM (digital terrain model from .tif/.geotiff)
- Bitmap formats (more than 40 formats): CALS Raster, DCX, DWF, ECW, IMG, GIF, ICA, JFIF, JPEG, JTIF, LEAD CMP, PCT, MAC, MSP, MPT, OS/2 Bitmap, PCD, PCX, PSD, PNG, PostScript Raster, RAS, TIFF, TIFF CCITT, LZW, TARGA, BMP, WMF, WinFax Group 3, WinFax Group 4, WPG WordPerfect raster files
- Import of 3D symbols (.obj) for display in the 3D view
With the aircraft noise option (with CadnaA City & Airport Professional) additionally
- Aircraft noise INM import formats: ANP database · INM study · INM operations (requires the INM standard)
- Radar-recorded flight track data (with the RAD option): FANOMOS · STANLY · Topsonic · user-defined
With the APL option (air pollutants) additionally
- Meteorological statistics, single- or multi-year (.akt, .akterm)
CadnaA implements one of the widest ranges of noise-calculation standards available.
Industrial noise
- VDI 2714, VDI 2720 (Germany)
- ISO 9613-2 (1996, International)
- ISO 9613-2 (2024, International)
- ÖAL Guideline No. 28 (1987, Austria)
- DIN 18005 (1987, Germany)
- Nordic General Prediction Method (1996, Scandinavia)
- BS 5228 (United Kingdom)
- Ljud från vindkraftverk (Sweden)
- Harmonoise, P2P model (International)
- CONCAWE (International)
- NMPB08-Industry (France)
- Nord 2000 (Scandinavia)
- Schall03 (2014) – marshalling yards
- HJ2.4 (2009 & 2021, China)
- CNOSSOS 2015/996
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 EU (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
Road traffic noise
- RVS 04.02.11 (2006, Austria)
- STL 86 (Switzerland)
- DIN 18005 (1987, Germany)
- TemaNord 1996:525 (Scandinavia)
- NMPB-Routes-96 (France, EU interim)
- CRTN (1988, United Kingdom)
- Czech Method (1996, Czech Republic)
- TNM 2.5 (2004, USA)
- NMPB-Routes-08 (France)
- HJ1358 (2024), HJ2.4 (2009 & 2021, China)
- SonRoad (Switzerland)
- SonRoad18 (2018 & 2021, Switzerland)
- SonRoad18 (2024, Switzerland) (includes SonRoad18 2018 & 2021)
- RLS-90, VBUS (Germany)
- RLS-19 (Germany)
- CNOSSOS 2015/996
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 EU (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 DE (BUB 2021) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 AT (RVS 2021) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 NO (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
Railway noise
- ONR 305011 (Austria)
- Semibel (Switzerland)
- DIN 18005 (1987, Germany)
- TemaNord 1996:524 (Scandinavia)
- CRN (United Kingdom)
- RMR, SRM II (Netherlands, EU interim)
- Schall03 (1990), VBUSch (Germany)
- Schall03 (2014, Germany)
- NMPB-Fer (France)
- FTA/FRA (USA)
- NMPB08-Fer (France)
- HJ2.4 (2021, China)
- CNOSSOS 2015/996
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 EU (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 DE (BUB 2021) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 AT (RVE 2022) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 BE (Infrabel 2022) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 FR (SNCF 2022) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996)
Aircraft noise
- AzB 1975, AzB-MIL, LAI-Landeplatzleitlinie, VBUF (Germany)
- ECAC Doc. 29, 2nd Edition 1997 (International, EU interim)
- DIN 45684 (Germany)
- DIN 45689 (Germany)
- AzB 2008 (Germany)
- ÖAL 24 (Austria)
- ECAC Doc. 29, 3rd Edition (International, EU interim) (excluding military aircraft databases)
- INM 7.0, Integrated Noise Model (International) (excluding military aircraft databases)
- ECAC Doc. 29, 4th Edition (International, EU interim) (excluding military aircraft databases)
- CNOSSOS 2015/996 EU & DE (BUF 2018)
- CNOSSOS 2021/1226 EU & DE (BUF 2021) (includes CNOSSOS 2015/996 EU & DE (BUF 2018))
That depends on your applications — road, railway, industrial or aircraft noise — and on the size of your projects. The CadnaA software configurator on our website helps you put together your configuration, and our team will be happy to advise you personally.
You will find all learning and knowledge material in the Resources section on datakustik.com: web tutorials, trainings, congress papers and publications, Technical Notes and the e-learning Center, which offers online courses for registered users with active software maintenance.
CadnaA calculates outdoor/environmental noise (road, rail, industry, aircraft and city noise mapping). CadnaB handles building acoustics (airborne and impact sound insulation for whole buildings). CadnaR predicts room and indoor acoustics such as reverberation time and speech intelligibility. Together they form one integrated platform.
CadnaA is a software for the calculation, presentation, assessment and prediction of environmental noise, developed by DataKustik GmbH (Germany). Engineering consultancies, authorities and industrial companies in more than 60 countries use it to model noise from roads, railways, industry and aircraft and to produce standards-compliant noise maps.
Typical applications include strategic noise maps under the EU Environmental Noise Directive, noise studies for planning and permitting procedures, industrial plant noise assessments, traffic noise forecasts, and the design of noise control measures such as barriers — all evaluated before anything is built.
CadnaA can be installed on any system that meets the following requirements:
- Multi-core processor with x86-64 architecture from Intel (Core i series from the 8th generation, "Coffee Lake" architecture or newer) or AMD (Ryzen series from the 2nd generation, "Zen" architecture or newer) with at least 4 cores, the instruction set extensions SSE4.2 and AVX and the respective 64-bit instruction set extension (Intel 64 or AMD64). ARM-based processors (e.g. Apple M1/2/3/4/5 chips or Snapdragon SoCs) are not supported.
- 8 GB RAM
- OpenGL 3.3 graphics card with at least 1 GB of dedicated graphics memory. Using "processor graphics" or graphics cards without dedicated graphics memory ("shared memory") can lead to display errors. This requirement does not apply when CadnaA is used in batch mode.
- Windows 64-bit operating system, Microsoft Windows 11 (version 24H2 or newer)
Yes. Every CadnaA release passes extensive internal and external test procedures. In addition, quality-assured calculation in accordance with DIN 45687 and ISO 17534 is guaranteed; CadnaA is tested against the reference test cases of the relevant standards.
CadnaA is known for its intuitive graphical user interface: objects are modelled directly on the map or imported, and results can be visualized immediately. Most users produce their first noise calculation after a short introduction; for advanced workflows we recommend our seminars.
DataKustik continuously updates CadnaA. New or revised calculation standards are implemented in the regular software updates, which are available to all customers with active software maintenance and the right of use for the respective calculation standards.
CadnaA is designed for projects up to the size of entire cities and metropolitan areas — strategic noise maps for millions of inhabitants are a standard application. CadnaA Professional products and CadnaA Basic handle up to 16 million objects per source object type; with option L, up to 16 million buildings and 16 million screens per project are additionally possible. CadnaA Light products are dimensioned for smaller projects.
DataKustik offers classroom seminars (Expert seminars) and web seminars, the free web tutorials for CadnaA, CadnaB and CadnaR, the e-learning Center with online courses for customers with active software maintenance, and the free “Acoustics Explained” webinar series. Current dates: datakustik.com/resources/trainings.
Yes. Data is exchanged in both directions via standard GIS formats such as shapefiles, Geopackage and ArcView Grid; calculated noise maps can be exported for further processing in GIS.
Yes. CadnaA calculates multi-threaded with up to 16 logical cores as standard (if more than 16 logical cores are available, the first 16 cores are used). With the PRO option, up to 64 cores are possible (not available for CadnaA Light products). Distributed computing (PCSP) is included in all products, and CadnaA CALC products additionally allow calculations to be offloaded to external physical or virtual machines. Detailed technical documentation is available on request.
Yes. The framework for strategic noise mapping is the EU Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC, implemented in Germany by the Noise Mapping Ordinance (34. BImSchV). CadnaA implements the associated CNOSSOS common noise assessment methods in accordance with Commission Directive (EU) 2015/996 — including the amendments introduced by Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1226 — as well as the respective national implementations including the associated national datasets, for example for road surfaces and rail vehicles; in Germany, these are the calculation methods BUB (“Berechnungsmethode für den Umgebungslärm von bodennahen Quellen”: environmental noise from ground-based sources, i.e. roads, railways, industry and commerce) and BUF (“Berechnungsmethode für den Umgebungslärm von Flugplätzen”: environmental noise from aerodromes). This allows strategic noise maps under the Environmental Noise Directive to be produced directly.
CadnaA is a Windows application for x86-64 hardware. ARM-based processors — including Macs with Apple M chips — are not supported, so running CadnaA in virtualization solutions on Apple Silicon Macs is not possible either.
Yes. CadnaA is widely used for TA Lärm assessments in Germany: rating levels at receptor points, including adjustments (e.g. for tonality or impulsiveness), are calculated for the day and night periods and can be documented for permitting procedures.
Yes. DataKustik offers free demo versions of CadnaA, CadnaB and CadnaR that let you test noise prediction and acoustics simulation on your own projects. Download the demo version at datakustik.com/demo.
Yes. Many users have switched to CadnaA from other programs. CadnaA supports the vendor-independent QSI exchange format in accordance with DIN 45687 and also imports the common raster formats of other programs (including LimA, SoundPLAN, IMMI); geometry and source data can also be transferred via standard formats such as SHP or DXF. Our team will advise you on migrating existing projects.
Yes. You can add options as well as additional standards and guidelines at any time — start with what you need today and grow with your projects. An upgrade requires your software to be on the latest version, so an update may be necessary first. With active software maintenance this step is not needed, as your software is always up to date.
Yes. Results can be exported as georeferenced graphics and common exchange formats for reports, web use and presentations.
As standard, all CadnaA products include the following export formats:
- AutoCAD — DXF
- GIS formats: Geopackage (.gpkg) · ESRI/ArcInfo (.shp) · ArcView Grid (.asc, .hdr) · GYpSiNOISE
- ASCII formats: text files (.txt) · building height points · train numbers (.txt) · Rich Text Format (.rtf) · calculation protocol (.txt) · compact protocol (.txt)
- HTML formats: calculation protocol (.html) · compact protocol (.html)
- Export of survey reports to MS Office: MS Word (.docx) · MS Excel (.xlsx)
- QSI exchange format in accordance with DIN 45687
- Statistical analysis (QSI) in accordance with DIN 45687
- Google SketchUp Materials (.skm)
- Raster formats: CadnaA raster (.cnr) · ASCII grids (.rst) · LimA grids (.ert) · NMGF grids (.grd)
- Video recording in the 3D view (.avi)
With the BMP option (bitmap and further interfaces) additionally
- Bitmap (.bmp)
- Google Earth (.kml/.kmz)
- Web bitmaps: PNG files at different zoom levels
- GeoTiff raster format (.geotiff)
With the aircraft noise option (with CadnaA City & Airport Professional) additionally
- AzB-related export formats: AzB-QSI · AzB-DES · AzB-XML · AzB-Lmax · AzB-Segmente · AzB-Zonen
With the SET option (sound emission and transmission) additionally
- SET-T graph (.gv)
Yes. Wind turbines can be modelled as dedicated sources, including hub height and emission spectra, and assessed according to the applicable calculation methods (e.g. ISO 9613-2 or the German interim procedure for wind turbine noise).
Yes. CadnaA provides dedicated source types for tennis, pickleball and padel courts, so leisure and sports noise can be predicted and assessed (for example under the German 18. BImSchV and VDI 3770) before an installation is built. Learn more: datakustik.com/lp/padel-laerm.html