A study on the evaluation structure of urban soundscape using the Extended Caption Evaluation Method

This study aimed to understand the impression evaluation of the soundscape of urban streets easily. For the purpose of the present investigation, a new method that is named Extended Caption Evaluation Method (ECEM) was used to extract the structure of the individual's evaluation of the soundscape. In the ECEM, the Caption Evaluation Method was supplemented by the 'Node-kara' method which enables subjects to make evaluation decisions easily by using standardized free-form descriptions. Sound walks were carried out with smartphones so that evaluation data by ECEM can be linked with location information. Therefore, results of the sound walk can be shown on a map. The survey was conducted with 20 students in two cities, Marunouchi and Kitasenju in Tokyo. As a result, almost three times as many responses were obtained for sounds rated as 'good' than for sounds rated as 'bad' or 'neither' in each city. More 'good' sounds were cognized near the parks, whereas in the city blocks, more 'bad' and 'neither' sounds were perceived. On the other hand, it was suggested that the evaluation structure of soundscape which differs from individual to individual and from city to city.