Mapping and assessing natural soundscape quality: An indicator-based model for landscape planning

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Landscape Ecology
• Acoustic Ecology

Background:

• Natural soundscape quality (NSQ) is a vital cultural ecosystem service impacting human well-being and landscape aesthetics.
• A standardized assessment tool for NSQ in landscape planning and environmental impact assessments is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate an indicator-based model for assessing and quantifying NSQ within a Geographic Information System (GIS).
• To characterize NSQ using Calmness and Vibrancy, incorporating public preferences into evaluation criteria.

Main Methods:

• Developed a GIS-based model employing indicators, sub-indicators, and metrics to spatially quantify NSQ components (Calmness, Vibrancy).
• Conducted a case study in Springe, Germany, evaluating NSQ across different land cover types and soundscape compositions.
• Utilized a user-independent methodology for reproducibility and transferability.

Main Results:

• NSQ is highest in green spaces (forests, grasslands) and lowest in open farmlands.
• Landscapes with multiple natural sounds score higher in NSQ than those with single sounds.
• Soundscape compositions in forests and urban parks yield higher NSQ than other land cover types.

Conclusions:

• The developed indicator-based model effectively assesses and quantifies NSQ, aligning with public preferences.
• The model's user-independent, reproducible, and transferable nature makes it suitable for diverse planning and management scales.
• Findings support integrating soundscape evaluation into landscape planning for sustainable development and informed decision-making.