The Positive Soundscape Project: A synthesis of results from many disciplines

William J. Davies; Mags D. Adams; Neil Bruce; Melissa Marselle; Rebecca Cain; Paul Jennings; John Poxon; Angus Carlyle; Peter Cusack; Deborah A. Hall; Amy Irwin; Ken I. Hume; Christopher J. Plack

The Positive Soundscape Project: A synthesis of results from many disciplines

William J. Davies^*, Mags D. Adams, Neil Bruce, Melissa Marselle, Rebecca Cain, Paul Jennings, John Poxon, Angus Carlyle, Peter Cusack, Deborah A. Hall, Amy Irwin, Ken I. Hume, Christopher J. Plack

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Social Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper takes an overall view of ongoing findings from the Positive Soundscape Project, a large inter-disciplinary soundscapes study which is nearing completion. Qualitative fieldwork (soundwalks and focus groups) and lab-based listening tests have revealed that two key dimensions of the emotional response are calmness and vibrancy. In the lab these factors explain nearly 80% of the variance in listener response. Physiological validation is being sought using fMRI measurements, and these have so far shown significant differences in the response of the brain to affective and neutral soundscapes. A conceptual framework which links the key soundscape components and which could be used for future design is outlined. Metrics are suggested for some perceptual scales and possibilities for soundscape synthesis for design and user engagement are discussed, as are the applications of the results to future research and environmental noise policy.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009
Publisher	Institute of Noise Control Engineering
Pages	663-672
Number of pages	10
Volume	1
ISBN (Print)	9781615676903
Publication status	Published - 2009
Event	38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009 - Ottawa, Canada Duration: 23 Aug 2009 → 26 Aug 2009

Conference

Conference	38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009
Abbreviated title	INTER-NOISE 2009
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Ottawa
Period	23/08/09 → 26/08/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Acoustics and Ultrasonics

Cite this

Davies, W. J., Adams, M. D., Bruce, N., Marselle, M., Cain, R., Jennings, P., Poxon, J., Carlyle, A., Cusack, P., Hall, D. A., Irwin, A., Hume, K. I., & Plack, C. J. (2009). The Positive Soundscape Project: A synthesis of results from many disciplines. In 38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009 (Vol. 1, pp. 663-672). Institute of Noise Control Engineering.

@inproceedings{e90f6c4292fa452a956a8db603c0db12,

title = "The Positive Soundscape Project: A synthesis of results from many disciplines",

abstract = "This paper takes an overall view of ongoing findings from the Positive Soundscape Project, a large inter-disciplinary soundscapes study which is nearing completion. Qualitative fieldwork (soundwalks and focus groups) and lab-based listening tests have revealed that two key dimensions of the emotional response are calmness and vibrancy. In the lab these factors explain nearly 80% of the variance in listener response. Physiological validation is being sought using fMRI measurements, and these have so far shown significant differences in the response of the brain to affective and neutral soundscapes. A conceptual framework which links the key soundscape components and which could be used for future design is outlined. Metrics are suggested for some perceptual scales and possibilities for soundscape synthesis for design and user engagement are discussed, as are the applications of the results to future research and environmental noise policy.",

author = "Davies, {William J.} and Adams, {Mags D.} and Neil Bruce and Melissa Marselle and Rebecca Cain and Paul Jennings and John Poxon and Angus Carlyle and Peter Cusack and Hall, {Deborah A.} and Amy Irwin and Hume, {Ken I.} and Plack, {Christopher J.}",

year = "2009",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781615676903",

volume = "1",

pages = "663--672",

booktitle = "38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009",

publisher = "Institute of Noise Control Engineering",

address = "United States",

note = "38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009, INTER-NOISE 2009 ; Conference date: 23-08-2009 Through 26-08-2009",

}

Davies, WJ, Adams, MD, Bruce, N, Marselle, M, Cain, R, Jennings, P, Poxon, J, Carlyle, A, Cusack, P, Hall, DA, Irwin, A, Hume, KI & Plack, CJ 2009, The Positive Soundscape Project: A synthesis of results from many disciplines. in 38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009 . vol. 1, Institute of Noise Control Engineering, pp. 663-672, 38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 23/08/09.

TY - GEN

T1 - The Positive Soundscape Project

T2 - 38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009

AU - Davies, William J.

AU - Adams, Mags D.

AU - Bruce, Neil

AU - Marselle, Melissa

AU - Cain, Rebecca

AU - Jennings, Paul

AU - Poxon, John

AU - Carlyle, Angus

AU - Cusack, Peter

AU - Hall, Deborah A.

AU - Irwin, Amy

AU - Hume, Ken I.

AU - Plack, Christopher J.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - This paper takes an overall view of ongoing findings from the Positive Soundscape Project, a large inter-disciplinary soundscapes study which is nearing completion. Qualitative fieldwork (soundwalks and focus groups) and lab-based listening tests have revealed that two key dimensions of the emotional response are calmness and vibrancy. In the lab these factors explain nearly 80% of the variance in listener response. Physiological validation is being sought using fMRI measurements, and these have so far shown significant differences in the response of the brain to affective and neutral soundscapes. A conceptual framework which links the key soundscape components and which could be used for future design is outlined. Metrics are suggested for some perceptual scales and possibilities for soundscape synthesis for design and user engagement are discussed, as are the applications of the results to future research and environmental noise policy.

AB - This paper takes an overall view of ongoing findings from the Positive Soundscape Project, a large inter-disciplinary soundscapes study which is nearing completion. Qualitative fieldwork (soundwalks and focus groups) and lab-based listening tests have revealed that two key dimensions of the emotional response are calmness and vibrancy. In the lab these factors explain nearly 80% of the variance in listener response. Physiological validation is being sought using fMRI measurements, and these have so far shown significant differences in the response of the brain to affective and neutral soundscapes. A conceptual framework which links the key soundscape components and which could be used for future design is outlined. Metrics are suggested for some perceptual scales and possibilities for soundscape synthesis for design and user engagement are discussed, as are the applications of the results to future research and environmental noise policy.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870040778&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84870040778

SN - 9781615676903

VL - 1

SP - 663

EP - 672

BT - 38th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering 2009

PB - Institute of Noise Control Engineering

Y2 - 23 August 2009 through 26 August 2009

ER -

The Positive Soundscape Project: A synthesis of results from many disciplines

Abstract

Conference

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this