Perceptual studies on air quality and sound through urban walks

Abstract Factors such as air and sound quality are important aspects of the urban environment with potential impacts on public health, especially in walkable areas where the public is constantly using the public space for their daily activities, accessibility, leisure and recreation. Knowing which are user's preferences regarding acoustic and air quality environments is a big advantage for public spaces management. This paper aims at investigating the correlation between air quality and sound perception in walkable areas, through subjective evaluations and on-site measurements of particulate matter, acoustic and psychoacoustic data. For this purpose, a Canonical Correlation Analysis was carried out. This paper found out correlations regarding background sound qualities and air quality perception (Rc = 0.485), as well as correlations between background sound acceptance & cognitive aspects and air quality perception (Rc = 0.532), on data collected at urban parks. The involved objective parameters which led to those results are sharpness, roughness, hearing model roughness ½ Bark, PM 1 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 . In busy street areas there are correlations between background sound qualities and air quality perception (Rc = 0.450). For this correlation the correlated objective parameters are sound pressure level (SPL), sharpness, tonality, PM 1 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 .