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- Axelsson, Östen, et al.
(author)
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A field experiment on the impact of sounds from a jet-and-basin fountain on soundscape quality in an urban park
- 2014
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In: Landscape and Urban Planning. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2046 .- 1872-6062. ; 123, s. 49-60
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A field experiment was conducted to explore whether water sounds from a fountain had a positive impact on soundscape quality in a downtown park. In total, 405 visitors were recruited to answer a questionnaire on how they perceived the park, including its acoustic environment. Meanwhile the fountain was turned on or off, at irregular hours. Water sounds from the fountain were not directly associated with ratings of soundscape quality. Rather, the predictors of soundscape quality were the variables “Road-traffic noise” and “Other natural sounds”. The former had a negative and the latter a positive impact. However, water sounds may have had an indirect impact on soundscape quality by affecting the audibility of road-traffic and natural sounds. The present results, obtained in situ, agree with previous results in soundscape research that the sounds perceived—particularly roadtraffic and natural sounds—explain soundscape quality. They also agree with the results from laboratory studies that water sounds may mask road-traffic sounds, but that this is not simple and straight forward. Thus sound should be brought into the design scheme when introducing water features in urban open spaces, and their environmental impact must be thoroughly assessed empirically.
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| 2. |
- Hellström, Björn, 1959-, et al.
(author)
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Acoustic Design Artifacts and Methods for Urban Soundscapes
- 2008
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In: The 15th International Congress on Sound and Vibration In: International Journal of Acoustics & Vibration. ; , s. 52-52
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The research question is: “How to develop and apply acoustic artifacts and design methodologies for improving soundscapes in urban outdoor spaces?” In the project, this research question is limited to two specific types of urban outdoor spaces – city-park and city-square – and to two types of acoustic design artifacts. These are: I. Dynamic promotion of qualitative site specific sounds (e.g., the overall site specific sonic atmosphere, sounds from human activities, birds and fountains), which creates an improved soundscape. II. Sound-art installations, that creates delimited auditory sub-spaces within the park/square. The purpose and method is: 1. To provide two case-studies of artistic soundscape improvement, one in a noise polluted city-park and one in a city-square. The case-studies will serve as models for future applications of the new acoustic design artifacts. 2. To create and validate an innovative acoustic design methodology based on state-of-the-art real-time acoustic simulation tools integrated into the design process. The methodology will be validated in psychoacoustic listening experiments and field studies. 3. To determine the potential of the two acoustic design artifacts (I Dynamic promotion of qualitative site specific sounds, and II Sound-art installations) for providing pleasant and restorative soundscapes, in order to strengthening the social interaction as well as the spatial and aesthetical qualities in noise polluted city parks/squares. The present project beats a new track by combining acoustic design with sound art research, integrating methodologies based on real-time acoustic simulation and application of psychoacoustic methodology for validating simulations and for evaluating perceptual, emotional and behavioural effects on visitors to public open spaces. The ongoing research project, financed by the Swedish Research Council, is executed by the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack), Gösta Ekman Laboratory – Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet and the Interactive Institute, all in Stockholm, Sweden.
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