The York Research Database

A novel approach to qualitative soundscape assessment is presented in the form of a virtual sound walk. The virtual sound walk method combines acoustic modelling and auralisation techniques with qualitative assessment methodologies from the field of soundscape research. A case study is presented in which the method is used to predict the impact of noise interventions on the perceived sound quality in an urban environment. Prior to the auralisation, a real sound walk is carried out in the case study environment. By comparison of the results from the two sound walks, it is found that the virtual sound walk elicits experiences similar to those of the real sound walk. The suitability of the approach for assessing the impact of potential noise treatments is also evaluated and found to have merit, though it is acknowledged that further refinements are needed. It is thought that the virtual sound walk may be able to assist acousticians and urban designers in a practical sense, as well as helping to promote human-environment interaction in other creative applications.