Characterizing urban areas with good sound quality: Development of a research protocol

Abstract

Due to rapid urbanization, the spatial variation between wanted and unwanted sounds will decrease or even disappear. Consequently, the characteristics of (urban) areas where people can temporarily withdraw themselves from urban stressors such as noise may change or become increasingly scarce. Hardly any research has been carried out into the positive health effects of spending time in areas with a good sound quality. One of the problems is that an overview of what aspects determines good sound quality in urban areas and how these are interrelated is lacking. This paper reviews the literature pertaining to the sound quality of urban areas. Aim is to summarize what is known about the influence of social, spatial, and physical aspects other than sounds, on peoples' perception of urban sound qualities. Literature from both conventional sound research and from the so-called soundscape field, published between 2000 and the beginning of 2013 in English or Dutch, was evaluated. Although a general set of validated indicators that can be directly applied, is not available yet, a set of indicators was derived from the literature. These form the basis of a study protocol that will be applied in "Towards a Sustainable acoustic Environment", a project that aims to describe sound qualities at a low-scale level. Key-elements of this study protocol, including a questionnaire and the systematic audit of neighborhoods, were presented in this paper.

Long-term transportation noise annoyance is associated with subsequent lower levels of physical activity

“…Our results may be in line with soundscape studies, which indicate that environments rated by individuals as having acoustic quality, are more attractive and promote healthy habits (Tjeerd and Andringa, 2013;van Kempen et al, 2014). Results may also agree with a few cross-sectional surveys on built environment that observed associations between traffic perception, a main source of noise and air pollution, and reduced PA (Brownson et al, 2009;Duncan et al, 2005;McCormack and Shiell, 2011).…”

“…This is particularly relevant for noise annoyance, because the evidence indicates that the individual appraisal of noise, more than the noise level itself, contributes to a more attractive outdoor environment and promotes healthy habits (Tjeerd and Andringa, 2013;van Kempen et al, 2014).…”

Soundscape descriptors and a conceptual framework for developing predictive soundscape models

“…Soundscape indicators are measures used to predict the value of a soundscape descriptor. This topic is increasingly investigated because of an urgent need for operational tools, like predictive models, aimed at implementing the soundscape approach in urban planning and design (Kang, 2007;Payne, Davies, & Adams, 2009;Andringa, et al, 2013;European Environment Agency, 2014;van Kempen, et al, 2014). The paper offers a collection and analyses of the main descriptors retrieved from literature.…”

Ten questions on the soundscapes of the built environment

“…laboratory experiments). Thus, more studies about the optimisation of soundscape data collection in an ecologically valid way that does not disturb the usual context of perceiving the acoustic environment are desirable, as there are relatively few studies dealing with these methodological aspects of soundscape research (Payne, Davies, & Adams, 2009;Axelsson, Nilsson, & Berglund, 2009;van Kempen, Devilee, Swart, & van Kamp, 2014).…”

“…Reducing sound levels, though, did not necessarily lead to improved quality of life in urban and rural areas (e.g., Yang & Kang, 2005;van Kempen, Devilee, Swart, & van Kamp, 2014;Asdrubali, 2014;Alves, Estévez-Mauriz, Aletta, Echevarria-Sanchez, & Puyana Romero, 2015) and this is why the soundscape multidisciplinary approach to the management of the acoustic environments became more and more relevant, for its focus on how people actually perceive and experience the acoustic environments.…”