Promoting Healthy and Supportive Acoustic Environments: Going beyond the Quietness

Aletta, Francesco; Kang, Jian

doi:10.3390/ijerph16244988

Cited by 29 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…While no actual perceptual/individual data is discussed here, the protocol for the binaural recordings would be compliant with the Technical Specifications for soundscape data collection ISO/TS 12913-2:2018 [15], thus it can more objectively characterize the acoustic environment as experienced by an average user on site, possibly offering more temporal and spatial accuracy than, for instance, a fixed sensor in a distributed monitoring network. Aggregated data from multiple end-points at cityscale, which many local authorities often rely on, might inform policy from a public health perspective, but it says little about local experience and does not differentiate between contexts, which could instead be relevant for other dimensions of well-being and quality of life [41][42][43]. The advantage of such approach is that it can also give insights into how the use of open public space has changed during the COVID-19 period [44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the changing urban sound environment during the COVID-19 lockdown period using short-term acoustic measurements

et al. 2020

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The implementation of lockdown measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in wide-ranging social and environmental implications. Among the environmental impacts is a decrease in urban noise levels which has so far been observed at the city scale via noise mapping efforts conducted through the framework of the Environmental Noise Directive. This study aims to understand how lockdown measures have manifested at a local level to better determine how the person-level experience of the urban soundscape has been affected and how these affects differ across urban space typologies. Taking London as a case study, a series of 30-second binaural recordings were taken at 11 locations representing a cross-section of urban public spaces with varying compositions of sound sources during Spring 2019 (pre-lockdown, N = 620) and Spring 2020 (during-lockdown, N = 481). Five acoustic and psychoacoustic metrics (LAeq, LA10, LA90, Loudness, Sharpness) were calculated for each recording and their changes from the pre-lockdown scenario to the lockdown scenario are investigated. Clustering analysis was performed which grouped the locations into 3 types of urban settings based on their acoustic characteristics. An average reduction of 5.4 dB (LAeq) was observed, however significant differences in the degree of reduction were found across the locations, ranging from a 10.7 dB to a 1.2 dB reduction. This study confirms the general reduction in noise levels due to the nationally imposed lockdown measures, identifies trends which vary depending on the urban context and discusses the implications for the limits of urban noise reduction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the changing urban sound environment during the COVID-19 lockdown period using short-term acoustic measurements

et al. 2020

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“…The literature has already reported numerous criticisms on the effectiveness of decibel-based metrics in fully characterizing perceived sound quality (e.g., pleasantness ratings) [51]. Indeed, reducing noise levels do not always lead straightforwardly to an improved comfort or quality of life, as sounds and even loudness can be desirable in some contexts [47,51,116]. Aspects related to the nature of sounds and to their spectral and temporal composition have been found to significantly affect perceived sound quality [51].…”

Section: The Lack Of a Perceptual Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic Design Criteria in Naturally Ventilated Residential Buildings: New Research Perspectives by Applying the Indoor Soundscape Approach

et al. 2019

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The indoor-outdoor connection provided by ventilation openings has been so far a limiting factor in the use of natural ventilation (NV), due to the apparent conflict between ventilation needs and the intrusion of external noise. This limiting factor impedes naturally ventilated buildings meeting the acoustic criteria set by standards and rating protocols, which are reviewed in this paper for residential buildings. The criteria reflect a general effort to minimize noise annoyance by reducing indoor sound levels, typically without a distinction based on a ventilation strategy. Research has developed a number of solutions, discussed here, that try to guarantee ventilation without compromising façade noise insulation, but, currently, none have been adopted on a large scale. This concept paper highlights the main limits of the current approach. First, a fragmented view towards indoor environmental quality has not included consideration of the following acoustic criteria: (i) how buildings are designed and operated to meet multiple needs other than acoustical ones (e.g., ventilation, visual, and cooling needs) and (ii) how people respond to multiple simultaneous environmental factors. Secondly, the lack of a perceptual perspective has led acoustic criteria to neglect the multiple cognitive and behavioral factors impinging on comfort in naturally ventilated houses. Indeed, factors such as the connection with the outside and the sense of control over one’s environment may induce “adaptive acoustic comfort” opportunities that are worth investigating. The mere use of different sound level limits would not be enough to define criteria tailored to the complex user–building interaction that occurs under NV conditions. More holistic and human-centered approaches are required to guarantee not only neutrally but even positively perceived indoor acoustic environments. For this reason, this paper considers this apparent conflict from a soundscape viewpoint, in order to expose still unexplored lines of research. By underpinning a perceptual perspective and by contextualizing it, the indoor soundscape approach provides a framework capable of overcoming the limits of the traditional noise control approach. This could provide the opportunity to foster a wider adoption of NV as a passive design strategy that enhances user health and well-being, while enabling low-cost, and low-energy cooling and ventilation, thereby contributing to current climate change challenges.

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“…To address this aim, soundscape research has evolved as a framework that integrates psychological, (psycho)acoustical, physiological, and social factors to explore how people perceive and experience the acoustic environment, in context [48]. Sound is managed and differentiated according to people's perception and employed as a design "resource" for shaping healthy and supportive acoustic environments, positively perceived by their users [41,49,50].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustics for Supportive and Healthy Buildings: Emerging Themes on Indoor Soundscape Research

et al. 2020

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The focus of the building industry and research is shifting from delivering satisfactory spaces to going beyond what is merely acceptable with a wave of new research and practice dedicated to exploring how the built environment can support task performance and enhance people’s health and well-being. The present study addresses the role of acoustics in this paradigm shift. Indoor soundscape research has recently emerged as an approach that brings a perceptual perspective on building and room acoustics in order to shape built environments that “sound good” according to building occupants’ preference and needs. This paper establishes an initial discussion over some of the open questions in this field of research that is still in an embryonic stage. A thematic analysis of structured interviews with a panel of experts offered a range of perspectives on the characterization, management, and design of indoor soundscapes and health-related outcomes. The discussion pointed out the importance of both perceptual and multisensory research and integrated participatory design practices to enable a holistic view regarding the complex building–user interrelations and the design of just cities. Soundscape methodologies tailored to the peculiarities of indoor soundscapes can help to measure and predict the human perceptual response to the acoustic stimuli in context, thus reducing the risk of mismatches between expected and real building experiences. This perceptual perspective is expected to widen the scientific evidence for the negative and positive impacts of the acoustic environment on human health, well-being, and quality of life. This will support prioritizing the role of acoustics in building design and challenge many current design practices that are based on a noise control approach.

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Promoting Healthy and Supportive Acoustic Environments: Going beyond the Quietness

Cited by 29 publications

References 18 publications

Assessing the changing urban sound environment during the COVID-19 lockdown period using short-term acoustic measurements

Assessing the changing urban sound environment during the COVID-19 lockdown period using short-term acoustic measurements

Acoustic Design Criteria in Naturally Ventilated Residential Buildings: New Research Perspectives by Applying the Indoor Soundscape Approach

Acoustics for Supportive and Healthy Buildings: Emerging Themes on Indoor Soundscape Research

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