National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 12913‑1:2014.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee EH/1/3, Residential and industrial noise.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 September 2014.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2. www.iso.org/directives

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received. www.iso.org/patents

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information

The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 43, Acoustics, Subcommittee SC 1, Noise.

ISO 12913 consists of the following parts, under the general title Acoustics — Soundscape:

Part 1: Definition and conceptual framework

The following part is under preparation:

Part 2: Methods and measurements

Introduction

Soundscape studies have a rich tradition^[¹^],[²^],[³^],[⁴^],[⁵^]. Because the field has evolved differently around the world, as well as across disciplines, there is a diversity of opinions about its definition and aims. Consequently, the use of the term ‘soundscape’ has become idiosyncratic and ambiguous^[⁶^].

This International Standard aims to enable a broad international consensus on the definition of ‘soundscape’, to provide a foundation for communication across disciplines and professions with an interest in soundscape.

There are similarities between the concepts of 'landscape'^[⁷^] and 'soundscape'; both are based on perception by people. For the purpose of this International Standard, soundscape will be understood as a perceptual construct, related to a physical phenomenon. The standard distinguishes the perceptual construct (soundscape) from the physical phenomenon (acoustic environment), and clarifies that soundscape exists through human perception of the acoustic environment.

1 Scope

This International Standard provides a definition and a conceptual framework of soundscape. It explains factors relevant for measurement and reporting in soundscape studies, as well as for planning, design and management of soundscape.

2 Terms and definitions

3 Conceptual framework of soundscape

3.1 General

3.2 Context

3.3 Sound sources

3.4 Acoustic environment

3.5 Auditory sensation

3.6 Interpretation of auditory sensation

3.7 Responses

3.8 Outcomes

Bibliography

BS ISO 12913-1:2014

Acoustics. Soundscape - Definition and conceptual framework

Current

Published:

30 Sep 2014