New approaches in urban development are required to transform cities into sustainable places. This demands a higher degree of urban density, which is hardly conceivable without an increase in sound - mostly in the form of noise. To achieve a high level of acceptance for densification, high-quality and acoustically pleasant urban spaces are essential. Noise reduction measures are necessary, but not sufficient. What is needed is a broadening of the perspective of noise. For urban public health we propose the soundscape approach from two different scientific disciplines. Here, sounds are qualities that can be designed in urban spaces and are an important resource for a healthy city. Linking knowledge about the acoustic environment with human perception will significantly improve our understanding of the relationships between urban acoustic environments, urban spatial contexts, and their effects on human health, both qualitatively and quantitatively. However, a systematic application of these approaches to urban soundscapes is still missing, as is the joint implementation of soundscape approaches in noise impact and urban public health research. This paper aims to introduce the terms sound and noise as well as two soundscape approaches. Subsequently, the aims and methods of the acoustic quality and health in urban environments (SALVE) pilot project are presented. The paper provides early insight into the new field of urban sound quality and soundscapes in the context of urban public health.
Acoustics , Noise , Urban Health , Cities , Germany , Humans , Pilot Projects
