Understanding the soundscape environment of an urban park through landscape elements

This study aims at understanding the sound environment of an urban park through landscape elements based on the three different primary data sets collected. The methods adopted for the collection of data includes measurement of background sound, observation through soundwalk using ISO/TS 129132:2018 questionnaire(Method B), and perception survey of the users. Overall, 105 samples from the park were collected over three time period, i.e. on weekdays(WD), weekends(WE) and public holidays (PH). The recordings, observations and survey were carried out throughout the day following a set of timelines, i.e. at 10.00-13.00 hrs, 14.00-17.00 hrs and 18.00-21.00 for constructing an overall perceived soundscape environment of the park. Based on the geo-statistical kriging interpolation in GIS background sound measurement, the study observed that decrease of 2-3 dB of sound level near the fountain zone, one of the prominent landscape elements found in the park. Further, it was observed that dense vegetation especially trees play a greater role in regulating the soundscape of the environment than shrubs and groundcover. The study also shows that the unpleasant traffic noise generated in the park can be annulled by introducing preferred sounds such as bird chirping and water sounds(using fountains). Thereby, soundscape characteristics such as loudness, pleasantness and annoyance all can be manipulated through the introduction of landscape elements. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.