Abstract
Perceived occurrences of soundscape reflect cognitive responses to perceived soundscapes. This research focuses on the relationship between perceived occurrences and pleasantness of soundscape in urban forests, and models these parameters. Soundscape information was gathered at 60 observation sites in urban forests, including perceived occurrences of soundscape (POS), pleasantness of perceived soundscape in urban forests (PSUF), and equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq). Twelve trained participants were exposed to the soundscape at each site for five minutes and filled out a questionnaire about POS and PSUF. The weight-ratio of perceived occurrences of soundscape (WPOS) was obtained from the POS. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Stevens’ power law were conducted to test the applicability of the perceived occurrences of soundscape in psychophysical models. Results show that there is an interaction between the WPOS and PSUF in urban forests, and that psychophysical models are able to assess pleasantness of perceived soundscapes in urban forests. Findings show that pleasantness trends of geophony and biophony in broad-leaved forests and those in coniferous forests are opposite when the LAeq is increasing. Furthermore, by combining the WPOS, PSUF, and LAeq, the models were able to link the PSUF of geophony, biophony, anthrophony, and total soundscape in urban forests. Overall, results revealed that perceived occurrences of soundscape play a key role in linking the pleasantness of geophony, biophony, and anthrophony in urban forests.
Highlights
Urban forests are important components of urban green infrastructure, which include trees, forests, greenspace, and related abiotic, biotic, and cultural components in areas extending from the urban core to the urban-rural fringe [1,2]
This study demonstrates the composition of perceived soundscapes and the relationship between perceived occurrences and perceived pleasantness of soundscapes in urban forests
In terms of soundscape parameters, findings show that: 1) The uncertain occurrence of soundscape can be expressed as a probability based on the weight-ratio of perceived occurrences of soundscape (WPOS); 2) there are positive correlations between the WPOS and the perceived soundscape in urban forests (PSUF) of natural sounds in urban forests; 3) the WPOS is beneficial to link the PSUF of geophony, biophony, anthrophony, and total soundscape in urban forests
Summary
Urban forests are important components of urban green infrastructure, which include trees, forests, greenspace, and related abiotic, biotic, and cultural components in areas extending from the urban core to the urban-rural fringe [1,2]. Soundscape is one of the most important components of the landscape in urban green spaces, natural spaces, and cultural landscapes [4,5], and soundscape plays an important role in the perception of residents [6,7], especially in quiet areas [8]. Urban forests are suitable habitats for many plants and animals, which play a key role in producing soundscape [9,10,11]. The leaves contribute to absorb noise and produce the sound of leaves which benefit communication between animals [12], suggesting that the soundscape of urban forests may indicate ecological service functions, positive ecological value, and reduce the negative impacts of traffic noise in urban core regions [13,14]. If urban noise is not filtered by an urban forest which stands between the noise source and the living environments, in specific conditions they can lead to an attenuation of 7 dB per 30.48 m at frequencies below 2000 Hz through the absorption and radiation of leaves and wood [15], the noise can invade residential areas and public spaces, thereby negatively effecting recreation, leisure, and even health [16]
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