Influence of green areas on the urban sound environment

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Urban green spaces provide benefits for human health and well-being, among other properties, thanks to their ability to attenuate environmental pollutants. The sound environment is not healthy in most cities, and this situation has not changed in recent decades. These green spaces are potential quiet areas with good acoustic quality if they are designed and planned properly from a multidisciplinary perspective. Although the mitigating effects of green infrastructure have been extensively studied, their application in green areas has been very limited. The objective of this study is to analyze those characteristics of green spaces that contribute to a healthy soundscape and, in turn, the benefits that this would give them to the characteristics of green areas, users, and their physical environment. Recent Findings: Current studies show that to accurately determine the relationship between green spaces and health and well-being benefits, it is necessary to know the interaction with other environmental variables, including the soundscape. The development and application of ISO/TS 12913-2 have promoted the consideration of the soundscape and the use of appropriate procedures for its evaluation. Summary: The inclusion of soundscape quality in epidemiological studies will improve the quantification of the effects of green spaces on the health and well-being of citizens. Only the consideration of global indicators, such as Lden (dB), show the importance of the sound environment in the interaction with other environmental variables and user activities for the determination of the effects of green spaces on health.