A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Ten questions concerning soundscape valuation
The past two decades have seen an ongoing paradigm shift from noise control to soundscaping, and soundscape approaches have been applied in noise management projects. However, cost-benefit analysis (CBA), which is widely used for economic appraisal of projects that would impact on the sound environment, remains noise-based and residential-location-focused. As a result, benefits of wanted sounds are omitted from appraisal. While there is a wealth of literature seeking to place a value/cost on changes in noise exposure, little research has been done on soundscape valuation. Consequently, there is little evidence on the monetary value of soundscape, which is essential for developing soundscape-based CBA. This paper initiates a systematic discussion on this emerging topic, by addressing ten questions covering the definition and scope for soundscape valuation, potential valuation methods for primary soundscape valuation research and required data, special concerns on private and public contexts, non-monetary valuation and soundscapes of cultural and/or historical significance, and the eventual application of soundscape values in CBA and beyond. Answers are based on reflection of existing literature on environmental valuation and soundscape, and visionary opinions by the authors from research, practice and policy sectors, and can help establish a framework to support future research in soundscape valuation and relevant areas.
Ten questions concerning soundscape valuation
The past two decades have seen an ongoing paradigm shift from noise control to soundscaping, and soundscape approaches have been applied in noise management projects. However, cost-benefit analysis (CBA), which is widely used for economic appraisal of projects that would impact on the sound environment, remains noise-based and residential-location-focused. As a result, benefits of wanted sounds are omitted from appraisal. While there is a wealth of literature seeking to place a value/cost on changes in noise exposure, little research has been done on soundscape valuation. Consequently, there is little evidence on the monetary value of soundscape, which is essential for developing soundscape-based CBA. This paper initiates a systematic discussion on this emerging topic, by addressing ten questions covering the definition and scope for soundscape valuation, potential valuation methods for primary soundscape valuation research and required data, special concerns on private and public contexts, non-monetary valuation and soundscapes of cultural and/or historical significance, and the eventual application of soundscape values in CBA and beyond. Answers are based on reflection of existing literature on environmental valuation and soundscape, and visionary opinions by the authors from research, practice and policy sectors, and can help establish a framework to support future research in soundscape valuation and relevant areas.
Ten questions concerning soundscape valuation
Jiang, Like (author) / Bristow, Abigail (author) / Kang, Jian (author) / Aletta, Francesco (author) / Thomas, Rhian (author) / Notley, Hilary (author) / Thomas, Adam (author) / Nellthorp, John (author)
2022-05-26
Building and Environment , Article 109231. (2022) (In press).
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
DDC:
690
Ten questions concerning soundscape valuation
Elsevier | 2022
|Noise pollution in national parks: Soundscape and economic valuation
Elsevier | 2013
|Noise pollution in national parks: Soundscape and economic valuation
Online Contents | 2014
|Online Contents | 2014
|Five questions on the indoor soundscape approach for regenerative buildings
BASE | 2020
|