Vistor perception of park soundscapes: A research plan

Many studies of noise impacts in U.S. National Parks have utilized “dose response” studies with the ultimate aim of addressing: “How much noise is unacceptable?” Community noise studies have focused on maximum tolerable noise for decades, but this criterion is manifestly inappropriate for National Parks. An alternative acoustical paradigm seems more apt to evaluate the effects of sounds on visitor experience and visitor judgment of the park soundscape. Juries of listeners routinely have been used to judge the sound quality of automobiles, home-appliances, and other products. An analogous procedure can be used to judge the generalized sound quality of a national park soundscape. The current plan is to develop outdoor sound quality measurement methods and standards by which the U.S. National Park service can accomplish their soundscape assessments. These standards might call upon subjects to help assess the quality of national park soundscapes. In addition, measurement of sound quality will assist the National Park System in meeting their mission of preserving the pristine acoustic environment as a resource for generations to come. Here, we discuss the basis and plan for this measurement protocol development and indicate some standards to be developed.