UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

The influence of companion factors on soundscape evaluations in urban public spaces

Cao, J; Kang, J; (2021) The influence of companion factors on soundscape evaluations in urban public spaces. Sustainable Cities and Society , 69 , Article 102860. 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102860. Green open access

[thumbnail of WhiteroseVersion_companions.pdf]
Preview
Text
WhiteroseVersion_companions.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (794kB) | Preview

Abstract

'Soundscape' refers to how individuals or groups of people perceive sounds. This study focuses on whether and to what extent companion factors, compared with other demographic factors, influence the various aspects of soundscape evaluation. Two kinds of companion factors are studied here: one is companion status, the other is the social relationship intensity between companions. Based on a questionnaire and statistical analysis, both companion factors are found to influence evaluations of socially interactive sounds- sound made by human activity. People accompanied are more likely to notice speaking and children sound and prefer safe and social sounds. People involved in closer social relationships tend to notice children's sounds more and prefer human sound types and social sound. Other factors may offset the influence of companion factors, however. Site factors interfere with accompanied people's tendencies to prefer safe sounds and notice children's sounds, and participants’ ages interfere with their tendencies to notice speaking sound. The results of this study suggest that human activity sounds can contribute to social sound among companions, whereas solo people may prefer more privacy and quietness. This study emphasizes companion factors in soundscape evaluations and suggests future soundscape design to satisfy people with different companions.

Type: Article
Title: The influence of companion factors on soundscape evaluations in urban public spaces
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102860
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.102860
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10127934
Downloads since deposit
137Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item