Urban soundscape analysis: the case study of the Department of Human Arts of Roma Tre University

The European Directive 2002/49/CE, and the following Italian Legislative Decree 194/2005, are aimed to protect the acoustic quality of “quiet areas”, even though they do not identify any methodological criterion for the definition of these areas. Quiet areas have the unique function of resting places where the urban noise affecting people during daily life is temporarily interrupted and for this reason many soundscape studies have focused on these areas. This function should be protected also in the open spaces of schools and universities, which may assume the role of resting areas and places of discussion and education. Because of their urban settlement, schools and universities are often surrounded by areas with a high noise pollution that may compromise their good acoustic quality. The paper presents the methodology and the first results of a wide socio-acoustic survey performed in the external area of the Department of Languages, Philosophy and Human Arts of Roma Tre University, located in the Ostiense district, and surrounded by three streets characterized by high traffic flows. The area has various functions, is delimited by different University buildings, is frequently attended by students and characterized by a car park, some green areas and a courtyard with a fountain. The study included both the acquisition of data thanks to ad hoc polls and experimental measurements. The users of the external space of the Department, mainly students, were asked to answer a specific questionnaire on the acoustic and overall environmental quality of the area. The acoustics measurements, which consisted of noise recordings in various fixed positions and binaural registrations performed during the hours of utilization of the open space in different positions, allowed the description of the environmental noise through both the traditional indicators of environmental acoustics and psychoacoustic parameters, which are more linked to sound perception. The paper describes the adopted methodology, the results obtained thanks to questionnaires and measurements and gives finally the soundscape map of the area, along with some soundscape design solutions.