Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Publication

Tranquillity and soundscapes in urban green spaces - predicted and actual assessments from a questionnaire survey

Watts, Gregory R.
Miah, Abdul H.S.
Pheasant, Robert J.
Publication Date
2013
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
© 2013 PION. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Watts GR, Miah A and Pheasant RJ (2013) Tranquillity and soundscapes in urban green spaces - predicted and actual assessments from a questionnaire survey. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. 40(1): 170-181. https://doi.org/10.1068/b38061
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Additional title
Abstract
A pilot study had previously demonstrated the utility of a tranquillity prediction tool TRAPT for use in 3 green open spaces in a densely populated area. This allows the calculation of perceived levels of tranquillity in open spaces. The current study expands the range of sites to 8 and importantly considers the views of visitors to these spaces. In total 252 face to face interviews were conducted in these spaces. An important aim of the survey was to determine the extent to which reported tranquillity obtained from the questionnaire survey could be predicted by a previously developed prediction tool TRAPT. A further aim was to determine what additional factors may need to be considered in addition to the purely physical descriptors in TRAPT. The questions included the sounds and sights that were noticed, factors affecting tranquillity as well as questions relating to the benefits of visiting these areas. Predictions were considered satisfactory and could be further improved by taking account of issues surrounding personal safety. Examining the trends in these data it was also shown that the percentage of people feeling more relaxed after visiting the spaces was closely related to overall assessments of perceived tranquillity. Further trends and their implications are presented and discussed in the paper.
Version
Accepted manuscript
Citation
Watts GR, Miah A and Pheasant RJ (2013) Tranquillity and soundscapes in urban green spaces - predicted and actual assessments from a questionnaire survey. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. 40(1): 170-181.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article
Qualification name
Notes
Made available in full text March 2014 at the end of the publisher's embargo period.