Soundwalk, Questionnaires and Noise Measurements in a University Campus: A Soundscape Study

Simona Mancini,Aurora Mascolo,Gabriella Graziuso,Claudio Guarnaccia

doi:10.3390/su13020841

Abstract

In order to manage noise pollution and reduce its environmental impact and health outcomes, several regulations have been issued in the last few decades, defining acoustic indicators and their thresholds. However, the acoustic environment can be considered a resource, focusing on people’s subjective perception of sounds in accordance with the soundscape approach. The integration of the tools, already applied by the legislation, and the soundscape technique produces a more thorough and comprehensive evaluation of the environmental noise that is necessary for its management. Starting from the best practice of the soundscape in urban planning, this paper presents an application of this approach at the Fisciano campus of the University of Salerno (Italy). The overarching goal is the comparison between the physical parameters, obtained by measuring the sound pressure level, and the psychoacoustic ones, derived by questionnaires given to a group of local experts during a soundwalk. The results will show, for example, some areas characterized by high sound pressure levels and a good perception of the soundscape. As a consequence, the application would seem to have discrepancies between the results of the two methods, but a deeper analysis can reveal further information to the traditional measurements that allow a more accurate knowledge of the acoustic environment.

Highlights

The dynamic evolution of society worldwide can be compared to a coin with two opposite faces, characterized by a considerable improvement in collective well-being and, at the same time, negative effects on the environment, such as the intensification of pollution.Among its components, noise pollution produces negative impacts on the environment and, according to the EEA [1], 20% of the European population lives in areas where noise levels are considered harmful to health.In order to manage human exposure to noise, the widespread approach focuses on the control of the physical parameters of the acoustic environment, acting interventions aimed to respect limits of sound pressure levels during the day and night time, defined by regulations [2]
The moderator can choose to stop in predefined points, where participants should listen to the acoustic environment in silence for a minimum time interval of 3 min, during which they should only listen consciously, and fill in a specific questionnaire about the stopover
As soundwalks and questionnaires represent tools to describe the perceived or experienced acoustic environment, the measurements of physical parameters, instead, describe quantitatively and objectively the sound pressure levels produced by noise sources present in the environment [47]

Summary

Introduction

In order to manage human exposure to noise, the widespread approach focuses on the control of the physical parameters of the acoustic environment, acting interventions aimed to respect limits of sound pressure levels during the day and night time, defined by regulations [2]. Subjective perceptions of an acoustic environment have an important role in the human evaluation of a place and the improvement of quality of life [4]. For this reason, the scientific community has recently shifted the attention to an innovative approach for the study of noise pollution, named “soundscape”.

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Conclusion