Human Responses to Simulated Motorized Noise in National Parks

Abstract

HUMAN RESPONSES TO SIMULATED MOTORIZED NOISE IN NATIONAL PARKSThis thesis investigated the effects of three sources of motorized noise on laboratory participants' evaluations of landscape scenes, self-reported affective states, and physiological responses in simulated national park settings. Seventy-seven laboratory participants completed landscape assessments along 8 aesthetic dimensions and reported affective states while listening to audio clips of natural sounds, propeller planes, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Each participant experienced all scenes and sound conditions in a pseudo-randomized order. The change from the natural sound baseline for each motorized source of noise was calculated.Results indicated that all motorized sources of noise had detrimental impacts on landscape assessments and self-reported affective states, compared to natural sounds. Motorcycle noise was demonstrated to have the largest negative impact on landscape assessments. Physiological response was also affected by experimental noise in some of the conditions (with the strongest effect in the snowmobile condition), but a consistent pattern of results failed to emerge to suggest that negative impacts to human physiology could be reliably detected under the present methodology. In addition to confirming that noise from motorized recreation has significant social impacts on potential park visitors, this simulation suggests that the specific source of the noise is an important factor in observer evaluations. These results could help park managers prioritize their educational and regulatory strategies for minimizing adverse impacts by motorized vehicles on natural soundscapes. Important advances in soundscape research methodology are also presented.

Effect of traffic noise on perceived visual impact of motorway traffic

“…In a later expended study, Benfield et al (2010) showed that aircraft and road traffic noise decreased ratings in scenic evaluation of natural landscape especially for scenes of high scenic beauty. Using similar landscape evaluation procedure and aesthetic indicators, Weinzimmer et al (2014) investigated the effect of noises of propeller planes, motorcycles, and snowmobiles in national parks. The results indicated that all the three motorised noises detracted from the evaluation of landscape quality and the motorcycle noise had the most detrimental impact.…”

Motorized Recreation Sounds Influence Nature Scene Evaluations: The Role of Attitude Moderators

“…Previous research has consistently demonstrated a deleterious effect of anthropogenic noise on scenic evaluations and affect (e.g., Mace et al, 1999; Weinzimmer et al, 2014), but the examination of moderating variables within this type of soundscape assessment has been limited to situational characteristics such as the cause (Mace et al, 2003) or location (Benfield et al, 2010) of the noise. The current study demonstrated that the individual-level characteristics of attitudes toward motorized recreation noise and soundscape management can also affect the severity of anthropogenic noise-related outcomes in simulated natural recreation environments.…”

“…Most recently, Weinzimmer et al (2014) further refined the assessment of specific soundscape events by comparing directly three common sources of motorized noise in national parks – motorcycles, propeller planes, and snowmobiles. Using a carefully controlled laboratory simulation, Weinzimmer et al (2014) directly compared different motorized vehicle soundscapes using a within-subjects design.…”

“…Using a carefully controlled laboratory simulation, Weinzimmer et al (2014) directly compared different motorized vehicle soundscapes using a within-subjects design. Those direct comparisons replicated previous studies by showing that motorized recreation noise had significant, detrimental effects on both aesthetic and affective dimensions.…”

Is there difference between men and women motorcyclists?

“…While research conducted on motorcycling is available, it covers a wide range of topics, for example the ethnographic aspects (Conner 2009;Levingston & Zimmerman 2003;Schouten & McAlexander 1995), environmental aspects (Leong, Muttamara & Laortanakul 2002), safety (Elliott et al 2003;Weinzimmer et al 2014), cultural significance (Maynard 2008;Packer & Coffey 2004), charity runs (Rabinowitz 2007), adventure motorcycling (Price-Davies 2011), spirituality (Litton 2008), spending analysis (Kruger, Viljoen & Saayman 2015) and motivation (Garber 2002;Hagen, Pardo & Valente 2016;Kruger et al 2014;Thompson & Thompson 2014). Authors of studies on gender aspects of motorcycling include Cockburn and Ormond (1993); Hopper and Moore (1990); Kelkar and Nathan (2002) ;Martin, Schouten and McAlexander (2006);Mellström (2004);Meyer (2009) ;Oyesiku and Odufuwa (2002);Roster (2007); Thompson (2012);and Veno and Winterhalder (2009).…”