Chapter 8 - Soundscapes and Noise Mapping

Abstract

The usual first step in any environmental noise control study is the development of a strategic noise map to identify areas with excessive noise levels, usually expressed in terms of a single time-averaged noise indicator. There are many different approaches to noise mapping, and this book has summarised the best practices in noise mapping, including recommended calculation methods, noise indicators, population exposure assessment procedures and so forth. One element that is perhaps missing in the overall noise mapping process is an assessment of the sound quality in a space – the annoyance associated with noise has many factors that are not accounted for in a noise map. Thus, for a noise assessment to truly capture the sound environment and its effects on people, a more human-centred approach is required. This might be achieved by using soundscape studies as another aspect of a noise assessment. What makes soundscape studies distinct from noise control studies is that the soundscape approach ‘flips the script’, so to speak. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of noise and annoyance, the soundscape approach instead considers the acoustic environment as a resource, and focuses on quantifying and assessing positive aspects of the acoustic environment. This chapter focuses on soundscapes, and after a brief introduction to the topic, we discuss how soundscapes may be used as a complementary tool to noise mapping. We consider how the soundscape approach can be used in partnership with a noise management strategy and what might be developed in the future of the field.