Soundscape and its context: A framework based on a systematic review
Ruining Zhang, Hui Ma, Chao Wang, Yuan Zhang, Jian Kang
Abstract
Theoretical and empirical research has consistently highlighted the significance of context in understanding and evaluating soundscapes. Despite this, the concept of "context" in soundscape studies remains ambiguously defined, and the indicators employed in these studies are often inconsistent. Consequently, a systematic understanding of the soundscape-context relationship is needed. A systematic literature search, incorporating 14 theoretical and 52 empirical studies, was conducted to develop a framework explaining this relationship. The review explores the origins and evolution of soundscape-context theory, defining context as all non-acoustic components within the spatiotemporal scene of the soundscape experience, categorised into spatial-physical and socio-cultural attributes. Context indicators were summarised: spatial-physical attributes are measured across three scales: macroscale (landscape spatial patterns), mesoscale (particularly landscape elements), and microscale (multisensory factors). Socio-cultural attributes present challenges in establishing universal indicators and are typically described qualitatively or included as individual background factors. Importantly, the review synthesises the dynamic and reciprocal nature of this relationship: context shapes acoustic events and influences perceptual outcomes, while soundscape experiences, in turn, can modify the context. This review clarifies the impact of context in soundscape studies and proposes this framework to promote a standardised paradigm that systematically integrates these diverse contextual factors into soundscape research and practice.