Understanding park visitors' soundscape perception using subjective and objective measurement.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Acoustics
• Ecology

Background:

• Environmental noise pollution impacts natural areas, affecting human health and diminishing the value of natural soundscapes as ecosystem services.
• Visitor perceptions of park soundscapes are subjective and influenced by personal factors like motivations, attitudes, and expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors influencing visitors' perception of soundscapes in a protected natural area.
• To determine the relative influence of personal factors versus acoustic environments on soundscape perception.

Main Methods:

• Utilized linear models and geospatial data to analyze visitor perceptions at Muir Woods National Monument.
• Assessed the impact of personal norms, attitudes, park acoustics, visitor numbers, and neighborhood sound levels.

Main Results:

• Visitors' subjective experiences, including motivations for seeking natural sounds and noise sensitivity, significantly shaped their perception of the park's soundscape.
• Personal factors and the acoustic environment of visitors' home neighborhoods had a greater impact than the park's intrinsic acoustic characteristics.
• Noise interference and sensitivity to noise were identified as key influencers.

Conclusions:

• Visitor soundscape perception in natural parks is predominantly driven by personal and social factors rather than solely by objective acoustic measurements.
• Findings can inform park planners in managing visitor experiences by considering individual expectations and the influence of external acoustic environments.