Soundscape measurement and analysis

Soundscapes typically include a variety of sources, with individual and collective attributes (level, spectral structure, time structure, and perceived characteristics such as loudness, sharpness, fluctuation, and roughness). Relevant sound sources impinge on listeners from multiple directions and distances. Examples will be given of large differences between conventional and psychoacoustic values as a function of distance, and of multi‐source summations. As an example, the subjective loudness difference for sound incidence over a small versus large solid angle for a constant sound pressure level and spectrum is known. Individual‐source‐relevant information, important in context, may be unrecognized unless spatial hearing is included in soundscape assessment. A demonstration of binaural versus monaural soundscape data acquisition, and subsequent analysis by both conventional and psychoacoustic measures considering human perception including time dependency, will be given. Evidence will be presented for co...