Ten questions concerning active noise control in the built environment

Building and Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 200, P. 107928 - 107928

Published: May 15, 2021

Urban noise pollution is an omnipresent but often neglected threat to public health that must be addressed urgently. Passive control measures, which are less effective at reducing low-frequency and bulky may impede airflow. As evidenced in automobiles, active of cabin has resulted lighter cars due reduced passive insulation. Despite its long history recent popularisation by consumer headphones, the implementation built environment still rare. To date, (ANC) been demonstrated, source, construction machines and, transmission path, barriers. Recent demand for naturally-ventilated buildings also spurred development solutions receiving end, such as on windows. The ten questions aim demystify principles ANC highlight areas environmental can actively mitigated. Since usually involves multiple stakeholders, operational concerns addressed. conclude, research gaps identified would enable increased adoption environment. There renewed interest applying intelligent tackle environmentally complex applications, varying levels earcup particularly with advent low-cost, low-power, highly-efficient embedded electronics; advancing speaker technology; new impetus from digital signal processing artificial intelligence Algorithms.

Language: Английский

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Effects of Biophilic Design interventions on university students' cognitive performance: An audio-visual experimental study in an Immersive Virtual office Environment

Building and Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 250, P. 111196 - 111196

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

The human-nature connection should be a key component in the design of supportive and comfortable indoor environments. An interest introducing Nature Based Solutions via Biophilic Design (BD) intervention recently emerged. Related benefits for work efficiency have been identified lab-studies without possibility to perform preliminary assessments. Recently, VR has adopted thanks its advantages data collection highly realistic To date, most research on BD focused visual with nature even if people experience multiple senses simultaneously. In this paper, new approach assessment is presented. A 3x3 between-subjects study presented, comparing three office layouts (Indoor Green, Outdoor Green Non-Biophilic) acoustic scenarios (Office, Office + Traffic Nature). 198 participants performed one test session completing cognitive tasks each condition, survey. results sense presence immersivity (visual), sensory congruency (acoustic) cybersickness disorders suggested that an effective tool evaluate potential interventions (ecological validity). findings tests revealed audio-visual can positively influence working memory, inhibition task-switching performance. factor exhibited higher improvement effect compared factor, between 23 % 71 against 12 %–39 %. Moreover, Natural sound Indoor condition was visual*acoustic while Non-Biophilic environment disruptive one.

Language: Английский

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Indoor soundscapes at home during the COVID-19 lockdown in London – Part I: Associations between the perception of the acoustic environment, occupantś activity and well-being

Applied Acoustics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 183, P. 108305 - 108305

Published: July 20, 2021

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, as a result adoption worldwide lockdown measures, home environment has become place where all daily activities are taking for many people. In these changed social and acoustical contexts, we wanted to evaluate perception indoor acoustic in relation traditional new performed at home, i.e., relaxation, working from (WFH). Taking London case study, present paper presents results an online survey administered 464 workers January 2021. The utilized previously developed model assessment soundscapes describe affective responses environments perceptual space defined by

Language: Английский

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Indoor soundscapes at home during the COVID-19 lockdown in London – Part II: A structural equation model for comfort, content, and well-being

Applied Acoustics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 185, P. 108379 - 108379

Published: Sept. 8, 2021

The present work constitutes the sequel to analysis of data from an online survey administered 464 home workers in London January 2021 during COVID-19 lockdown. Perceived affective quality indoor soundscapes has been assessed through a previously developed model, as combination two perceptual dimensions, one related

Language: Английский

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How to analyse and represent quantitative soundscape data

JASA Express Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2(3)

Published: March 1, 2022

This study first examines the methods presented in ISO 12913 for analysing and representing soundscape data by applying them to a large existing database of assessments. The key issue identified is inability standard summarise locations groups. solution inherently considers variety responses within group provides an open-source visualisation tool facilitate nuanced approach assessment design. Several demonstrations distribution urban spaces are presented, along with proposals how this can be used developed.

Language: Английский

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Soundscape in city and built environment: current developments and design potentials

City and Built Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1(1)

Published: Jan. 12, 2023

Abstract In the field of environmental acoustics, conventional approach reducing ‘sound level’ does not always deliver required improvements in quality life. Soundscape, defined by ISO as ‘acoustic environment perceived or experienced and/or understood a person people, context’, promotes holistic approach, regarding sounds ‘resources’ rather than just ‘wastes’. The first part this review/position paper, mainly using works author and teams/collaborators examples, discusses current developments soundscape, terms soundscape understating exchanging, collecting documenting, harmonising standardising, creating designing, outreaching, showing that while considerable have been carried out, much work is still needed, basic research, more importantly, research towards practice. second paper then explores urban sound design/planning process. With proposed framework for designing open public spaces, considering four key components, including characteristics each source, acoustic effects space, social/demographic aspect users, other physical conditions, design potentials are demonstrated.

Language: Английский

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Indoor soundscape, speech perception, and cognition in classrooms: A systematic review on the effects of ventilation-related sounds on students

Building and Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 236, P. 110194 - 110194

Published: March 8, 2023

Good air quality in classrooms, achieved through natural or mechanical ventilation, is necessary for students' health and cognition, but might simultaneously expose them to challenging sound environments, affecting learning well-being. In this work we focused on the interaction between acoustics ventilation modality systematically reviewed effects of stimuli related speech perception, acoustic comfort. Adopting PRISMA guidelines, selected 37 studies published after 1990, including students from primary school university assessing impacts either fan noise sounds intruding into classroom when windows are opened (i.e. traffic noise, aircraft railway human sirens construction sounds). By comparison with a quiet baseline condition (no low level), were categorized as positive, null negative. Our systematic review showed negative effect noise. However, future research should better frame result by an integrated approach acoustical requirements. Concerning anthropogenic entering conditions, no generally observed, depending specific task characteristics. On contrary, open found consistently yield positive Therefore, can sometimes improve indoor soundscape context. The limitations currently available knowledge under-investigated areas outlined review, which be addressed studies.

Language: Английский

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Virtual reality application to explore indoor soundscape and physiological responses to audio-visual biophilic design interventions: An experimental study in an office environment

Journal of Building Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 87, P. 108947 - 108947

Published: March 11, 2024

Among the major sources of disturbance in offices, noise and poor acoustics consistently rank at top. Moreover, positive impact which connecting with nature has on individuals is well-documented, yet still not investigated in-depth terms office soundscapes. In present study, a methodology using Virtual Reality (VR) technology employed to analyse benefits Biophilic Design interventions spaces. Notably, study investigates independent interaction effects audio-visual connection 1) soundscape, 2) physiological parameters, 3) explores potential correlations between soundscape response. Three different visual scenarios (Indoor Green, Outdoor Green Non-Biophilic) three sound environments (Office − O, Office + Traffic O T Nature N) for virtual environment were combined between-subjects design experiment. During their exposure each acoustical scenario, 198 participants' responses perceived affective quality soundscapes (ISO/TS 12913-2) reactions (Electro-Dermal Activity - EDA, Pulse Rate PR, Skin Temperature -ST) collected. The results show effect factor assessment, N scenario resulting increased pleasantness eventfulness compared i.e. more vibrant soundscape. an stimuli was detected, IG being effective N, while OG beneficial scenario. Significant elicited presence than one: pleasant associated lowered EDA PR additional improvement indoor greenery. (O tended decrease skin temperature greenery, unpleasant eventful T) gave largest increase absence nature-related elements indoors. This research provides first insights biophilic spaces through stimuli.

Language: Английский

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Perceived air quality (PAQ) assessment methods in office buildings: a systematic review towards an indoor smellscape approach

Building and Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 258, P. 111645 - 111645

Published: May 14, 2024

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has significant impacts on office occupants' productivity, well-being and health. Addressing IAQ not only means ensuring that contaminants are below harmful concentration but also people exposed satisfied. However, current standards often lack clear metrics thresholds dedicated to Perceived Air Quality (PAQ). Therefore, it is important examine whether there a prevalent method in the literature could lead towards standardization. This review study constitutes first comprehensive critical exploration of subject. Adopting PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses) guidelines, objective synthesize compare diverse methods (subjective vs instrumental evaluations; object judgment; component perception; rating scales) assessing PAQ buildings, based insights from 93 field laboratory studies. Results show assessment predominantly relies questionnaires (90%), with very smaller percentage using alternative such as olfactory indices, diaries, interviews, sensory testing, text mining techniques. Workers' satisfaction most commonly evaluated aspect questionnaires, measured 7-point Likert scale. Odours typically characterized terms intensity by utilizing continuous 6-point unidirectional Olfactory stimuli usually considered negative connotation, being absence odour target design. The present proposes future research agenda introduces importance perceptual approach evaluate indoor environments (or smellscapes), aiming create working spaces odour-neutral olfactorily pleasant.

Language: Английский

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Exploring the boundaries of indoor combined thermal-acoustic environmental effects on comfort perceptions

Building and Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 112580 - 112580

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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