Toward Healthier Parks and People through Integrated Soundscape Research: Applying the International Organization for Standardization Acoustic Environment Taxonomy across Contexts

Abstract

This work addresses the call for integrative approaches to soundscape research that facilitate interdisciplinary advances, through enhancements to the 2018 International Organization for Standardization “Taxonomy of the Acoustic Environment for Soundscape Studies”, included in ISO12913-2 for soundscape data collection and reporting. Specifically, it strengthens natural sound sources and type considerations, enabling integrated approaches across urban and natural contexts. Building on the premise that what people experience in one context (e.g., home; work), they bring into other contexts [e.g., protected areas (PA)], two-phased survey research contrasted Chilean PA visitors’ perceptions of Coyhaique National Reserve acoustic environments with prevalent sounds at home and work (n = 333). The paper’s proposed taxonomy enhancements may enable integration of PA perceptual soundscape research with research from other disciplines/contexts, facilitating better understanding of visitor perceptions that can lead to better informed soundscapes programming and monitoring, and improved Healthy Park, Healthy People outcomes.