Design elements of urban soundscape derived from individual soundwalk

Abstract

In the present study, design elements of urban soundscape were investigated through individual soundwalk. Soundwalk route was selected in Seoul, Korea on the consideration of various urban elements such as buildings, activities, traffic volume, green and open spaces. Thirty subjects were asked to take photographs of various settings which impressed them either positively or negatively while soundwalk and to describe the impressions and characteristics of elements perceived in an open-ended form. Visual image, acoustic comfort, daylighting, olfactory perceptions, and openness of space were selected as the major contexts affecting soundscape perception, and context preferences and overall impressions were evaluated using an 11-point numerical scale. Binaural recording was conducted while soundwalk. At the same time, environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, illumination, and wind speed were measured. From the results, urban soundscapes were classified and dominant contexts affecting soundscape perception as well as soundscape design elements were derived.