TY - JOUR

T1 - On the identification and assessment of underlying acoustic dimensions of soundscapes

AU - Bergner, Jakob

AU - Peissig, Jürgen

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank for the funding of two research projects in whose background the investigations on acoustic soundscape dimension could grow. First, WEA-Akzeptanz dealing with the modelling of wind turbine noise and its perception, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (FKZ 0324134A) and second, Richard Wagner 3.0 on perception of music reproduction, funded by “Niedersächsisches Vorab” (ZN3497).

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - The concept of soundscapes according to ISO 12913-1/-2/-3 proposes a descriptive framework based on a triangulation between the entities acoustic environment, person and context. While research on the person-related dimensions is well established, there is not yet complete agreement on the relevant indicators and dimensions for the pure description of acoustic environments. Therefore, this work attempts to identify acoustic dimensions that actually vary between different acoustic environments and thus can be used to characterize them. To this end, an exploratory, data-based approach was taken. A database of Ambisonics soundscape recordings (approx. 12.5 h) was first analyzed using a variety of signal-based acoustic indicators (Ni = 326) within the categories loudness, quality, spaciousness and time. Multivariate statistical methods were then applied to identify compound and interpretable acoustic dimensions. The interpretation of the results reveals 8 independent dimensions â Loudnessâ , â Directivityâ , â Timbreâ , â High-Frequency Timbreâ , â Dynamic Rangeâ , â High-Frequency Amplitude Modulationâ , â Loudness Progressionâ and â Mid-High-Frequency Amplitude Modulationâ to be statistically relevant. These derived latent acoustic dimensions explain 48.76% of the observed total variance and form a physical basis for the description of acoustic environments. Although all baseline indicators were selected for perceptual reasons, validation must be done through appropriate listening tests in future.

AB - The concept of soundscapes according to ISO 12913-1/-2/-3 proposes a descriptive framework based on a triangulation between the entities acoustic environment, person and context. While research on the person-related dimensions is well established, there is not yet complete agreement on the relevant indicators and dimensions for the pure description of acoustic environments. Therefore, this work attempts to identify acoustic dimensions that actually vary between different acoustic environments and thus can be used to characterize them. To this end, an exploratory, data-based approach was taken. A database of Ambisonics soundscape recordings (approx. 12.5 h) was first analyzed using a variety of signal-based acoustic indicators (Ni = 326) within the categories loudness, quality, spaciousness and time. Multivariate statistical methods were then applied to identify compound and interpretable acoustic dimensions. The interpretation of the results reveals 8 independent dimensions â Loudnessâ , â Directivityâ , â Timbreâ , â High-Frequency Timbreâ , â Dynamic Rangeâ , â High-Frequency Amplitude Modulationâ , â Loudness Progressionâ and â Mid-High-Frequency Amplitude Modulationâ to be statistically relevant. These derived latent acoustic dimensions explain 48.76% of the observed total variance and form a physical basis for the description of acoustic environments. Although all baseline indicators were selected for perceptual reasons, validation must be done through appropriate listening tests in future.

KW - Multivariate statistics

KW - Soundscape

KW - Statistical signal processing

KW - Underlying acoustic dimensions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85166736965&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/aacus/2022042

DO - 10.1051/aacus/2022042

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85166736965

VL - 6

JO - Acta Acustica

JF - Acta Acustica

M1 - 46

ER -