A review of progress in soundscapes and an approach to soundscape planning

The soundscape approach considers the acoustic environment as a resource, focusing on sounds people want or prefer. Quiet is not a core requirement for such acoustic preference in the outdoor acoustic environment. Core requirements include congruent soundscape and landscape, and dominant wanted sounds in a place over, and not masked by, unwanted sounds. Acceptance, and further development, of the soundscape approach is facilitated by distinguishing it, both conceptually and in measurement and management approaches, from environmental noise management. Soundscape design, planning, and management, based on soundscape concepts, augment environmental noise management approaches, expanding the scope of application of the tools of acoustic specialists.