Soundscape Assessment

Soundscape research concerns the study of how people perceive, experience, or understand acoustic environments as a whole (both indoors and outdoors). In recent years, publications in this area have blossomed with many holistic case studies exploring soundscapes within a particular environment. Soundscape design is growing in popularity with interested parties ranging from researchers, councils, artists, and activists. However, to evaluate soundscape designs, further understanding of the methodological issues involved in perceiving and assessing soundscapes is necessary. This Research Topic therefore focuses on soundscape assessments and we particularly encourage contributions that examine the following, although not exhaustive, list of research questions and issues:
• Which factors or dimensions of soundscape are the most relevant to assess? For what purpose?
• How to assess these important factors or dimensions (including data collection instruments, levels of measurement)?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods) for soundscape assessment?
• What are the psychometric properties of soundscape assessment (e.g., validity and reliability of rating scales)?
• What is the relationship between soundscapes and sensory modalities other than hearing?
• How do cultural, social, and linguistic factors affect soundscape assessments?
• What is the relationship between soundscape assessment and activity?
• What are the heuristics governing soundscape assessments? How do memory and attention affect soundscape assessment? What is the relationship between isolated sound event(s) and soundscape(s)?
• What is the relationship between soundscape assessment and acoustic indicators?

We welcome contributions that further deepen our understanding of soundscapes in these areas. Articles published in this Research Topic will provide valuable contributions to the development of the International Standard on soundscape assessment, ISO 12913.