Urban soundscape of recreational area in high population area

Choy, Y. S.; Chau, C. K.; Tsui, W. K.; Tang, S. K.

Abstract

Urban landscape or parks for recreational purposes are important components in urban area in Hong Kong but traffic noise can seriously affect their usability. To evaluate their usability practically, the Soundscape of recreational areas has to be examined. This paper focuses on finding the relationship between the physical acoustical parameters and human perceptions in landscape which is exposed to traffic noise. Several acoustical parameters such as the LA10 and Leq are highly correlated with the subjective perception of users such as the pleasantness, loudness, interference with verbal communication, preference to stay and acceptance of an environment. The acoustical criterion of Leq or LA10 for users to perceive a park as being pleasant and wishing to stay willingly at the park has been found from statistical analysis. It is found that respondents perceive parks as pleasant environments when LAeq or LA10 is below 60 dB or 63 dB respectively; and they are willing to stay in parks when LAeq or LA10 is less than 61 dB and 64 dB respectively. The majority of people expect to hear the sound of birdcalls, water flow, music, and talking in recreational areas, but they dislike hearing the sound of heavy and light vehicles, screaming, horns, aeroplanes, and sirens. Such information is beneficial for the urban planning of recreational areas in Hong Kong.

Citation

Choy, Y. S., Chau, C. K., Tsui, W. K., & Tang, S. K. (2014). Urban soundscape of recreational area in high population area. Acta Acustica united with Acustica, 100(6), 1044-1055. https://doi.org/10.3813/AAA.918784

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 27, 2014
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jul 11, 2022
• Journal: Acta Acustica united with Acustica
• Print ISSN: 1610-1928
• Electronic ISSN: 1861-9959
• Publisher: European Acoustics Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 100
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1044-1055
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3813/AAA.918784
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4015874