COST Action TD 0804 Workshop Edinburgh Hot topics

COST Action TD 0804 Workshop Edinburgh Hot topics in soundscapes October 2009 A Taxonomy of Sound Sources for use in Soundscape Studies Lex Brown Griffith University Brisbane, Australia Acknowledgements to Jian Kang & Truls Gjestland

Measurement Locations Add the tables here Kin Che LAM

Dominant Sound in Summer in Sai Wan Add the tables here Kin Che LAM

the need Sound source identification is an (initial) component of (nearly) all soundscape studies

Examples • Simple description of sources in field studies • Seeking what sources people identify in their surroundings (or in memory) • Names of sources included in laboratory studies • Analysing soundscapes: – disaggregation into component sounds – masking of some sources by others

the problem Different studies often use different (sometimes ambiguous). …. . – source terminology & – categories/classification “human sounds”………. …sometimes includes traffic noise sometimes not “natural sounds”…………sometimes includes humans as natural, sometimes not “urban/city sounds”……. . highly variable as to what is included “man-made sound” (sic)

the problem In different studies, current terminology often intertwines: – the presence of a sound – A “proximity” classification background sound ambient dominant sounds foreground sound incidental sounds intermittent (temporal class. ) * sometimes without specification of sources that constitute that classification

the problem In different studies, current terminology often intertwines: – the presence of a sound – human values ascribed to that sound. intruding sound annoying sound quiet pleasant sounds unwanted sound preferred sound good noise quality (sic)

towards a solution A standardised classification scheme (taxonomy) of sources/source types

Criteria for taxonomic nomenclature: 1. Universal across all types of places (different acoustic environments: urban, wilderness, rural etc)* *with as few footnote qualifications as possible

A ‘divide’ in the literature • wilderness, countryside, recreation contexts • urban space contexts

Soundscapes cuts across many fields housing human health/ well-being soundscapes landscape design and management human acoustic comfort urban design/ recreation planning management Music/ sound installations sound quality environmental noise management wilderness management

Criteria for taxonomic nomenclature: 1. Universal across all types of places (different acoustic environments: urban, wilderness, rural etc) 2. Nomenclature avoids value judgements

Criteria for taxonomic nomenclature: 1. Universal across all types of places (different acoustic environments: urban, wilderness, rural etc) 2. Nomenclature avoids value judgements 3. Unambiguous in translation across languages

The Acoustic Environment Indoor Acoustic Environment ditto A Taxonomy of Sources Outdoor Acoustic Environment Urban 1 Acoustic Environment Rural 1 Acoustic Environment Wilderness 2 Acoustic Environment ditto 5 wildlife Nature 3 Sounds generated by human activity/facility Domains Categories sources Underwater Acoustic Environment Sounds not generated by human activity wind Domesticated Animals 3 water thunder Motorised Transport Human movement footsteps Electromechanical: -stationary -mobile non-motorised construction roadway traffic ventilation rail traffic agriculture marine traffic domestic air traffic recreation electrical installation Voice& Instrument earth/ice movement Other Human 6 Social/communal Amplified 4 Non-amplified bells voice music clock chimes speech fireworks singing azan laughter alarms industry

Domains Categories sources

Domains The Acoustic Environment Indoor Acoustic Environment Outdoor Acoustic Environment Urban 1 Acoustic Environment Rural 1 Acoustic Environment Wilderness 2 Acoustic Environment Underwater Acoustic Environment 1 The urban/rural distinction will not always be readily defined, but remains useful. 2 The wilderness category includes national parks, undeveloped natural and coastal zones, large recreation areas etc. The wilderness/rural divide will not always clear cut.

Domains Categories sources Urban 1 Acoustic Environment Sounds generated by human activity/facility Motorised Transport Human movement Electromechanical: -stationary -mobile Voice& Instrument Other Human 6 Social/communal Amplified 4 Non-amplified 4 Recording, replay, and amplification may occur for any sounds – as for example in installations playing nature/wildlife sounds 6 Coughing, for example

Categories sources Motorised Transport Human movement Electromechanical: -stationary -mobile Voice& Instrument Other Human 6 Social/communal footsteps non-motorised construction roadway traffic ventilation Amplified 4 Non-amplified bells voice music clock chimes rail traffic agriculture marine traffic domestic air traffic recreation electrical installation speech fireworks singing azan laughter alarms industry

Urban 1 Acoustic Environment Domains Categories sources Nature 3 Sounds generated by human activity/facility Sounds not generated by human activity wildlife wind Domesticated Animals 3 water thunder earth/ice movement 3 While “nature” and “domesticated animals” sources are “not generated by human activity” there are many exceptions—sounds of running water in constructed water features or the sounds of wind on buildings. Domesticated animal sounds will generally be from animals associated with a human activity/facility.

The Acoustic Environment Indoor Acoustic Environment ditto A Taxonomy of Sources Outdoor Acoustic Environment Urban 1 Acoustic Environment Rural 1 Acoustic Environment Wilderness 2 Acoustic Environment ditto 5 wildlife Nature 3 Sounds generated by human activity/facility Domains Categories sources Underwater Acoustic Environment Sounds not generated by human activity wind Domesticated Animals 3 water thunder Motorised Transport Human movement footsteps Electromechanical: -stationary -mobile non-motorised construction roadway traffic ventilation rail traffic agriculture marine traffic domestic air traffic recreation electrical installation Voice& Instrument earth/ice movement Other Human 6 Social/communal Amplified 4 Non-amplified bells voice music clock chimes speech fireworks singing azan laughter alarms industry

Ability to equate category/source nomenclature across all studies in any places of soundscape interest