Landscape visual quality influence on noise pollution propagation in urban green areas

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the influence of noise pollution on both visual and sound landscapes at the Botanical Garden and the São Lourenço Park in Curitiba, Brazil. Data were collected in three transects (A, B, and C), representing different vegetation densities. Landscape visual quality was characterized through a direct method for valuing landscape elements. The visual quality was classified as Good, Mean, or Bad. For the sound analysis, two INSTRUTHERM decibel meters, model DEC-470, with 1.5-decibel precision, were used. The landscapes evaluated at site C showed variation in the quality of the landscape from 1 to 21.57, with the best visual and noise attenuation qualities. Correlation analysis between the visual quality of the landscape and the amount of blocked noise showed a strong correlation coefficient (0.65; p = 0.0001). Landscapes with better visual quality result in a greater amount of attenuated noise, mainly due to the presence of vegetation.