1. Mejora y recuperación de la calidad sonora.
Planes de acción
SOUNDSCAPES
Tra
m
Streets
with
less
traffic
Soundm Sport
ark: facilitie
s Foun
bells
tain
from “La
Miserico
rdia” Parking
street
Main
streets:
high
traffic
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

2. Introducción
Qué es el paisaje
sonoro?
Por qué nos interesa?
Ideas básicas
Dos investigaciones de
Tecnalia
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

3. Qué es el Paisaje Sonoro
Paisaje Sonoro –Soundscape-: forma en que los sonidos (denominados en su
conjunto ambiente sonoro) de un determinado lugar (contexto) son percibidos y
valorados por las personas, los grupos o la sociedad.
Primeros estudios sobre Paisaje Sonoro los realizaron Murray Schafer (1977,
1978) y Barry Truax (1984) en Canadá:
Dentro de los objetivos que marca la legislación actual en materia de ruido
ambiental se destacan dos líneas de trabajo, una de las cuales es:
– Preservar las zonas tranquilas para mejorar la calidad de vida de la
ciudadanía: cuya herramienta de trabajo la constituye el análisis del ambiente
sonoro.
LEY 37/2007 y RD 1367/32007:
•Zona tranquila como la zona con 5 dBA menos de nivel sonoro (generado por
los focos de ruido ambiental) que debe ser preservada.
•Reserva de sonido de origen natural (cat G).
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

4. Environmental
Soundscape
Noise Directive
concepts
Strategic Noise
City Noise Action Maps
Plans
Urban Planners
Urban Design
Urban Quiet Areas
Soundscape
concepts
Concept
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

5. Qué es el Paisaje Sonoro
•El sonido, “como cualquier otro elemento del mundo, no tiene una
existencia objetiva o verdadera, sino que existe únicamente en el
mundo en que es percibido” (Guyot, 1996)
•Un sonido o ambiente sonoro no puede ser medido y calificado
únicamente a partir de sus rasgos físicos, de la misma forma que no
puede ser considerado separadamente de la personas que lo perciben,
ni del lugar dónde es escuchado (Guillén, 2007).
Contaminación acústica Paisaje sonoro
Ruido Sonido
Molestia Confort
Nivel y Frecuencia
Eventos – Captación de la atención
Congruencia con el contexto
Información (significado)
Identidad (memoria)
Poner en valor el sonido
Temperatura Sabor

6. ¿Por qué son interesantes?
Porque es una variable que participa en la consideración de la calidad
de vida en el diseño de nuestros entornos. Sostenibilidad integral.
Existen motivos argumentados para la defensa de determinados
paisajes sonoros. Los motivos más destacables son:
• la influencia en la restauración del estrés día a día (mejora a la
salud),
• el interés de la preservación cultural (argumento de la
ecologías acústica y motivo por el cual existen “librerías” de
sonidos) y
• para proteger la vida salvaje (cuya “supervivencia” depende de
que sus ambientes sonoros no estén afectados por el hombre y
puedan “comunicarse” e identificar predadores).
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

7. Ideas básicas de paisaje sonoro
Percepción
Variables que influyen en SSC:
– Personas: Estilos de vida, Experiencia, coping, grupos
vulnerables
– Actividades, pensamientos, sentimientos.
Variables moduladoras (dosis/respuesta)
– Contexto: Lugar de residencia, contaminación del aire,
satisfacción residencial.
Soundscape “acts of meaning”:
Significado, Expectativa, Congruencia
Sound: one of the essential ways for us to perceive and
communicate with the world
– Parte de la estética sensorial: preferencias, discriminación,
valor emoción y afecto
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

8. Ideas básicas de paisaje sonoro
Parámetros físicos para su evaluación:
• No es suficiente el nivel LAeq medio nivel, tiempo,
frecuencia.
– Identificación de eventos su congruencia y significado.
– Detección de fuentes de ruido.
• Parámetros como loudness, roughness, y sharpness no
aportan excesivamente porque no varían suficientemente en
entornos abiertos, excepto cuando hay focos dominantes.
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

9. Ideas básicas de paisaje sonoro
Diseño y Gestión
Algunas afirmaciones interesantes:
Se requiere reducir el nivel de LAeq por debajo de 65 dBA para
empezar a diseñar soundscape.
La naturaleza aporta experiencias de restauración que afectan
directamente al bienestar psicológico y a la salud de la población.
Se identifica una relación de dependencia directa entre la
percepción visual y sonora. En ambos casos la presencia de lo
natural, el “agua” y la identificación de “señas de identidad
cultural” implican una mejor percepción del otro sentido.
Se remarca, en muchas ocasiones, la influencia local o regional en
la forma de percibir el ambiente sonoro.
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

10. TECNALIA y Paisaje Sonoro
Voluntad de vincularlo al Plan de Acción de Bilbao
Resultados de dos investigaciones que nos muestran:
– Pautas a considerar en los Planes de Acción:
• Las expectativas de la población.
• La importancia de los soundmarks en la percepción
- Los espacios urbanos pueden jugar un papel restaurador
para los ciudadanos que los visiten, de tal forma que
contribuyan a la restauración frente al estrés diario
• Existen evidencias biológicamente relevantes que ponen de
manifiesto que, disponer de un paisaje sonoro agradable en
zonas urbanas de esparcimiento contribuye a una
restauración frente al estrés diario más intensa y rápida que
en zonas más contaminadas acústicamente
• Estar en ambientes sonoros valorados como “positivos” o
“tranquilos” conlleva beneficios en la salud percibida
(psicosocial) no solo reduciendo el estrés sino también
aumentando el bienestar positivo (emociones)
COST ACTION 22 miembros en el Mangement Comitee.
Itziar Aspuru 21/IX/2011

11. BILBAO municipality is answering to the Directive:
Strategic Noise Map already made, and
Noise Action Plan under development:
General ideas of the Sound Environmental Plan 2013:
– Linked to the global strategy about the desired
model of the city and to other plans and urban
changes overseen.
– Worked in a multidisciplinary Commission with
Urban Planners and Public Works Department
involved.
Strategic objective in the Plan: create and preserve quiet areas in each of the districts of the
city to restore the stress of the citizen and improve life quality.
At least 8 quiet areas should be identified and their acoustical quality assessed.
First criteria for their identification is based ‐ on their use, ‐ on the possibility of preserving
them, and ‐ on the noise levels obtained on Strategic Noise Map (Ld and Le below 60 dBA).
A procedure to assess the acoustical quality of an open space is needed.

12. 1. Presentation of the study
POLICY MAKERS RESEARCHERS
Bilbao Sound Environmental Plan
The quest for quantifiable
indicators
Create and preserve
quiet areas
The challenge of finding a set
of indicators that could help
Procedure to assess on predicting soundscape
the acoustical quality
of an open space perception
Collaboration of Labein and G. Memoli to check the
suitability and accuracy of Slope indicator (2009)
Presentado en Euronoise, Edimburgo 2009

13. 2. Location
Tram
Streets
with less
traffic
Sport
Soundmark:
facilities
bells from “La
Misericordia” Fountain
2. La Fuente:
Area close to a
Parking street
fountain at the
center of the
park.
Main streets:
high traffic
Two subareas
1. La placita: Small square in the limit of the park.
It represents urban recreational areas.

14. 2. Measured Parameters
Licitra & Memoli (2005), Licitra, Memoli,
The “Slope” indicator Botteldooren, De Coensel (2005)
It measures how often events appear and how
they emerge from background noise.
It is calculated by analyzing LAeq (15 min, fast,
1/3 octaves), L% and Lmax data.
-2.10
The indicator has been correlated to people’s Slope = -1
perception using a survey in urban sites near Pisa (music/like structure)
(IT)
A “scale of quietness” has been constructed
Quiet locations Greater than ‐1
Music Close to ‐1
White noise and MLS Close to ‐2
Disturbed locations Lower than ‐2

15. 2. Measured Parameters
A questionnaire survey were conducted among users of the park.
Interviewees were asked to indicate
– their preferred areas,
– how often they go to the park,
– what they most like and dislike about it
(open questions).
– soundscape perception:
• annoyance (5‐levels) and
• an analysis of semantic differences
to identify key adjectives
Behavioural observations were noted as part of the study
Limited number of responses the number of
questionnaires is not enough for statistical analysis.
Presentado en Euronoise, Edimburgo 2009

16. 3. Results
Area 1: la “placita” (1/3)
Secondary street and
Access to the park
C3
S10 S2 S7
S1
S4
S8 C2 S9
S5
S3
S6
C1
Main Street and Bus Stop
Measurement points:
C at 4 m height, at least 45 min with 1s spacing
S at 1.5 m height, at least 15 min with 1s spacing

17. 3. Results
Area 1: la “placita” (2/3) Quantitative Analysis
Secondary street and Access to the park
60-65 dB
Slope
65-70 dB
LAeq
Main Street and Bus Stop
Agreement with noise map According to Slope, the people
looking for “quietness” should prefer
the right side of the square

18. 3. Results
Area 1: la “placita” (3/3)
Qualitative Analysis
Most of the users of the square
are related to the bus stop
nearby
Their preferences are
conditioned by the fact
that they need to stay
close to the bus stop
The visitors looking for relax, during the More data are needed
measurement period, used only the benches both in terms of
in the right side of the square measurements and
questionnaires
Presentado en Euronoise, Edimburgo 2009

19. 3. Results
Area 2: la “fuente” (1/3)
C618
S418 S218/S318
C417 C619
C518
S717
S817
S118
S119
Measurements of 45’
Measurements of 15’
Measurement points:
C at 4 m height, at least 45 min with 1s spacing
S at 1.5 m height, at least 15 min with 1s spacing

20. 3. Results
Quantitative Analysis Area 2: la “fuente” (2/3)
Average LAeq Lmax
Slope
C518 ‐1.94 68.7 69.5
C417 ‐1.89 62.9 69.3
S717 ‐1.17 62.9 64.7
S817 ‐1.06 60.9 67.3
C719 ‐1.77 63.1 68.6
S118 ‐0.93 60.1 62.7
S218 ‐0.73
S318
61.0 67.9
S418 ‐‐‐ 60.3 66.9
Agreement was found with
C618 ‐1.80 63.1 76.9 noise mapping, once the
S119 ‐2.05 61.6 73.6 fountain was excluded

21. 3. Results
Area 2: la “fuente” (3/3) Qualitative Analysis
Most common activities in this area are
Sport facilities
related to relaxing. for older
All interviewees preferred stay closer to the people
fountain but not too much.
An age distinction arises in perception:
There are sport facilities for older people
in the proximity. A wheel working causes
a squealing noise. It is well accepted by
older people, meanwhile young people
considered it as very annoying.
- Older people preferred the higher part of
the square, closer to the sport facilities.
- Younger people preferred other
areas of the square.
Slope could not describe the
effect of a soundmark

22. 3. Results
Analysis of Semantic differential
Significant differences were only found in two pairs of attributes:
pleasant <-> unpleasant and relaxing <-> stressing.
Different concepts of tranquillity
La Fuente La Placita
Noise Natural Sounds City/Civilization.
Sources Traffic.
Soundscape matches Use like a Bus Stop
expectations
Perceived sounds are expected
1.Garden; 2. Tranquility
Attribute but not desirable
Last: Security
Related to cultural heritage and 1. Overall; 2. Tranquility
identity of Bilbao Last: Traffic
Playing children, birds,
Positive
bells, squealing wheel, None
Sounds
fountain (noisy).

23. 3. Conclusions
(Limited results)
It was clear how relevant is the expectation in sound perception. The
two different concepts of tranquillity showed it.
Expectations should be taken into account when designing
action plans.
The importance of soundmarks in perception makes them
interesting for city planning.
Can we artificially insert new ones?
Positive Sounds Soundmarks
Both qualitative and quantitative approaches should be wisely
combined.
Presentado en Euronoise, Edimburgo 2009

24. OBJECTIVES
• Definition of a methodology to assess soundscapes, combining acoustics
analysis and questionnaires regarding perception, emotion and health.
• Contribute to emphasize the positive effect of soundscape on human health,
demonstrating its ability to increase the effect of restoration linked to staying
in urban areas
Integral Health
approach
Health and Lifestyle
Acoustic questionnaire
approach Monitoring heart rate
Experiment in
Background Psychosocial La Alhondiga, a new
level and Events approach Soundscape urban square
assessment; (Bilbao)
CROSS VALIDATION emotions and
stress scales
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011 24

25. THE EXPERIMENT
Group of 10 person from Tecnalia
Two situations, distinguished only by its acoustic quality:
• The first one is a natural situation in the square;
• In the second one, we introduce an artificial audio, recorded previously in the same place,
but ensuring the presence of some more events and a slightly higher noise level (only 2 dB).
The group split in two to evaluate both situations (the order was changed each time).
In addition to acoustic and psycho‐social assessment, the experiment included the performance
of some cognitive tests to create stress in the individuals to be able to evaluate their
recovery.
Experimental Condition: Noiseless Experimental Condition: Noisy
Group 1
(24/11/201
Phases Phases
0) Questionnair Stress Stress
Resting Recovery Resting Questionnaire Recovery
e test test
Experimental Condition: Noisy Experimental Condition: Noiseless
Group 2
(29/11/201
Phases Phases
0) Questionnair Stress Stress
Resting Recovery Resting Questionnaire Recovery
e test test
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011

26. CONCLUSIONS
We created two situations with different values for the
Sound Atmosphere Indicator
Natural SSC+, and SSC with extra - sound.
Comparing the assessment made in the two situations.
The PLACE, when Natural SSC, is perceived as
more pleasant (agradable), quiet (tranquilo) and common (común).
Staying in urban recreation areas
• Plays a perceived Restorative Effect compared to stress at
work.
• It Generates Positive emotional feelings: Calm.
• It Reduces Negative emotions: Anger (Enojo).
In the Natural SSC, those effects are higher.
The monitored health indicator shows that in Natural SSC
restoration to induced stress is more intense and faster.
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011

27. PSICOSOCIAL APPROACH
PERCEPTION INDICATORS
SOUNDSCAPES
Personal Data • Revision 2009
Selection Based on our experience + COST + Internoise 2010…
•Sociodemographic data • Semantic Differential Scale
•Satisfaction in different areas of life
•Noisiness and annoyance of noise sources in
different common environments
•Relaxation: activities and places
Emotions
Contribution from UPV-EHU, Social
Health and Life Styles Psychology and Methodology of
• Sources: Health and lifestyles Behavioural Science Dep.
HEALTH
Surveys • Fredickson ( Emotion Scale 2009)
• Ministry of Health EVA (Visual Analog Scale)
• Regional Government with 4 emotions
• Most relevant items were selected Stress
to identify possible contaminant Contribution from DeustoSalud
factors • Stress Perception Scale
EVA of Stress
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011

28. PSICOSOCIAL APPROACH
RESULTS ABOUT SOUNDSCAPE PERCEPTION
Natural SSC+ (without extra sound)
• The PLACE: is perceived as
more pleasant (agradable), quiet (tranquilo) and common (común)
agradable
• Some less complex (complejo), stressful (estresante), rough (áspero)
and uncomfortable (incómodo).
• It difficulties little less conversation
5
Percepción ambiente sonoro
4
3
,
2
SSC+ Alhóndiga SSC+ calles
SSC- Alhóndiga SSC- calles
1
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te
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o
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ur
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m
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rm
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m
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Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011
fic
di

29. PSICOSOCIAL APPROACH
SELECTED INDICATORS TO ASSESS Restorative Effect (Emotions and Stress)
Joy, Calm, Anger, Sadness EVA
(Visual Analog Scale)
RESULTS
Emotions It Generates Positive emotional feelings: Calm
It Reduces Negative emotions: Anger (Enojo)
Stress (Base Line: high levels linked to work)
In addition to recovering from stress, it improves the Base Line
Ambientes sonoros (SSC+/SSC-)
100
90 Línea Base (T6)
80 SSC+ pre
70 SSC + post
60 SSC- pre
50
SSC- post
40
30
20
10
0
Alegría Calma Stress Enojo Tristeza

30. HEALTH APPROACH
SELECTED INDICATORS (collaboration with DEUSTOSALUD)
Heart Rate Variability.
Respiratory rate and EMG responses.
SCL (Skin conductance level).
Cortisol levels in saliva.
5 equipment
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011

31. HEALTH APPROACH
RESULTS
(collaboration with DEUSTOSALUD)
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011

32. PAISAJE SONORO 2010: HEALTH APPROACH
RESULTS (collaboration with DEUSTOSALUD)

33. CONCLUSIONS
“We have found biologically relevant evidences that show
that having a nice soundscape in urban recreation areas
contributes to have a restoration to daily stress more
intense and faster than in more acoustically polluted
areas ”
“We can emphasize that being in acoustic environments
rated as "positive " or "calm" has benefits in perceived
health (psychosocial). It not only reduces stress but
also increases the positive well-being (emotions)”
TECNALIA provides a methodology for the evaluation of
soundscapes that, combining acoustic analysis and
psychosocial surveys, facilitates the identification of
urban quiet areas to be preserved
Presentado en ICBEN, Londres 2011