Evaluation and Analysis of the Algerian Oases Soundscape: Case of El Kantara and Sidi Okba

Bouzir, Tallal Abdel Karim; Berkouk, Djihed; Zemmouri, Noureddine

doi:10.1007/s40857-019-00173-2

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This method has been applied and validated by several previous recent studies. 32,9 To verify the impact of the lockdown measures in Algeria due to the social measures COVID-19 on the soundscape compositions of the cafe terraces, we started at the first stage of the expertise which was based on the use of a survey presented in the study of , 56 Table 1. Where, the identification of soundscapes in this stage was based mainly on the analysis of the three soundscape components which are biophony, geophony, and anthrophony.…”

Section: Materials and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 31 In contrast, the current urban strategy of Algeria is outdated in terms of preserving the cultural heritage of the soundscape, 9 due to rapid, strong, and poorly managed urbanization that leads to radical and progressive changes in luminous and thermal atmospheres, in addition to urban soundscapes. 32 With rapid urbanization and the development of transport vehicles, traffic noise can also become a critical problem. 33 Therefore, preservation 34 and improvement of the noise environment are considered essential means to improve the quality of the urban environment and reflect the city’s characteristics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of the soundscapes through the cafe terraces before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in coastal cities in Algeria

Berkouk

Bouzir

Boucherit

et al. 2022

Noise & Vibration Worldwide

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This paper aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Algeria on the soundscapes’ components throughout the cafe terraces in coastal cities. The methodology is based on a laboratory qualitative approach established and divided into two stages. And the monitoring of sound recordings through twenty-one cafe terraces inside the coastal city of Azzaba in Algeria was conducted before and after the lockdown of whole the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the McNemar’s test on the first stage, results suggest that the lockdown measures in Algeria affect the soundscape components of the cafe terraces, specifically the predominance of the anthrophonical sounds over the natural sound components. The predominance of traffic sounds on the soundscapes after the lockdown period does not reflect an increase in noise level, whereas the soundscapes through the cafe terraces during the two periods were similar, and showed as less noisy by the semantic difference analysis evaluation, of the second stage. The factors of the principal component analysis suggest that the soundscapes of the cafe terraces reflect the main patterns of the acoustics design in the public spaces, such as functions (relaxation and communication), space-time for the two factors of the soundscapes of the period before the lockdown, and by relaxation, space and time for the three factors of those of the period after lockdown. Otherwise, the Marginal Homogeneity Test shows that there are significant differences in the assessment of the soundscapes of the cafe terraces during the two periods, which were only associated to the functions. Findings suggest that additional long-term research is needed to preserve and improve the cultural soundscapes among the urban spaces to ensure the acoustic comfort of the occupants and preserve their health.

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Section: Materials and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the soundscapes through the cafe terraces before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in coastal cities in Algeria

Berkouk

Bouzir

Boucherit

et al. 2022

Noise & Vibration Worldwide

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“…This study focuses on the city of Biskra in Algeria, representative of the desert cities of the North African region, which is characterized by a harsh climate with hot and very dry summers as well as cold and dry winters, having average temperatures that vary between 0°C and 45°C depending on the season (Berkouk et al, 2019;Farhi, 2008;Matallah et al, 2020). Similar to most cities in the Sahara, it suffers from a mismatch between the contextual conditions of the arid regions, as well as the urbanization and management models that have been adopted in the northern regions of countries with a Mediterranean climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar to most cities in the Sahara, it suffers from a mismatch between the contextual conditions of the arid regions, as well as the urbanization and management models that have been adopted in the northern regions of countries with a Mediterranean climate. The large boulevards, multi-story buildings with glass facades, and less dense neighborhoods contrast with the streets, alleys, covered passages and dead ends, and dense neighborhoods with irregular plans of the old cities, which have influenced the environment in these areas (Farhi, 2008;Bouzir et al, 2019). Therefore, these desert cities have been the subject of several studies recently, focusing mainly on the effect of the urbanization mode and the transformation of these oases into Saharan cities on energy consumption, indoor and outdoor thermal comfort, which remains a great challenge, especially in the severe climatic conditions of the region, as well as indoor and outdoor luminous comfort, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is therefore urgent to shed more light on the current situation of the sound environment in order to: (i) better understand and characterize the soundscape of these regions, (ii) assess the noise pollution level in these oases and desert cities, especially facing the current urbanization, (iii) understand the relationship between the subjective evaluation of the soundscape quality by the inhabitants and the measured noise level as well as to determine the main noise pollution sources in these cities. This is particularly important in the face of current urbanization because high noise pollution can be responsible for many dangerous pathologies (Begou and Kassomenos, 2021;Huang et al, 2021;Selmat et al, 2021;Wokekoro, 2020) such as anxiety, hearing loss, cardiovascular and even mental diseases (Baxter et al, 2013;Lercher et al, 2000;Śliwińska-Kowalska and Zaborowski, 2017;Van Kempen et al, 2018;Yuen, 2014), and it also has negative effects on biodiversity and the fragile urban ecosystem (Bouzir et al, 2019;D'Odorico et al, 2008;Fairbrass et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Soundscape Variations through the Open Public Spaces in Saharan Cities: A Case of Biskra, Algeria

Bouzir

Berkouk

Boucherit

et al. 2022

EREM

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This study aims initially to evaluate the quality of different soundscapes in the public space of the city of Biskra, in Algeria. A total of 35 participants took part in a laboratory experiment, where 28 sound clips of one-minute duration taken from public spaces in the city were used as stimuli. The A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq,1min) was calculated. The participants rated the quality of the soundscape using attribute scales provided in their own native language. The results of the questionnaire on the recorded soundtracks confirm that the immediate environment affects the ambient sound level and the quality of the sound environment, where the sound environments of the areas located near the roads, with a high mechanical flow, are considered the most unpleasant and noisy, with a high A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LAeq,1min). The findings of this study indicate that there are statistically significant correlations between pleasantness and loudness, presence of mechanical sounds, presence of non-mechanical sounds, and a sound exposure level. In addition, this study shows that there is a significant positive correlation between pleasantness and the presence of non-mechanical sounds. The results also showed an inverse relationship between the presence of mechanical and non-mechanical sounds, and that the absence of mechanical sounds allows natural and human sounds to be more audible, making the soundscape more pleasant and calm according to the results of the questionnaire. From this study, the duality LAeq,1min and the components of the soundscape are very representative indicators of the quality of the soundscape.

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Soundscapes in Arab Cities: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

Bouzir,

Berkouk,

Eisenman

et al. 2024

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In the context of Arab cities, this study explores the intricate interplay between cultural, historical, and environmental elements that shape their unique soundscapes. The paper aims to shed light on this underrepresented field of study by employing a three-fold research approach: systematic review, a comprehensive literature review, and the formulation of a future research agenda. The first part of the investigation focuses on research productivity in the Arab world regarding soundscape studies. An analysis of publication trends reveals that soundscape research in Arab cities is still an emerging area of interest. Critical gaps in the existing body of literature are identified, highlighting the importance of addressing these gaps within the broader context of global soundscape research. The second part of the study delves into the distinctive features that inform the soundscapes of Arab cities. These features are categorized into three overarching groups: (i) cultural and religious life, (ii) daily life, and (iii) heritage and history, by exploring these factors, the study aims to elucidate the multifaceted nature of Arab urban soundscapes. From the resonating calls to prayer and the vibrant ambiance of traditional cafes to the bustling markets and architectural characteristics, each factor contributes to the auditory tapestry that defines Arab cities. The paper concludes with a forward-looking research agenda, proposing sixteen key questions organized into descriptive and comparative categories. These questions emphasize the need for a more profound understanding of sound perception, sources, and the impact of urban morphology on the soundscape. Additionally, they highlight the need for interdisciplinary research, involving fields such as urban planning, architecture, psychology, sociology, and cultural studies to unravel the complexity of Arab urban soundscapes.

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Evaluation and Analysis of the Algerian Oases Soundscape: Case of El Kantara and Sidi Okba

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

Evaluation of the soundscapes through the cafe terraces before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in coastal cities in Algeria

Evaluation of the soundscapes through the cafe terraces before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in coastal cities in Algeria

Evaluation of Soundscape Variations through the Open Public Spaces in Saharan Cities: A Case of Biskra, Algeria

Soundscapes in Arab Cities: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

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