Search Results (181)

The impact of soundscapes in religious architecture on public psychology has garnered increasing attention in both research and policy domains. However, the mechanisms by which temple soundscapes influence public emotions remain scientifically unclear. This paper aims to explore how soundscapes in temple architectures designated as World Natural and Cultural Heritage sites affect visitors’ experiences. Considering visitors with diverse social and demographic backgrounds, the research design includes subjective soundscape evaluations and EEG measurements from 193 visitors at two World Heritage temples. The results indicate that visitors’ religious beliefs primarily affect their soundscape perception, while their soundscape preferences show specific correlations with chanting and human voices. Furthermore, compared to males, females exhibit greater sensitivity to emotional variations induced by soundscape experiences. Urban architects can enhance visitors’ positive emotional experiences by integrating soundscape design into the planning of future religious architectures, thereby creating pleasant acoustic environments. Full article

Indoor soundscape is a relatively new and developing field compared to urban soundscape in practice. To address this gap, this study aims to identify the key influencing factors as a first step of the indoor soundscape intervention approach. The study employed a two-phase methodology. Phase one involved a Systematic Review (SR) of the literature, conducted through the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, to collate data on the influencing factors and intervention criteria of the indoor soundscape approach. Searching was conducted using two databases, Web of Science and Scopus. As a result of the search, a total of 29 studies were included in the review. The review included studies addressing the soundscape influencing factors and theoretical frameworks. Studies that did not address these criteria were excluded. Phase two comprised the application of the Grounded Theory (GT) coding process to organize, categorize, and merge the data collected in phase one. As a result of the coding process, three levels of categories were achieved; L1: key concept, L2: overarching category, L3: core category. Four core categories were identified as ‘Sound’, ‘People’, ‘Building’, and ‘Environment’ by proposing the Indoor Soundscape Intervention (ISI) criteria. The repeatable and updatable nature of the proposed method allows it to be adapted to further studies and different contexts/cases. Full article

Ensuring a sustainable and healthy human environment in university dormitories is essential for students’ learning, living, and overall health and well-being. To address this need, we carried out a series of systematic field measurements of the noise levels at 30 dormitories in three representative major urban universities in a major provincial capital city in China and designed and implemented a comprehensive questionnaire and surveyed 1005 students about their perceptions of their acoustic environment. We proposed and applied a sustainability–health-oriented, multidimensional assessment framework to assess the acoustic environment of the dormitories and student responses to natural sound, technological sounds, and human-made sounds. Using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach combined with the field measurements and student surveys, we identified three categories and six factors on student health and well-being for assessing the acoustic environment of university dormitories. The field data indicated that noise levels at most of the measurement points exceeded the recommended or regulatory thresholds. Higher noise impacts were observed in early mornings and evenings, primarily due to traffic noise and indoor activities. Natural sounds (e.g., wind, birdsong, water flow) were highly valued by students for their positive effect on the students’ pleasantness and satisfaction. Conversely, human and technological sounds (traffic noise, construction noise, and indoor noise from student activities) were deemed highly disturbing. Gender differences were evident in the assessment of the acoustic environment, with male students generally reporting higher levels of the pleasantness and preference for natural sounds compared to female students. Educational backgrounds showed no significant influence on sound perceptions. The findings highlight the need for providing actionable guidelines for dormitory ecological design, such as integrating vertical greening in dormitory design, water features, and biodiversity planting to introduce natural soundscapes, in parallel with developing campus activity standards and lifestyle during noise-sensitive periods. The multidimensional assessment framework will drive a sustainable human–ecology–sound symbiosis in university dormitories, and the category and factor scales to be employed and actions to improve the level of student health and well-being, thus, providing a reference for both research and practice for sustainable cities and communities. Full article

Sound source localization represents one of the major challenges for soundscapes due to the dynamicity of a large variety of signals. Many applications are found related to ecosystems to study the migration process of birds and animals other than other terrestrial environments to survey wildlife. Other applications on sound recording are supported by sensors to detect animal movement. This paper deals with the immersive 3D soundscape by using a multi-channel spherical microphone probe, in combination with a 360° camera. The soundscape has been carried out in three Italian squares across the city of Parma. The acoustic maps obtained from the data processing detect the directivity of dynamic sound sources as typical of an urban environment. The analysis of the objective environmental parameters (like loudness, roughness, sharpness, and prominence) was conducted alongside the investigations on the historical importance of Italian squares as places for social inclusivity. A dedicated listening playback is provided by the AGORA project with a portable listening room characterized by modular unit of soundbars. Full article

Soundscape is the sonic environment that a living being, like a human or animal, experiences in a certain setting. It affects how a space functions and how the being perceives its quality. Consequently, the soundscape is crucial in ecosystems globally. In recent decades, researchers have explored soundscapes using various methodologies across different disciplines. This study aims to provide a brief overview of the soundscape research history, pinpoint key authors, institutions, and collaboration networks, and identify trends and main themes through a bibliometric analysis. A search in the Scopus database on 26 February 2025 found 5825 articles, reviews, and conference papers on soundscape published from 1985 to 2024. The analysis indicated a significant increase in soundscape publications, rising from 1 in 1985 to 19 in 2002, and reaching 586 in 2024. J. Kang was the most prolific author with 265 publications, while University College London emerged as the most productive institution. Co-citation analysis revealed three research groups: one focused on urban soundscapes, another on aquatic soundscapes, and a third on soundscapes in landscape ecology. The keyword co-occurrence analysis identified three themes: “soundscape(s), acoustic environment, and urban planning”, “noise, animal(s), bioacoustics, biodiversity, passive acoustic monitoring, fish, and bird(s)”, and “human(s), sound, perception, and physiology”. Full article

Plant vegetation is nature’s symphony, offering sensory experiences that influence ecological systems, human well-being, and emotional states and significantly impact human societal progress. This study investigated the emotional and perceptual impacts of specific monocultural vegetation (palm and rubber) in Nigeria, through audiovisual interactions using facial expression analysis, soundscape, and visual perception assessments. The findings reveal three key outcomes: (1) Facial expressions varied significantly by vegetation type and time of day, with higher “happy” valence values recorded for palm vegetation in the morning (mean = 0.39), and for rubber vegetation in the afternoon (mean = 0.37). (2) Gender differences in emotional response were observed, as male participants exhibited higher positive expressions (mean = 0.40) compared to females (mean = 0.33). (3) Perceptual ratings indicated that palm vegetation was perceived as more visually beautiful (mean = 4.05), whereas rubber vegetation was rated as having a more pleasant soundscape (mean = 4.10). However, facial expressions showed weak correlations with soundscape and visual perceptions, suggesting that other cognitive or sensory factors may be more influential. This study addresses a critical gap in soundscape research for monocultural vegetation and offers valuable insights for urban planners, environmental psychologists, and restorative landscape designs. Full article

Sustainability has gained significant importance in today’s educational context due to growing environmental concerns. This highlights the need to address this concept in teacher education so that future educators are equipped to help students develop competencies in this area. This study explores the use of soundscapes in environmental education, focusing on exploratory listening in relation to natural and urban sounds within the context of sustainability. The study examined the ability of 151 pre-service teachers (62 in music education and 89 in general education) to identify, characterize, and respond emotionally to these sounds. The methodology included an ad hoc task based on Schafer’s principles to identify sound elements, the PANAS questionnaire to assess emotional states before the listening activity, and a questionnaire to evaluate the emotions experienced during the task. The results indicate limited competence in characterizing sound elements, with music education students performing better than their general education peers. Furthermore, natural environments were associated with positive emotions, while urban environments elicited negative feelings, with no significant differences between the two groups. These findings underscore the importance of integrating soundscape awareness into university curricula to promote greater environmental consciousness and emotional well-being. Full article

This paper explores the application of a specialized end-to-end framework, crafted to study historical soundscapes, with a specific focus on 18th-century Naples. The framework combines historical research, natural language processing, architectural acoustics, and virtual acoustic modelling to achieve historically accurate and physically based soundscape reconstructions. Central to this study is the development of a Historically Informed Soundscape (HIS) map, which concentrates on the urban spaces of Largo di Palazzo and Via Toledo in Naples. Using virtual and audio-augmented reality, the HIS map provides 3D spatialized audio, offering an immersive experience of the acoustic environment of 18th-century Naples. This interdisciplinary approach not only contributes to the field of sound studies but also represents a significant methodological innovation in the analysis and interpretation of historical urban soundscapes. By incorporating historical maps as interactive graphical user interfaces, the project fosters a dynamic, multisensory engagement with the past, offering a valuable tool for scholars, educators, and the public to explore and understand historical sensory environments. Full article

This study explores the impact of soundscapes on the emotional and academic experiences of preservice teachers enrolled in music education courses within an elementary education degree program. It focuses on the framework of critical music education and future teachers’ reflections on soundscapes, emphasizing the importance of fostering awareness of the acoustic environment. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a quasi-experimental design and group discussions, to assess the emotional and cognitive effects of listening to natural versus urban soundscapes among preservice teachers (n = 89). The results indicate that listening to natural soundscapes significantly increases positive emotions and reduces negative emotions, while urban soundscapes have the opposite effect. Group discussions revealed that university campus soundscapes, often dominated by traffic and construction noise, negatively impacts students’ socialization, relaxation, and concentration, potentially affecting their academic performance. The study suggests incorporating soundscape awareness and critical listening into music education programs to foster both environmental and social awareness among students and to support the development of critical consciousness in future educators and citizens. Full article

Urban regions represent complex acoustic environments with few respites from noise other than small or remote patches of green infrastructure (GI). Recent noise action planning in the German Ruhr region indicates that urban expansion is fueling encroachment upon GI and subsequently the loss of quiet areas. A systematic exploration of this loss in Germany is needed. An explorative systematic review on Scopus with snowballing supports the synthesis of a conceptual framework linking acoustically relevant ecosystem services with GI. Our review identifies natural quietness, abatement, connection to nature, positive soundscape perception, fidelity, and bird sound presence as sound-related ecosystem functions or services. Empirical case studies justify the need to better understand the link between GI, ecosystem services, and the acoustic environment. Guidance for quiet area assessments in the EU to address this research gap in noise action planning is an emerging topic and needs further study. To address the knowledge gap and provide quiet area assessment guidance, we present a stratified habitat-based acoustic study design for a multi-community area in the middle of the German Ruhr region. A multi-tier sample of 120 locations across eleven habitat and land use strata in the Ruhr is presented, pointing out the scarcity of protected biotopes and large biotope complexes in the study area. This work is a contribution towards a conceptual and methodological basis for quiet area assessment, especially in German and EU noise action planning. Full article

Urban noise pollution extends into aquatic environments, influencing underwater ecosystems. This study examines the effectiveness of acoustic indicators in characterizing urban underwater soundscapes using hydrophone recordings. Three indices, the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), and Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI), were analyzed to assess their ability to distinguish anthropogenic and natural acoustic sources. The results indicate that the ACI tracks urban noise fluctuations, particularly from vehicles and trams, while the ADI primarily reflects transient environmental interferences. The NDSI, while designed to differentiate biophony from anthropogenic noise, proves unreliable in urban underwater settings, often misclassifying noise sources. These findings highlight the limitations of traditional acoustic indices in urban aquatic environments and emphasize the need for refined methods to improve hydrophone data interpretation. Thus, this study aims to understand the acoustic indicators’ interactions with underwater urban noise, which is crucial for enhancing environmental monitoring and noise mitigation strategies. Full article

Urban noise pollution significantly degrades people’s health and well-being and, furthermore, traditional noise reduction strategies often overlook individual perception differences. This study proposed to explore the role of eco-acoustic indices in capturing the interplay between biophony, geophony, and anthrophony, and their relationship with classical acoustic metrics and the perceived soundscapes within a University Campus (University of “Mila-no-Bicocca”, Italy). The study area is divided in to eight different sites in “Piazza della Scienza” square. Sound measurements and surveys conducted in June 2023 across four paved sites and adjacent courtyards involved 398 participants (51.7% female, 45.6% male, 2.7% other). The main noise sources included road traffic, technical installations, and human activity, where traffic noise was more prominent at street-level sites (Sites 1–4) and technical installations dominated underground courtyards (6–8). Human activity was most noticeable at Sites 4–8, especially at Site 5, which showed the highest activity levels. A circumplex model revealed that street-level sites were less pleasant and eventful than courtyards. Pairwise comparisons of noise variability showed significant differences among sites, with underground locations offering quieter environments. Eco-acoustic analysis identified two site groups: one linked to noisiness and spectral features, the other to intensity distribution metrics. Technical installations, people, and traffic noises showed distinct correlations with acoustic indices, influencing emotional responses like stimulation and liveliness. These findings emphasize the need to integrate subjective perceptions with objective noise metrics in soundscape descriptions. Full article

Urban green spaces are critical yet understudied areas where anthropogenic and biological sounds interact. This study investigates how vegetation structure mediates the acoustic partitioning of urban soundscapes and informs sustainable forestry management. Through the principal component analysis (PCA) of 1–11 kHz frequency bands, we identified anthropogenic sounds (1–2 kHz) and biological sounds (2–11 kHz). Within bio-acoustic communities, PCA further revealed three positively correlated sub-clusters (2–4 kHz, 5–6 kHz, and 6–11 kHz), suggesting cooperative niche partitioning among avian, amphibian, and insect vocalizations. Linear mixed models highlighted vegetation’s dual role: mature tree stands (explaining 19.9% variance) and complex vertical structures (leaf-height diversity: 12.2%) significantly enhanced biological soundscapes (R²m = 0.43) while suppressing anthropogenic noise through canopy stratification (32.3% variance explained). Based on our findings, we suggest that an acoustic data-driven framework—comprising (1) the preservation of mature stands with multi-layered canopies to enhance bioacoustic resilience, (2) strategic planting of mid-story vegetation to disrupt low-frequency noise propagation, and (3) real-time soundscape monitoring to balance biophony and anthropophony allocation—can contribute to promoting sustainable urban forestry management. Full article

Streets play a crucial role in shaping urban soundscapes, influencing individual wellbeing and urban sustainability. Although urban soundscapes have been widely studied, research focusing on street soundscapes remains limited. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the main themes and methodologies used in recent street soundscape literature. Scopus and ScienceDirect databases were searched for journal articles and conference papers with the keywords “street and sound”. The review included articles published in English between 2000 and 2025. The selected studies focused on soundscapes in outdoor environments while offering insights into streetscape features. Articles that did not focus on perception of the street environment or report a sample size were excluded, resulting in 16 studies in the final review. Soundscapes were mostly examined in terms of noise annoyance (n = 6) and sound perception (n = 14), distinguishing between pleasant and unpleasant sounds. Natural elements are frequently identified as essential streetscape (n = 8) and soundscape components of streets (n = 3). These features are associated with positive perceptions, whereas traffic features are perceived negatively. The predominant methodological approach was laboratory studies (n = 10), with participant groups typically consisting of healthy adults. Sample sizes ranged from 10 to 1200. Overall, the literature points to a significant gap in research on the effect of street soundscapes on wellbeing, revealing that numerous streetscape characteristics remain unexplored and the link between soundscapes and street features has not been thoroughly examined. Full article

From the perspective of landscape environment and human health, this study introduces the concept of soundscape from soundscape ecology. Through two experiments evaluating the restorative properties of soundscapes, it analyzes and compares the differences in restorative benefits among various sounds in urban green spaces. The study further explores the effects of single soundscapes and combined soundscape types on environmental restorative benefits and provides recommendations for creating restorative soundscapes in urban green spaces. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) Sound types significantly influence soundscape restorative benefits, with notable interactions observed among three single soundscape categories. Significant differences were also found in the restorative effects of different combined soundscapes. (2) The most restorative sounds for anthropogenic, biophonic, and geophonic soundscapes are light background music (1.4193), bird sounds (1.9890), and flowing water sounds (1.2691), respectively. The least restorative sounds are vehicle noise (−2.6210), conversation sounds (−0.8788), and thunder sounds (−0.7840). (3) Significant differences exist between the restorative effects of single and multi-level combined soundscapes. Except for bird sounds, the general restorative pattern is as follows: two-level combined soundscapes > three-level combined soundscapes > single soundscapes. Full article