Environmental Sounds Research Articles

Applying the Generative Model Integrated with the Diffusion Technique to Improve Virtual Sample Generation in Environmental Sound Classification

Applying the Generative Model Integrated with the Diffusion Technique to Improve Virtual Sample Generation in Environmental Sound Classification

Determinants of Soundscape Quality of Communal Open Space in Hong Kong

Soundscape quality of communal open space (COS) in residential housing estates has been less thoroughly investigated. This paper aims to reveal the intricate relationships among physical sound, visual and thermal environments and their respective human perceptions, and soundscape quality, as well as their relative influences. To this end, a path model was formulated with aid of 1749 face-to-face field interview responses collected via questionnaire surveys together with physical measurements at the COS of nine residential housing estates in Hong Kong. The model findings suggested that pleasantness and landscape visual quality, as well as thermal acceptability were the primary drivers for soundscape quality of COS. The size of effects of thermal perceptions on soundscape quality was found comparable to those of aural and visual perceptions. In turn, pleasantness was more influenced by perception of dominant vehicle sound, human sound and birdsong than physical sound properties and psychoacoustics factors. Visual quality of landscape also played an important role on soundscape assessments via visibility of greenery and sky. Besides, thermal acceptability was found to directly influence soundscape assessments instead of thermal comfort or sensation. Above all, our findings provide valuable insights for residential housing estate designers in formulating strategies that can effectively improve soundscape quality in COS in compact city environments.

초등학교 ‘즐거운 생활’ 통합교과서의 생태음악교육 내용 분석

The necessity of ecological education for coexistence between nature and humans, such as environmental education, ecological education, and ecological transition education, is increasingly emphasized through gradual changes in schools. Therefore, ecological education is now an important educational topic that should be addressed not only in specific subjects such as social studies, morals, science, and environment, but also in all fields. Ecological education in the music field starts from ecological musicology, which explores the relationship between music, culture, and the natural environment, and includes the area of environmental sounds. Therefore, the types of ecological music education that appear in the integrated textbook for elementary schools, “Pleasure Life,” which is being used for the first time in accordance with the revised 2022 curriculum this year, were analyzed by dividing them into ecological education through the text of the original song and sound activities such as exploring, listening to, and imitating environmental sounds. Through this, we examined whether the 2022 revised curriculum music text composition is appropriate in terms of ecological and environmental education, and the most common text related to the 'land ecosystem', while few or no texts such as 'climate change and response', 'marine ecosystem', and 'eco-friendly energy' were used. In addition, the sound activity area was classified into three categories based on soundscape ecology: 'geophony', 'biophony', and 'anthrophony', and it was confirmed that sound activity appeared in all three categories, and that the activity area had a variety of organization ranging from search, listening, and imitation of sound. This analysis is considered to be helpful in setting the direction of ecological music education and operating the subject.

The Impact of Soundscapes on Healthcare Teams: A Literature Review

Healthcare teams often work in complex systems where soundscapes include numerous noise sources and levels which could impact teamwork. While studies have analyzed the impact of sound on patients, articles describing clinician and clinical team experience are relatively sparse. The purpose of this literature review was to determine what is currently known about soundscapes and their impact on teamwork and team performance in hospital-based healthcare settings. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The Input-Process-Output framework and SEIPS 2.0 model guided our review and categorization of the included studies. The work environments studied included the operating room (OR), perioperative area, and a simulation. Noise input was grouped by existing noise, music or controlled sound conditions, and communication wearables during clinical or simulated tasks. Nine of the 11 articles studied the impact sound environment on team communication and three articles measured other team processes. The findings from this review assessed both existing and experimental noise conditions discovering associations with team performance processes and outcomes. Overall, previous studies have found that noise can impact individuals and elements of teamwork, especially communication. Future research is needed to develop best practices and innovative solutions supporting a positive soundscape for teamwork.

Exploring adult hearing aid user experiences: meaning extraction methods, content patterns, and associations with demographic and outcome variables

Objective Employing automated language analysis, specifically Meaning Extraction Method (MEM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to identify key factors in open-text responses about hearing aid experiences. Design Exploratory, cross-sectional design, using an online questionnaire. Responses to a single open-ended question were analysed using MEM, PCA, regression, and correlation analyses. Study sample Participants (n = 538) included adult hearing aid users sampled from the Hearing Tracker website community and Lexie Hearing user databases in the United States. Results The MEM-derived items revealed six factors related to hearing aid experiences: (1) life change, (2) social situation, (3) quality of life, (4) impact and speech understanding, (5) communication and interaction, and (6) music and environmental sounds. IOI-HA item 3 had the most statistically significant correlations with PCA factors. Quantile regression revealed that factors one and two significantly predicted the IOI-HA total score. Positive correlations were observed between self-reported hearing difficulty and factors one, four, and five, as well as between factor one and general health and factor two and physical activity. Conclusion Natural language analysis of open-ended textual responses can offer valuable insights into hearing aid users’ experiences. Future studies should aim to refine this methodology to enhance clinical relevance and generalisability.

Understanding the sound environments of young children: potential implications for radio aid use

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to describe, analyse and compare the sound environments to which deaf and typically hearing children between 3 and 18 months are typically exposed, and identify issues to support the development of guidelines for the use of radio aids in this age group. Thirty parents of children aged 3–18 months (14 deaf children and 16 who were typically hearing) took part. An online survey was devised for this study and was intended to capture the “soundscape” (sounds in the environment) to which both deaf and typically hearing children between 3 and 18 months were usually exposed in their everyday lives at multiple points during the day. The purpose of the survey was to map everyday routine experiences and interactions with their families to assess auditory access and environmental awareness or unawareness. Conceptual content analysis was used to evaluate participant descriptions of sound environments. Differences in child awareness of sound and distances between children and their parents were also analysed. Results showed that both deaf and typically hearing children experience rich and complex soundscapes with plenty of opportunities for learning about the world. Parents of deaf children changed their child’s sound environment compared to parents of typically hearing children, particularly at home, in order to provide easier listening conditions. However, deaf children were often in noisy environments where hearing aids or cochlear implants alone were unlikely to be providing good access to speech and other salient sounds, and radio aids may be beneficial in these circumstances.

Impact of the EduIntegrity Suite on Academic Integrity: A Qualitative Study

The EduIntegrity Suite, a collection of tools designed to promote academic integrity, has garnered significant interest within educational institutions. This study explores the Suite's perceived effectiveness and its influence on various stakeholders through a mixed-methods approach. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with students, educators, and administrators at institutions utilizing the Suite. Student discussions explored their perceptions of the Suite's impact on their learning environment and potential concerns. Educators discussed how the Suite influenced their teaching practices and addressed suspected misconduct. Administrator focus groups provided insights into the decision-making process for implementing the Suite, its effectiveness, and its broader cultural influence. An online component complemented the focus groups, involving a comprehensive review of documents and websites related to the Suite. Company websites and product information for the Suite's individual tools were examined. Academic resources discussing the Suite's functionalities and potential applications were reviewed. News articles and blog posts offering insights from educators, administrators, and students regarding their experiences were explored. The findings highlight the Suite's multifaceted functionalities, including plagiarism detection, grammar and citation checking, originality reports, and remote proctoring services. While students acknowledged the Suite's potential deterrent effect, concerns about workarounds and a shift in focus from learning to detecting cheaters were also voiced. Administrators, however, emphasized the Suite's potential as a tool for promoting a culture of academic integrity, not just detecting plagiarism. Transparency and clear communication emerged as crucial for fostering trust and student acceptance. The EduIntegrity Suite appears to offer a promising approach to academic integrity when implemented strategically and combined with effective pedagogical practices. However, the success hinges on a multi-pronged approach that addresses student concerns, utilizes the Suite's functionalities effectively, and fosters a culture of ethical learning within the institution. To achieve this, institutions can prioritize clear communication about the Suite's purpose and limitations, support and develop staff with the Suites functionality and ethical consideration. Moreover, encourage educational initiatives that promote critical thinking, responsible research practices, and proper citation skills. Collaboration between educators and administrators can leverage the Suite's capabilities to create a more supportive and ethically sound learning environment.

Individual Differences in the Impact of Distracting Environmental Sounds on the Performance of a Continuous Visual Task in Older Adults

Background/Objectives: Vulnerability to sound distraction is commonly reported in older adults with dementia and tends to be associated with adverse impacts on daily activity. However, study outcome heterogeneity is increasingly evident, with preserved resistance to distraction also evident. Contributory factors may include individual differences in distractibility in older adulthood per se, and failure to consider the influence of how difficult a person found the test. Methods: We therefore measured distractibility in a group of older adults by comparing the performance of a primary visual task (Swansea Test of Attentional Control), which includes an adaptive algorithm to take into account how difficult a person finds the test under both no-sound and sound conditions. Results: Analysis revealed no significant difference in group mean performance between no-sound versus sound conditions [t (33) = 0.181, p = 0.858; Cohen’s effect size d = −0.028], but individual differences in performance both within and between sound and no-sound conditions were evident, indicating that for older adults, distracting sounds can be neutral, detrimental, or advantageous with respect to visual task performance. It was not possible to determine individual thresholds for whether sound versus no-sound conditions affected a person’s actual behaviour. Conclusions: Nevertheless, our findings indicate how variable such effects may be in older adults, which in turn may help to explain outcome heterogeneity in studies including people living with dementia. Furthermore, such within-group heterogeneity highlights the importance of considering a person’s individual performance in order to better understand their behaviour and initiate interventions as required.

The Effect of Competition Sounds on Balance Performance in Football Players

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the impact of competition environment sounds on the static and dynamic balance of football players. Materials and Methods Thirty-two football players with a mean age of 21.12±2.99 years and a body mass index of 21.98±2.58 kg/m² were included in this study. The initial assessment condition (whether in a quiet environment or with competition sounds) was determined by simple randomization. Forty-eight hours later, at the same time of day, the tests were repeated with the environmental conditions reversed. Balance performance was assessed using the Tecnobody device for both static and dynamic balance. Results In the static balance test, it was found that the surface area covered significantly decreased in the environment where competition sounds were played (p=0.014), while there was no significant change in overall sway (p=0.313), anteroposterior sway (p=0.852), or mediolateral sway (p=0.104). In the dynamic balance test, no significant change was observed in anteroposterior sway (p=0.411), but mediolateral sway (p=0.025) and overall sway (p=0.042) significantly decreased. Additionally, there was a significant improvement in the athletes’ score for reaching the target (p=0.003). The perceived difficulty levels during the tests were found to be significantly lower in both the static (p=0.048) and dynamic (p=0.001) balance tests in the environment where competition sounds were played. Conclusion In conclusion, competition environment sounds were found to positively affect the balance performance of football players and reduce the perceived difficulty level. Incorporating balance training with competition sounds during athlete rehabilitation may contribute to improved balance recovery.

Sustainability Optimization Method of Built Environment with Integrated Physical Environment and Virtual Perception Simulation: A Case Study of Campus Open Space

High-quality built environments significantly enhance residents’ health, urban livability, and sustainability. However, the lack of precise pre-evaluation of designs and user perceptions during the design phase often results in suboptimal improvements. This study proposes a method for evaluating and optimizing design schemes based on multidimensional physical environment simulations and virtual perception, using a university campus as a case study. Initially, we establish simulation models for sound, wind, thermal, and light environments and analyze the current state of virtual perception in the campus environment. Subsequently, we integrate the evaluation results of the physical environment and virtual perception to identify three priority intervention areas and develop corresponding design strategies. Finally, we reapply the method for pre-evaluation of the design schemes and further optimize the designs. The results show that the optimized schemes receive positive feedback in virtual perception evaluations. This study leverages the combined use of multidimensional physical environment simulations and VR technology to create an immersive virtual environment with measurable physical perception experiences, providing a new approach for guiding the sustainability of built environments.

Using mobile EEG to study auditory work strain during simulated surgical procedures

Surgical personnel face various stressors in the workplace, including environmental sounds. Mobile electroencephalography (EEG) offers a promising approach for objectively measuring how individuals perceive sounds. Because surgical performance does not necessarily decrease with higher levels of distraction, EEG could help guide noise reduction strategies that are independent of performance measures. In this study, we utilized mobile EEG to explore how a realistic soundscape is perceived during simulated laparoscopic surgery. To examine the varying demands placed on personnel in different situations, we manipulated the cognitive demand during the surgical task, using a memory task. To assess responses to the soundscape, we calculated event-related potentials for distinct sound events and temporal response functions for the ongoing soundscape. Although participants reported varying degrees of demand under different conditions, no significant effects were observed on surgical task performance or EEG parameters. However, changes in surgical task performance and EEG parameters over time were noted, while subjective results remained consistent over time. These findings highlight the importance of using multiple measures to fully understand the complex relationship between sound processing and cognitive demand. Furthermore, in the context of combined EEG and audio recordings in real-life scenarios, a sparse representation of the soundscape has the advantage that it can be recorded in a data-protected way compared to more detailed representations. However, it is unclear whether information get lost with sparse representations. Our results indicate that sparse and detailed representations are equally effective in eliciting neural responses. Overall, this study marks a significant step towards objectively investigating sound processing in applied settings.

Acoustic scene analysis of spatial and temporal distribution of sound arrival direction and frequency spectra

In the outdoor monitoring of aircraft noise, not only the target aircraft sounds to be monitored arrive, but also various environmental sounds also arrive at the monitoring site, and the sound situation changes from moment to moment. The authors have studied and reported on a method to classify environmental sound sources and to evaluate the influence of environmental sounds on aircraft sound monitoring by analyzing the spatial-temporal distribution of sound arrival direction and sound level of various environmental sounds at the monitoring site as a sound scene. This paper will make a report on a result of the acoustic scene analysis by using the sound spectra as additional input data in the scene analysis. We will also explain about a procedure for automatic classification of sound sources using the result of the scene analysis briefly.

Sound environment design using flexible wood-based sound absorbers

A sound-absorbing material made of flexible wooden boards with air permeability was developed to improve the indoor sound environment of buildings. The flexible wood-based material has sound absorbing characteristics with the Helmholtz resonator by its air permeability. In other words, various sound absorption characteristics could be realized owing to the cross-sectional shape (flat or curved) and machining conditions (cut width, cut pitch, and plate thickness). In this paper, the application of flexible wood-based sound-absorbing materials to acoustic design in actual buildings (nursery schools and a church) where acoustic considerations are required is presented. In their application to a newly built nursery school, one of the considerations was to prevent the loss of design by installing sound-absorbing materials. In their application to acoustic renovation, the sound environment improvement effect was confirmed by measuring sounds before and after the installation, and it was also confirmed that the users were able to feel the improvement effect. These results will lead to the development of sound-absorbing wooden boards as an interior material and the promotion of the use of wood in buildings to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.

Statistical evaluation of road traffic noise in complex sound environment by using fuzzy inference

In order to evaluate road traffic noise in a sound environment, it is necessary to predict the sound levels at evaluation points based on the observations at a reference point. In actual sound environment, road traffic noise shows various types of probability distribution of non-Gaussian distribution and nonstationary property. Furthermore, there potentially exist various nonlinear correlations in addition to the linear correlation between the sound levels at evaluation and reference points. Consequently, the relationship between both points cannot be represented by a simple linear model based on only the linear correlation and lower order statistics. In this study, a complex sound environment difficult to analyze by using usual structural method is considered. By introducing a nonlinear model based on conditional probability distribution with various correlations between the sound levels, and applying fuzzy inference, an evaluation method for road traffic noise is theoretically proposed in a suitable form for the complex sound environment with nonlinear, non-Gaussian and nonstationary properties. The effectiveness of the proposed method is experimentally confirmed by applying it to the observed road traffic noise data in a complex sound environment.

Reducing discomfort by integrating unpleasant environmental sounds with cognitive sound control

We respond to unpleasant sounds in our daily lives by blocking out sound environments that we find unpleasant. This may be because of our helplessness in interfering with these sounds. However, blocking limits the range of sound selection. To reduce discomfort from unpleasant sound, rather than blocking the sound environment, this study aimed to make unpleasant sounds less bothersome by integrating them into music. To achieve this, we expect that participants will intervene in the sound environment where there is unpleasant sound, recognize that the environment is controllable, and reduce the unpleasantness of the sound. If participants can consider unpleasant sounds as part of the environment they can control, they can create an environment in which unpleasant sounds do not bother them. In this study, melody generated based on the rhythm of the unpleasant sound was played, and experiments were conducted to cognitively mask the unpleasant sound based on the perception that it can interfere with the environment as the melody can be adjusted. Results showed that manipulating the environment altered the perception of unpleasant sounds and improved task performance by reducing their unpleasantness. Improved performance may be due to task-specific self-efficacy.

The role of person-related factors and acoustic parameters on students' perception: a pilot study

Classrooms are dynamic spaces where the sound environment not only influences the comprehension of the teacher's message but also shapes the social and emotional atmosphere within the class. This pilot study investigates the sound perception of students within classrooms, considering both person-related and acoustic objective factors as predictors. Thirty-four students from two grade-four classes of a primary school in Pavia, Italy, participated in this study, completing a questionnaire assessing the perceived pleasantness, arousal and loudness within the classroom. Person-related factors such as noise sensitivity, working memory, theory of mind, and language skills were also evaluated separately. Sound levels in occupied conditions were monitored and processed using Gaussian Mixture Models to separate teacher speech levels from students' activity. Additionally, acoustic parameters including reverberation time and clarity were measured in unoccupied conditions. Person-related factors were analysed in relation to subjective evaluations, considering the potential mediating effect of the classroom sound environment. The results of this study will offer insights into the complex interplay between person-related characteristics and the sound environment, shedding light on factors beyond noise interferences that impact students' subjective perception in educational settings.

An action-oriented participatory research methodology involving residents, elected representatives and researchers: a case study in Rezé, France

The management of sound environments is a major challenge for the quality of life of residents (a definition here including city users). Local authorities have regulatory tools at their disposal to manage urban noise pollution, but these are sometimes far removed from the residents' perceptions. The aim of the SonoRezé project is to build on a citizen science approach, based on a triptych of "Local authorities - Residents - Researchers", working together on the diagnosis and management of urban sound environments in the city of Rezé, in Nantes metropolitan area. The approach consists in participatory noise measurements using the NoiseCapture mobile application, and the definition and implementation of actions jointly developed by residents, elected representatives and researchers, with the aim of improving the city's sound environments. The article will present the interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder methodology involved. Then, two initiated actions will be outlined and discussed: (i) a scientific mediation initiative in schools focusing on the development of perceptual sound maps, (ii) an action on aircraft noise, precising the methodology involving the three parties used to construct the action, as well as some of the results produced, namely a sensitive map, analyses of measurement data and the production of alternative indicators.

Development of an experimental technique for measuring polar diagrams of adaptive directivity implemented in hearing aids

Nowadays, hearing aids have efficient signal processing options to improve speech intelligibility in noise. This work concerns the characterization of the microphone systems directivity available in hearing aids. In recent decades, "adaptive" directivities have been implemented in hearing aids, thus making it possible to focus on useful sound sources in the hearing aid patient environment. These options use the principles of sound environments detection, acoustic beamforming and noise reduction. Performances of these options can be estimated with subjective methods (as speech audiometry in noise), and objective methods (listening effort, intelligibility indicators as HASPI, SII, STI, etc.). But these methods provide an overall assessment of all the processing involved in speech enhancement and are not designed to characterize the effects of adaptive directivity. We developed an experimental technique based on sound sources separation with phase opposition diffusion (known as "Hagerman" method) to draw polar diagrams of adaptive directivity, for realistic sound environments. We used a sound multi-diffusion system to generate various sound environments with noise and speech sources around an artificial head equipped with hearing aids. The first results show the adaptive directivity effects associated with noise reduction provided by the latest hearing aids generation on everyday hearing scenes.

Studying environment sounds using transfer entropy: Application to an urban park in the city of Milan, Italy

Sounds in large cities are usually characterized by multi-source overlaying components. This makes environment sound quality difficult to interpret, thus requiring different investigation approaches. This is the case of urban parks where the coexistence of anthropogenic and biophonic sound sources makes the evaluation of the local soundscape quality challenging. In this context, we applied the transfer entropy measure to extract additional information with respect to the more classical approach of eco-acoustics. The case study refers to the Parco Nord of Milan, Italy, for which classical soundscape analysis is already available. We used sound recordings (3.5h long each) taken over an area of approximately 20 hectares using 16 sensors. We calculated the classical eco-acoustic indices and studied the transfer entropy among all sites. The considered time series corresponded to three representative eco-acoustic indices (Acoustic Diversity Index, ADI, Acoustic Complexity Index, ACI and Dynamic Spectral Centroid, DSC calculated for all the 16 sites with 1-minute time resolution) obtained after a principal components analysis. A preliminary interpretation of the results is provided by selecting a representative index from one principal component and by comparing its behavior with a previous standard soundscape analysis performed by the authors for the same index and area.

Towards better visualizations of urban sound environments: insights from interviews

Urban noise maps and noise visualizations traditionally provide macroscopic representations of noise levels across cities. However, those representations fail at accurately gauging the sound perception associated with these sound environments, as perception highly depends on the sound sources involved. This paper aims at analyzing the need for the representations of sound sources, by identifying the urban stakeholders for whom such representations are assumed to be of importance. Through spoken interviews with various urban stakeholders, we have gained insight into current practices, the strengths and weaknesses of existing tools and the relevance of incorporating sound sources into existing urban sound environment representations. Three distinct use of sound source representations emerged in this study: 1) noise-related complaints for industrials and specialized citizens, 2) soundscape quality assessment for citizens, and 3) guidance for urban planners. Findings also reveal diverse perspectives for the use of visualizations, which should use indicators adapted to the target audience, and enable data accessibility.