Editing Soundscape (section)

== Soundscapes and noise pollution ==

Papers on noise pollution are increasingly taking a holistic, soundscape approach to noise control. Whereas acoustics tends to rely on lab measurements and individual acoustic characteristics of cars and so on, soundscape takes a top-down approach. Drawing on [[John Cage]]'s ideas of the whole world as composition,{{cn|date=July 2022}} soundscape researchers investigate people's attitudes to soundscapes as a whole rather than individual aspects – and look at how the entire environment can be changed to be more pleasing to the ear. This body of knowledge approaches the sonic environment subjectively as well, as in how some sounds are tolerated while others disdained, with still others preferred, as seen in Fong's 2016 research comparing the soundscapes of Bangkok, Thailand and Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fong |first1=Jack |title=Making Operative Concepts from Murray Schafer's Soundscapes Typology: A Qualitative and Comparative Analysis of Noise Pollution in Bangkok, Thailand and Los Angeles, California |journal=Urban Studies |date=2016 |volume=53 |issue=1 |page=173-192 |doi=10.1177/0042098014562333 |s2cid=30362727 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0042098014562333?related-urls=yes&legid=spusj%3B0042098014562333v1#|url-access=subscription }}</ref> To respond to unwanted sounds, however, a typical application of this is the use of masking strategies, as in the use of water features to cover unwanted white noise from traffic. It has been shown that masking can work in some cases, but that the successful outcome is dependent on several factors, like sound pressure levels, orientation of the sources, and character of the water sound.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last1=Cerwén|first1=Gunnar|title=Sound in Landscape Architecture: A Soundscape Approach to Noise|date=2017|publisher=SLU|location=Alnarp|isbn=978-91-7760-073-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Rådsten Ekman|first1=Maria|title=Unwanted Wanted Sounds: Perception of Sounds from Water Structures|date=2015|publisher=Stockholm University|location=Stockholm}}</ref>

Research has shown that variation is an important factor to consider, as a varied soundscape give people the possibility to seek out their favorite environment depending on preference, mood and other factors.<ref name=":0" /> One way to ensure variation is to work with "[[quiet areas]]" in urban situations. It has been suggested that people's opportunity to access quiet, natural places in urban areas can be enhanced by improving the ecological quality of [[urban green space]]s through targeted planning and design and that in turn has psychological benefits.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Irvine | first1 = K. N. | last2 = Devine-Wright | first2 = P. | last3 = Payne | first3 = S. R. | last4 = Fuller | first4 = R. A. | last5 = Painter | first5 = B. | last6 = Gaston | first6 = K. J. | doi = 10.1080/13549830802522061 | title = Green space, soundscape and urban sustainability: An interdisciplinary, empirical study | journal = Local Environment | volume = 14 | issue = 2 | pages = 155 | year = 2009 | s2cid = 55692349 }}</ref>

Soundscaping as a method to reduce noise pollution incorporates natural elements rather than just man made elements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soundcontroltech.com/soundscaping/|title=Soundscaping {{!}} Sound Control|website=soundcontroltech.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-19}}</ref> Soundscapes can be designed by urban planners and landscape architects. By incorporating knowledge of soundscapes in their work, certain sounds can be enhanced, while others can be reduced or controlled.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=Lex|title=An approach to the acoustic design of outdoor space.|journal=Journal of Environmental Planning and Management|volume=47|issue=6|pages=827–842|doi=10.1080/0964056042000284857|year=2004|hdl=10072/5197|s2cid=55857646|hdl-access=free}}</ref> It has been argued that there are three main ways in which soundscapes can be designed: localization of functions, reduction of unwanted sounds and introduction of wanted sounds,<ref name=":0" /> each of which should be considered to ensure a comprehensive approach to soundscape design.