Human Preference for Countryside Soundscapes

Human evaluation of soundscapes has been postulated to depend on whether sounds are wanted or unwanted in a particular context, rather than on simple metrics of sound level. A study was undertaken in the countryside of Hong Kong to determine how visitors evaluate soundscapes and what factors influence their preferences. A questionnaire survey was undertaken at 44 locations in different parts of the countryside of Hong Kong representing all major soundscape types. The results indicate that human preference is not statistically related to common acoustical and psychoacoustical metrics. Higher correlations are found between human preference scores and the absence or presence of wanted and unwanted sounds. This finding contributes to our understanding of human evaluation of countryside soundscapes, enhancing our ability to plan and manage the outdoor acoustic environment.