Soundscape: Impact of COVID-19 upon the understanding of our acoustic environments. Why "silence" is so much more complicated.

The recent pandemic has changed daily life in all its facets. These changes have caused significant changes in soundscapes also in regard to its acoustic parameters. It is important that people first understand and accept what has changed in their lives before it is possible to work on soundscape and soundscape research. New findings about the possible decrease in experienced daily loudness are vastly less important than recognition about the meaning of the sounds in our new sonic reality. Yet the Soundscape standard ISO 12913 1-3 still presents a useful guide in the understanding of the recent developments concerning living situations. This paper will discuss the ISO standard and the potentials of its use even in exceptional circumstances.