Soundscape Perception Preference in an Urban Forest Park: Evidence from Moon Island Forest Park in Lu’an City

Abstract

Urban forest parks improve the environment by reducing noise, which can promote the development of physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate the soundscape preferences of visitors in different spaces. It also provides practical suggestions for the study of urban green-space soundscapes. This study took the example of Moon Island Forest Park in Lu’an City, based on the questionnaire field survey that acquired public soundscape perception data. SPSS 26.0 was used to analyze five different spatial soundscape perception preferences in Moon Island Forest Park, starting from the subjective evaluation of users’ soundscape perception, based on user preference for different spatial sound source types. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used and a separate analysis of soundscape preferences in each space was undertaken; the mean (SD) was also used to reveal the respondents’ preference for each sound-source perceptual soundscape. The study found that the five dimensions of different spaces were significantly correlated with sound perception preferences. First, the same sound source had different perceptual characteristics and differences in different functional areas. Second, different spatial features were influenced differently by typical sound sources. Third, in each functional area, water sound was the main sound source of positive impact and mechanical sound was the main source of negative impact. Mechanical sound had the greatest negative impact on the overall area. Overall, natural sound provided the most popular significant contribution to the soundscape preference; second was the human voice, and mechanical sound produced a negative effect. The results of these studies were analyzed from the perspective of soundscape characteristics in different spaces, providing a more quantitative basis for urban forest park soundscape design.