Adaptive soundscape design for liveable urban spaces: a hybrid methodology across environmental acoustics and sonic art

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to identify and implement soundscape improvement strategies in urban areas based on loudspeaker placements in the outdoor environment and the use of a computer-based system for adaptive soundscape generation, integrating sonic art practice with acoustic engineering rigour.

KEYWORDS:

• Sonic arts
• noise pollution
• soundscape
• urban environment
• auraldiversity
• wellbeing

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the anonymous reviewers who have contributed with useful and stimulating comments to the improvement of the content – and shape – of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project is funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through the Consortium for the Humanities and the Arts (CHASE) Doctoral Training Partnership, and the CHASE Collaborative Doctoral Award scheme. Project support is provided by the UK Noise Abatement Society through co-supervison of the PhD studentship and collaboration with Dr Harry J. Witchel from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK.

Notes on contributors

Mattia Cobianchi

Mattia Cobianchi After graduating in Electronic Engineering (MSc) at Roma Tre University in 2005, he has worked for many transducers manufacturers, with a focus on finite element modelling and advanced measurement techniques. After a post-lauream course in Environmental & Building Acoustics at Ferrara University, in 2009 he joined the company Architettura Sonora, to work on system design for an innovative approach to noise pollution in urban areas. Since 2013 he has been employed as Senior Engineer in the UK based R&D department of Bowers&Wilkins. In 2018 he started a MPhil/PhD course at the Music department of Goldsmiths University of London.

John L. Drever

John L. Drever is operating at the intersection of acoustics, sound art and soundscape studies, Drever’s practice represents an ongoing inquiry into the affect, perception, design and practice of everyday environmental sound. Drever is Professor of Acoustic Ecology and Sound Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he is co-head of the Unit for Sound Practice Research. He is an Academician of The Academy of Urbanism and a Member of the Institute of Acoustics. In the summer of 2017 he was a Guest Professor in The Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark.

Lisa Lavia

Lisa Lavia is managing director of the Noise Abatement Society.  She has actively participated in the development of international soundscape standards and their uptake in the UK through campaigning, training, outreach and research.  She is a committee member of the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) Working Group on Soundscape, ISO TC43/SC1/WG54; a member of the British Standards Institution EH 1_3 committee on Residential and Industrial Noise, and EH 1_2 committee on Transportation Noise; and a member of the UK Institute of Acoustics.  Lisa is currently conducting doctoral research at Heriot-Watt University as part of Project DeStress on Soundscape and Wellbeing.