The Noise Control and Soundscape paradigms: complementary approaches to a better acoustic environment

Soundscapes studies (also called acoustic ecology) are eclectic, encompassing areas as diverse as nature sound recording, compositions based on natural sounds, and description of acoustic environments. While common interests are emerging between the fields of soundscapes and noise control, even a cursory examination of noise control and soundscape literatures testifies to the paucity, until relatively recently, of interreaction between them. Their complementarity of soundscape approaches and environmental noise approaches needs to be recognized, particularly by those who work in management and control of environmental noise. Some realignment towards soundscapes has been forced by the EU Noise Directive, and also by notions of the restorative capacities of soundscapes on human health and well-being and the value of high acoustic quality environments such as parks to people in noisy urban environments. The paper encourages further convergence of soundscape and noise control, recognising opportunities, impediments and pragmatic issues that need to be addressed