Wang, C;
Kong, X;
Yao, S;
Kang, J;
Yuan, J;
(2021)
Crowd noise and vocal power level in large college canteens in China.
Applied Acoustics
, 182
, Article 108242. 10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108242.
Preview |
Text
Crowd Noise and Vocal power level in Large College Canteens in China.pdf - Accepted Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Both the noise and the vocal power level of the crowd are parameters for evaluating the acoustic environment. The former is from the perspective of the environment, and the latter is from the perspective of the user's needs. This paper aims to explore the crowd noise and vocal power level of diners in large college canteens in China. Measurements were conducted in two typical Chinese college canteens. Videos were also recorded to analyse the diners’ behaviour. The results showed that the noise in canteens varied from 61 dBA to 73 dBA during the meal. It was noted that although the noise level had a strong correlation with the number of occupants, the relationship between this two was not simply the superposition of equal-intensity sound sources. The speaking ratio and the Lombard effect played a significant role during the meal. The average speaking ratio was 0.12, which was far less than the practical value, 1/3. A prediction model for vocal power level under crowd noise was introduced into Chinese college canteens, which considered direct and reverberant sound energy using the parameters of room information, the location of the diners, and the speaking ratio. Based on this model, the vocal power level was found to vary from 59 dBA to 97 dBA. According to Pearson's evaluation criterion, 17.1% of the data fell between “Raised” and “Loud”, and 71.8% of the data fell between “Loud” and “Shout”. It indicated that the crowd noise in Chinese college canteens had a significant impact on communication and some acoustic treatment was necessary.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Crowd noise and vocal power level in large college canteens in China |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108242 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108242 |
| 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. |
| Keywords: | Crowd noise, Vocal power level, Lombard effect, Speaking ratio, Chinese college canteen, Mandarin |
| 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/10132069 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
