Natural sounds in our environment significantly enhance our quality of life, as demonstrated by a study from the universities of Ghent and Antwerp, published by Natuurpunt on Thursday.
Even in areas with heavy traffic noise, natural sounds can make the surroundings more pleasant. The University of Antwerp (UA) surveyed 4,500 participants who took a walk in their local areas to assess their auditory experiences. Professor Cedric Vuye of Applied Engineering Sciences explained that they examined the proximity of participants to parks or natural areas. The study found a clear correlation: the closer people were to green spaces, the more they experienced an improved sound environment.
UA’s citizen science project, De Oorzaak, reveals that even in urban settings with significant traffic noise, people perceive their environment as more pleasant when natural sounds are present. The University of Ghent further explored this by playing natural sounds in the Zuidpark in Ghent.
They discovered that additional natural sounds made traffic noise seem quieter, even though the overall noise level remained unchanged. Vuye noted that hidden speakers could be used to mask environmental noise but cautioned against making it artificial, advising against playing nature sounds where there is no greenery nearby.
