A systematic review of human perceptual dimensions of sound: Meta-analysis of semantic differential method applications to indoor and outdoor sounds

Wai, Kuen; Wong, Hai Ming; Mak, Cheuk Ming

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.02.021

Cited by 60 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…The important dimensions are timbre, loudness and roughness/sharpness. These three dimensions are consistent with the three dimensions of more general human perception of sound [23]. The quality and design of sound in car cabins are thus receiving much attention.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 58%

An Exploratory Analysis of Sound Field Characteristics using the Impulse Response in a Car Cabin

Soeta

Sakamoto

2018

Environments

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Sound environments in cars are becoming quieter and receiving attention because of the prevalence of low-noise engines such as hybrid and electric engines and the manifestation of automated driving. Although the car cabin has potential as a listening space, its acoustic quality has not been examined in detail. The present study investigated sound field characteristics in the car cabin using acoustic parameters obtained by impulse response analysis. In particular, effects of the passenger position, open windows and the use of an air conditioner on acoustic parameters were investigated. The passenger position affected the sound strength at low frequencies. Rear seats, except for the rear central seat, had lower interaural correlation than the front seats, suggesting that rear seats have more diffused sound fields. The opening of windows and use of air conditioners attenuated the ratio of early-and late-arriving energy at high frequencies, suggesting a loss of clarity for music.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 58%

An Exploratory Analysis of Sound Field Characteristics using the Impulse Response in a Car Cabin

Soeta

Sakamoto

2018

Environments

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“…In residential buildings, questionnaires and guided interviews have been the assessment methods most commonly used to capture people's perception, whereas the adoption of soundwalks and non-participatory behavioral studies appears to be limited in an indoor context and need further investigation [51]. As regards the application of the semantic differential method for a subjective evaluation of indoor soundscapes, nine adjective pairs were proposed to describe three main perceptual dimension of sound ("evaluation", "potency", and "activity") in indoor and outdoor environments [59]. Methods such as "grounded theory" coupled with interviews have been specifically investigated in the field of indoor soundscapes, to systematically extract information on subjective perception from qualitative data gathered during questionnaires or interviews [60][61][62].…”

Section: Indoor Soundscape Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic Design Criteria in Naturally Ventilated Residential Buildings: New Research Perspectives by Applying the Indoor Soundscape Approach

et al. 2019

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The indoor-outdoor connection provided by ventilation openings has been so far a limiting factor in the use of natural ventilation (NV), due to the apparent conflict between ventilation needs and the intrusion of external noise. This limiting factor impedes naturally ventilated buildings meeting the acoustic criteria set by standards and rating protocols, which are reviewed in this paper for residential buildings. The criteria reflect a general effort to minimize noise annoyance by reducing indoor sound levels, typically without a distinction based on a ventilation strategy. Research has developed a number of solutions, discussed here, that try to guarantee ventilation without compromising façade noise insulation, but, currently, none have been adopted on a large scale. This concept paper highlights the main limits of the current approach. First, a fragmented view towards indoor environmental quality has not included consideration of the following acoustic criteria: (i) how buildings are designed and operated to meet multiple needs other than acoustical ones (e.g., ventilation, visual, and cooling needs) and (ii) how people respond to multiple simultaneous environmental factors. Secondly, the lack of a perceptual perspective has led acoustic criteria to neglect the multiple cognitive and behavioral factors impinging on comfort in naturally ventilated houses. Indeed, factors such as the connection with the outside and the sense of control over one’s environment may induce “adaptive acoustic comfort” opportunities that are worth investigating. The mere use of different sound level limits would not be enough to define criteria tailored to the complex user–building interaction that occurs under NV conditions. More holistic and human-centered approaches are required to guarantee not only neutrally but even positively perceived indoor acoustic environments. For this reason, this paper considers this apparent conflict from a soundscape viewpoint, in order to expose still unexplored lines of research. By underpinning a perceptual perspective and by contextualizing it, the indoor soundscape approach provides a framework capable of overcoming the limits of the traditional noise control approach. This could provide the opportunity to foster a wider adoption of NV as a passive design strategy that enhances user health and well-being, while enabling low-cost, and low-energy cooling and ventilation, thereby contributing to current climate change challenges.

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“…In the building sciences, including the areas of indoor air quality [13,19,[24][25][26], dampness and mold [27], thermal comfort [5,[28][29][30][31][32], acoustics [6,33], green buildings [4,34,35], lighting [36,37], and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) [9,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48], chamber and field studies are the predominant experimental approaches for conducting human subject research relating measures of physical conditions to human outcomes. Typically, chambers are the dimensions of a small to medium-sized office and are equipped with building systems (e.g., ventilation system, lighting, sound masking) capable of maintaining stable experimental conditions.…”

Section: Experimental Design In Building Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

The Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Indoor Environmental Quality during Three Simulated Office Studies at a Living Lab

et al. 2019

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The living lab approach to building science research provides the ability to accurately monitor occupants and their environment and use the resulting data to evaluate the impact that various components of the built environment have on human comfort, health, and well-being. A hypothesized benefit of the living lab approach is the ability to simulate the real indoor environment in an experimentally controlled setting over relatively long periods of time, overcoming a significant hurdle encountered in many chamber-type experimental designs that rarely reflect typical indoor environments. Here, we present indoor environmental quality measurements from a network of sensors as well as building system design and operational data demonstrating the ability of a living lab to realistically simulate a wide range of environmental conditions in an office setting by varying air temperature, lighting, façade control, and sound masking in a series of three human subject experiments. The temporal variability of thermal and lighting conditions was assessed on an hourly basis and demonstrated the significant impact of façade design and control on desk-level measurements of both factors. Additional factors, such as desk layout and building system design (e.g., luminaires, speaker system), also contributed significantly to spatial variability in air temperature, lighting, and sound masking exposures, and this variability was reduced in latter experiments by optimizing desk layout and building system design. While ecologically valid experimental conditions are possible with a living lab, a compromise between realism and consistency in participant experience must often be found by, for example, using an atypical desk layout to reduce spatial variability in natural light exposure. Based on the experiences from these three studies, experimental design and environmental monitoring considerations for future office-based living lab experiments are explored.

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A systematic review of human perceptual dimensions of sound: Meta-analysis of semantic differential method applications to indoor and outdoor sounds

Cited by 60 publications

References 103 publications

An Exploratory Analysis of Sound Field Characteristics using the Impulse Response in a Car Cabin

An Exploratory Analysis of Sound Field Characteristics using the Impulse Response in a Car Cabin

Acoustic Design Criteria in Naturally Ventilated Residential Buildings: New Research Perspectives by Applying the Indoor Soundscape Approach

The Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Indoor Environmental Quality during Three Simulated Office Studies at a Living Lab

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