Evaluation of Soundscapes in Urban Parks in Olsztyn (Poland) for Improvement of Landscape Design and Management

Agnieszka Jaszczak,Katarina Kristianova,Sebastian Bernat,Ewelina Pochodyła,Natalia Małkowska

doi:10.3390/land10010066

Abstract

Soundscape analyses and noise measurements should be a part of pre-design works involved in planning green areas in city centers. The aim of the study was to conduct a multi-criteria analysis of the soundscape of three parks in Olsztyn (Poland) as a part of the landscape planning process to determine the directions of re-design of places most exposed to noise. The research included: 1. functional and spatial analysis of the park surroundings in reference to the city environment, 2. analysis of the acoustic map, 3. measurements of sound pressure levels (SPL) at selected points in two periods (leafless and leafy), 4. analysis of characteristic sounds, 5. interview with park users and preparation of a mental map. The results of research regarding the perception of the soundscape of all three parks by respondents differ slightly from the results of both the acoustic map and SPL measurements. The results also confirm the difference between SPL in the leafless and leafy period. Places most exposed to noise are located at the park boundaries along the main access roads, and at park entrances. Recommendations and sample solutions are proposed, based on two suggested design activities, namely the reduction of undesirable sounds, and introduction of desirable sounds to the parks.

Highlights

At the end of the 1960’s, Schafer established The World Soundscape Project that initiated the development of the interdisciplinary research trend of sound ecology [1,2,3].The main intention of the project was to develop solutions aimed at creating or maintaining an ecologically sustainable sound space with consideration of the relationship between the sound environment and the community [2,4,5].This article draws on the approach of landscape architecture and soundscape
The aim of the article is a multi-criteria analysis of soundscape based on the example of three parks in Olsztyn (Poland) as a part of the landscape planning process to determine the direction of re-design of places most exposed to noise
The analysis of the acoustic map with consideration of function showed the highest noise intensity caused by main roads right next to the park boundaries

Summary

Introduction

At the end of the 1960’s, Schafer established The World Soundscape Project that initiated the development of the interdisciplinary research trend of sound ecology [1,2,3].The main intention of the project was to develop solutions aimed at creating or maintaining an ecologically sustainable sound space with consideration of the relationship between the sound environment and the community [2,4,5].This article draws on the approach of landscape architecture and soundscape. The main intention of the project was to develop solutions aimed at creating or maintaining an ecologically sustainable sound space with consideration of the relationship between the sound environment and the community [2,4,5]. Acoustic indicators are not sufficient to describe it, because it results from complex relationships occurring between various sounds and human auditory perception [9]. It is important to investigate the subjective evaluation of noise nuisance. This requires learning about people’s sound preferences, and the relationships between certain characteristics of the acoustic environment and the perception of acoustic stimuli [11]. The concept of soundscape introduces a different approach to the analysis of the acoustic environment compared to the concept of noise [12]. Soundscape is increasingly popular in the field of landscape architecture, landscape planning, and design [17,18,19,20,21]

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Conclusion