Subjective and objective investigations on environmental properties to be displayed on sensory friendly maps at the Tokyo National Museum

Abstract

Sensory friendly maps are known to be effective in providing advance information to visitors sensitive to environmental stimuli. However, the process of determining the environment al factors to be displayed on sensory friendly maps remains unclear. To provide visitors with useful advance information, we conducted a subjective evaluation and objective measurements, as a preliminary study, to create a sensory friendly map of the Tokyo National Museum. First, participants with autistic spectrum disorder were asked to explore the entire facility and record their perceptions at locations that they perceived to be characteristic. Second, objective measurements of the sound and lighting environments were conducted. Subsequently, the relationship between the subjective evaluation and objective measurements was assessed. Consequently, we discovered that some elements extracted through the subjective evaluation could be explained using objective measures such as the noise level, noise frequency characteristics, and reverberation time. Moreover, we confirmed that, in some cases, the subjective effect of sensory stimulation could change depending on the relationship with surrounding environments, purpose of the environmental setting, and qualitative factors. In such cases, adequate correspondences between the subjective and objective results could not be established.