A model proposal for identification of quiet areas under environmental noise management: Soundscape perspective

Considering the global dynamics of today's world where urbanization and industrialization are rapidly increasing, it becomes increasingly difficult to prevent environmental noise pollution and this leads to a decrease in quiet areas, deterioration of acoustic comfort and a decrease in soundscape quality. Since traditional management approaches that try to numerically reduce the noise level are insufficient in solving the problem, newly developed and complementary approaches are needed. The Environmental Noise Directive (END) numbered 2002/49/EC, which Turkey has transposed into its national legislation with the name of "Regulation on Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise (RAMEN)", draws attention to the design and protection of quiet areas as an effective measure in reducing noise pollution. However, not specifying a specific noise indicator, limit value or area characteristics in the definition and management of quiet areas directs the competent authorities to a "freedom in solution" and makes it difficult to establish a common strategy. In RAMEN, two different terminologies are used as "quiet" and "calm" areas, and considering the national and international practices and the main target of the legislation, it is recommended to use the concept of "calm area" for such areas within the scope of this study. The main purpose of this study is to develop a model proposal focusing on the soundscape approach for the determination of quiet areas within the scope of environmental noise management. In this context, four urban parks in Antalya were selected as research areas and a questionnaire was conducted to the users of the area simultaneously with the sound level and air quality measurements. Subjective and objective data obtained within the scope of field studies were evaluated using statistical methods, and a model was developed as "Calm Area Quality Model (CALM)", taking into account the existing scientific studies and national and international applications. The acoustic evaluation of urban parks in this study shows that average equivalent sound level value of the LAeq in all study areas is higher than the threshold value recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 55 dBA for outdoor living spaces. However, the L50 indicator, which has a statistically significant relationship with people's perception of calmness, was found to be lower than 55 dBA in all study areas except one of the study areas. In addition, it has been found that the L90, which is the indicator recommended to be used in the context of the background noise, remains below 55 dBA in all study areas. It has been determined that the average PM2.5 in the study areas is 17.64 µg/m3 (±1.69) and does not exceed the 24-hour limit value (25 µg/m3) determined for PM2.5 according to WHO. 525 people were surveyed in order to get user opinions on the perception of the soundscape and environmental quality satisfaction in the study areas. According to the soundscape perception model, while the summer and winter periods of Atatürk Kültür Park and the summer period of Karaalioğlu Park remain in the "calm sound field", the winter period of Erdal İnönü Park, Olbia City Park and Karaalioğlu Park are in the "pleasant sound field" remained. Statistical analyses show that the presence of natural sounds positively affects the satisfaction of sound quality and the harmony of sounds with the environment, while the presence of mechanical sound affects these elements negatively. According to the CALM, the factors affecting the satisfaction of sound quality were "sound appropriateness", "environmental quality satisfaction" and "ratio of natural sounds heard to traffic sounds" in the context of subjective data, and "temperature" in the context of objective data and "L50" from acoustic indicators. In summary, the CALM developed within the scope of this study shows that the traditional environmental noise management window, which deals with sound in the context of "waste management", is insufficient in determining urban quiet areas, and the use of soundscape approach, which focuses on sounds under "natural resource management" window, is effective in determining the quality of quiet areas. It is expected that the CALM will contribute to quiet areas and soundscape applications in Turkey, at EU and international level. In addition, it is foreseen that it will be an incentive to increase the positive effects on human health that will be brought by the creation of a quiet area in the city, to increase the quality of the urban environment, to develop and encourage public participation approaches in urban planning within the framework of the concept of social science, and to reduce the pressures that will arise in the cities due to climate change.