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Room Acoustical Parameters as Predictors of Acoustic Comfort in Outdoor
Spaces of Housing Complexes
Taghipour A.,Sahand Athari, Gisladottir A., Sievers T., Eggenschwiler K.
Frontiers in Psychology 11:344, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00344
Abstract:
Room acoustical parameters have frequently been used to evaluate or
predict the acoustical performance in rooms. For housing complexes in
urban areas with high population density, it is important to improve
acoustic performance not solely indoors, but outdoors as well; for
example on the balconies or in the yards. This paper investigates to
what extent classic room acoustical parameters would be able to predict
the perceived acoustic comfort in outdoor spaces (i.e., courtyards) of
virtual housing complexes. Individual and combined effects of a series
of independent variables (such as facade absorption, sound source, and
observer position) on short-term acoustic comfort were investigated in
three laboratory experiments. ODEON software was used for virtual inner
yard simulation, whereby 2D spatialization was carried out for a
playback over five loudspeakers. Moderate facade absorption was found
to increase acoustic comfort. Relatively pleasant and relatively
unpleasant sounds were associated with comfort and discomfort,
respectively. Lower acoustic comfort ratings were observed at receiver
positions with high sound pressure levels and/or strong flutter echoes.
A further analysis of the results is carried out here with respect to
the room acoustical parameters and their ability to predict the
acoustic comfort ratings. Speech transmission index (STI), definition
(D50), clarity of speech (C50) and music (C80), early decay time (EDT),
and lateral energy fraction (LF80) were found to be significantly
correlated with acoustic comfort. They were found to be significant
predictors of acoustic comfort in a series of linear mixed-effect
models. Furthermore, linear mixed-effect models were established with
the A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level, LAeq, as a
significant predictor of acoustic comfort.
Kurt
Eggenschwiler
EMPA
Abteilung Akustik
Überlandstrasse 129
CH-8600 Dübendorf
Tel. +41 44 823 41 77
Fax. +41 44 823 47 93
E-Mail: kurt.eggenschwiler@empa.ch