| Author: | Fu, Jiahui |
| Title: | Assess the impact of audio-visual factors on perceptions of urban noise : utilizing virtual reality technology |
| Advisors: | Hou, Cynthia (BEEE) |
| Degree: | M.Eng. |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Department: | Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering |
| Pages: | vii, 29 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the impact of audio-visual factors on pedestrians' perceptions of urban noise pollution in high-density environments, utilizing virtual reality (VR) technology to simulate realistic auditory-visual scenarios. Focused on the interplay between natural sounds (birdsong, rustling leaves) and visual elements (vegetation coverage, spatial openness), the research employed a controlled experimental design featuring six Hong Kong roadside sites with consistent traffic noise levels but varying green visibility and openness ratios. Participants (n = 45) evaluated 30 sound-visual combinations — comprising unaltered traffic noise (control) and natural sounds at distinct signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs: birdsong at 0 dB/-6 dB; leaf rustling at -6 dB/-12 dB)—via immersive VR headsets and spatial audio systems. Subjective assessments of loudness, pleasantness, eventfulness, and landscape quality were collected using Likert-scale questionnaires, with data analyzed through ANOVA and post-hoc LSD tests. Results demonstrated that natural sounds significantly reduced perceived loudness compared to unmitigated traffic noise, with moderate SNR leaf rustling (-6 dB) exhibiting the strongest masking effect. Birdsong consistently enhanced pleasantness ratings irrespective of SNR, while auditory-visual interactions showed no significant influence on landscape or openness perceptions. These findings highlight the dominance of auditory factors in shaping urban soundscape evaluations and underscore the potential of strategically integrating natural sounds with visual elements to mitigate noise annoyance and improve acoustic comfort in urban planning. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8565.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.23 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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