Recording and evaluation of soundscapes

• Main Author: Muhammad Fahmi bin Ahmad
• Other Authors: Gan Woon Seng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/177241
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Soundscapes, the aural environments of a location, offer valuable insights into ecological health and human well-being. To evaluate these soundscapes, researchers need to capture and analyze their acoustic characteristics. This study aimed to develop a robust methodology for recording and evaluating soundscapes, with a particular focus on assessing the level of agreement between different microphone setups. Utilizing a combination of certified equipment, including Brüel & Kjær Type 4101 binaural microphones, miniDSP EARS and UMA-8 microphone systems, and a Brüel & Kjær 2250 Sound Pressure Level Meter, high-fidelity recordings were captured at a designated grid. A meticulous recording protocol was implemented, involving recordings at three heights (1.2m, 1.4m, and 1.6m) and synchronization procedures for each 30-second recording. Data analysis revealed a strong correlation between the SqoBold mobile data acquisition system paired with Brüel & Kjær Type 4101 and the other microphones used in the recordings. While statistically significant differences in frequency content were not observed, high correlation coefficients were found in both spectral patterns (STFT) and spectral density (Welsh) analyses. Notably, the EARS microphone exhibited the strongest overall correlation with SqoBold recordings. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the employed methodology for soundscape recording and evaluation. The high level of agreement between microphones suggests the suitability of various setups for capturing reliable soundscape data, with EARS microphones showing a particularly close correlation to SqoBold recordings. These findings contribute to the development of efficient and cost-effective methods for future soundscape studies.