SoundScapes

Soundscapes, understood here as the acoustic environment as experienced by people in specific contexts, are a crucial component of cultural ecosystem services and significantly impact human well-being. The aim of the SoundScapes project is to enhance scientific understanding for assessing and planning soundscapes in urban and rural contexts.

The Soundscapes project includes several studies that together comprise two PhD projects. One project, led by Ling Yang, aims to explore the relationships between soundscapes, people, nature, and visual landscapes in the context of landscape and urban planning. The objectives are to (i) examine how different demographic groups experience and evaluate soundscapes and place attachment, (ii) analyze the role of soundscape-visual landscape interactions in shaping place attachment, and (iii) explore avian soundscapes as ecological indicators of urban environmental quality.

The other project, led by Xuan Guo, focuses on approaches for integrating soundscape considerations in landscape and urban planning. It includes a literature review of evidence on soundscape effects on human well being and employs a map-based online survey to collect perceptual data on urban green space soundscapes.

Survey: How do greenspaces in Hannover sound like?

An ongoing online survey invited residents in Hannover to evaluate their sound experiences within local green spaces. The survey employs Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) methods, allowing participants to map and assess the perceived quality of soundscapes directly on an interactive map. Participants’ feedback will help identify spatial variations in soundscape quality and understand public preferences and perceptions. The insights gained from this survey will guide practical recommendations for urban planners and policymakers, promoting healthier urban planning and enhancing urban residents’ well-being.