Surveys on sonic environment and inhabitants' awareness around childcare facilities

Noise measurements and questionnaire surveys were carried out to grasp the current circumstances of sonic environment around childcare facilities. Sound source type, time occupancy rate of each sound and A-weighted sound pressure level were investigated through noise measurements throughout the year repeatedly. In questionnaire surveys, we asked residents about sounds that they usually hear including those from childcare facilities, the perceived pleasantness of each sound as well as personal attributes. Noise measurements indicated that nursery teacher's voices and marching band performance sounds were remarkable during the athletic meet practice season, whereas children's voices were dominant throughout the year. According to questionnaire survey, many respondents preferred the sounds produced by children's activities, such as children's voices and sounds of musical instruments, although those sounds were both high in sound level and time occupancy rate. On the other hand, sounds not caused by children's activities such as sounds of cars coming to pick up and drop off children and nursery teacher's voices were sometimes evaluated as unpleasant, although their sound levels and time occupancy rates were not so high. Willingness and experience of participating in public events were related to positive opinions on new establishments of childcare facilities.