Sound Environment as a Global Issue

The soundscape of quiet urban parks in Rotterdam: assessment

and review of research approaches

Miriam Weber MSc, Head of Noise Department DCMR EPA

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas in Rotterdam

• EU Environmental Noise Directive • Rotterdamse Aanpak Geluidhinder • Omnibusenquête 2009 • Sustainability Programme 2011 - 2014

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: selected parks

Sidelingepark WOW Zuiderpark

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: methodology• Noise measuring (unmanned)

• Field surveys– Questionnaire– Swedish Soundscape Protocol

• Annual survey on quality of life– Questionnaire on noise annoyance and quiet

areas

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: measuring (1)

Acoustic indicators• Lday• LA95• LA50• LA10-LA90

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: measuring (2)

Lday LA95 LA50 LA10-LA90

dB(A) dB(A) dB(A) dB

Sidelingepark 58,5 55,0 57,9 3,7Wijkpark Oude Westen 54,1 46,8 50,0 7,2

Zuiderpark 54,7 45,9 49,8 10,1

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: field survey (1)Questionnaire:• Use of the area (activities undertaken, frequency

of visits, weekdays, time of day, duration of stay, alone or in company of, et cetera)

• Description of (visual) environment (open question) and its pleasantness (5-point bipolar scale)

• Personal data incl gender, age, education, address, noise perception at home

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: field survey (2)

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: assessment (1)

1 2 3 4 5

Verkeersgeluid

Ventilatorengeluid

Ander mechanisch geluid

Mensgeluiden

Natuurgeluiden

Zuiderpark

Sidelingepark

Wijkpark Oude westen

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: assessment (2)

Park Sidelingepark Wijkpark

Oude Westen

Zuiderpark

Mean 58,5 54,1 54,7 Lday STD 1,2 3,8 3,5 Mean 3,0 2,88 2,48 Evaluation acoustic

environment STD 0,74 0,83 0.87 Mean 2,17 2,12 1,63 Evaluation

pleasantness STD 0,48 0,52 0,65 Mean 6,86 7,06 7,76 Overall evaluation STD 0,84 1,3 0,76

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Quiet urban areas: assessment (3)Evaluation Overall Visual Acoustic

environmentDuration of stay

Age Quote

Wijkpark Oude Westen

7.1 Neutral Neutral 1 hour 37 “Baken van rust in hectische bouwput.”

Sidelingepark 6.9 Good/ neutral

Neutral 0,5 hour 57 “Groen, want rustig is het niet. Het is wel lekker, maar je komt er niet voor het geluid”

Zuiderpark 7.8 Good Good/neutral 2 hour 43 “Een mix van besef van de stad en toch even buiten zijn. Echt buiten”

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Conclusions (1): acoustic quality• Preliminary ‘noise’ levels:

• Lday <≈ 55 dB(A) • LA95 <≈ 45 dB(A) • LA50 <≈ 50 dB(A) • LA10 – LA90 <≈ 7 dB(A)

• Audible sounds: nature sounds (birds and leafs) and human sounds

• Absence of sounds from traffic (in general) and scooters

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Conclusions (2): visual quality

• Safe appearance • Clean and well-maintained • Green, nature • Water features• Other people, however without having to

contact them

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Conclusions (3): methodology • Field survey methods:

– Questionnaire provides holistic, analytical and narrative data covering most soundscape variables. Disadvantage is processing time.

– Adjustments of questionnaire regarding order of issues and perception of sounds

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Follow-up of pilot: parks (1)• Introducing green

barriers or bus waiting area as noise barrier in Wijkpark Oude Westen

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Follow-up of pilot: parks (2)• Introducing green noise barrier at seating

area in Sidelingepark

• Stakeholder involvement in maintenance

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Follow-up of pilot: 2011 - 2013• QUADMAP: a LIFE+ funded project with

Firenze, Bilbao, and Paris

• TASTE: a project with RIVM on quiet areas, quiet sides and restorative effects in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Arnhem

• Implementation of park specific recommendations and follow-up research

Sound Environment as a Global Issue

Thank you for your attention.

Miriam Weber MSc

Head of Noise Department DCMR EPA

miriam.weber@dcmr.nl