Aesthetic, affective, and cognitive effects of noise on natural landscape assessment
Mace BL, Bell PA, Loomis RJ. 1999. Aesthetic, affective, and cognitive effects of noise on natural landscape assessment. Society and Natural Resources : An International Journal. 12:225-242
Researchers examined the influence of 40 dB or 80 dB helicopter noise on participant assessment of Grand Canyon National Park vistas in a laboratory setting. Participants were shown a series of slides depicting scenic vistas, and were asked to assess each vista on naturalness, preference, and scenic beauty, and to indicate the intensity of their feelings of freedom, annoyance, solitude, and tranquility. Compared to a control of natural noises, both 40 and 80 dB helicopter noise negatively impacted the subjects' assessments of naturalness, preference, and beauty and negatively impacted their levels of feelings of freedom, solitude, and tranquility. Levels of annoyance doubled between natural noise background and 40 dB helicopter noise, and between 40 dB and 80 dB helicopter noise. These results suggest that helicopter noise decreases the quality of visitor experience, and even affects the perceived aesthetic quality of the landscapes. Since national park policies and protections afforded to certain areas under the Wilderness Act address the maintenance of quality visitor experience with specific mention of feelings of freedom and solitude, this study could be an important tool in assessing the level of acceptable aircraft noise within national parks.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Mace, Britton; Bell, Paul; Loomis, Ross
- Units
- BRCA , HALE , HAVO
- Keywords
- aesthetic quality, Atmospheric Sciences, landscape assessment, natural environments, Noise, Outdoor Recreation, Soundscape, Visitor Experience