Developing tools and products for designing better urban sound environments
Submitting Institution
University of SheffieldUnit of Assessment
Architecture, Built Environment and PlanningSummary Impact Type
PoliticalResearch Subject Area(s)
Mathematical Sciences: Statistics
Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Built Environment and Design: Design Practice and Management
Summary of the impact
Theoretical and experimental research on urban sound environments has
been carried out by Professor Kang and his team at the University of
Sheffield since 1999. This includes acoustic theories and models for urban
sound propagation, soundscape theory and framework, and acoustic theories
for sustainable building elements. Consequently, they have developed
design guides/ tools that have become common standards in professional
practice; invented sustainable low-noise products that have led to
commercial outputs; organised networks and workshops that have set up the
practice agenda for designing better urban sound environments; and
delivered keynote presentations to international audiences of planning
professionals and government policy-making organisations.
Underpinning research
The economic cost of problems caused by environmental noise is 0.4-2% of
GDP in the EU [soundscape-cost.org]. European Parliament Directive
2002/49/EC demanded that from 2012 there must be regularly updated noise
maps for all cities with more than 250,000 inhabitants, and quiet areas
must be identified and protected. Since he joined the University of
Sheffield in 1999, Professor Jian Kang has developed sound propagation
theories, pioneered soundscape approaches, and established a theoretical
basis for a range of green acoustic products.
Professor Kang leads a research group of 15-20 associates, PhD
researchers and visiting researchers from 8 countries including France,
Germany, Italy, Sweden, China, Korea, Brazil and Australia. Since 1999, 32
of his projects have received total funding of over £4m, from European
Commission, EPSRC, AHRC, Royal Society, British Academy, British Council,
China Natural Science Foundation, and from industry including BP, Samsung
and Kingspan. The research has generated 428 publications, including 86
journal publications, 3 monograph books, 36 keynote speeches, and 5 design
guides/tools now adopted as standard references by planning and design
practitioners.
Professor Kang's research since 1999 at Sheffield can be divided in to
three main areas:
Sound propagation
Professor Kang has been researching fundamental acoustic theories and
models for urban sound propagation. Through theoretical analytic work,
developing algorithms and codes for computer simulation, physical scale
modelling and in-situ measurements, Professor Kang's research discovered a
series of fundamental phenomena in long spaces, such as the variation of
reverberation along their length and the non-linearity of the decay
process. From these results he developed formulae to calculate
reverberation in long spaces, as well as the radiosity model to simulate
sound fields formed by diffuse boundaries. With its high accuracy, of 2dB,
the radiosity model provided the basis for micro-scale urban area sound
map computation [R1], and this has been integrated into practical
noise-mapping techniques. His research at Sheffield on the acoustics of
long spaces, including underground stations and urban streets, was
published in a monograph book [R2].
Soundscape
Professor Kang pioneered soundscape research at Sheffield that examines a
constructive and holistic approach to noise control in the built
environment, closely related to the EU policy on identifying and
protecting quiet areas. Rather than focusing on noise reduction alone,
this considers environmental acoustics in a broader context that includes
perspectives from psychology, sociology, anthropology and medicine.
Together with his team, Professor Kang used analyses of sound fields in
urban spaces and subjective evaluation of soundscapes, to generate the
world's largest soundscape database [R3]. This revealed direct
relationships between the subjective evaluation of acoustic comfort and
objective measures of sound fields within the urban context. The database
has also been used to develop prediction models, based on neural network
techniques, from which soundscape quality maps can be generated. This has
led to the development of a set of design tools for planners and
architects [R4] and the publication of a soundscape design framework [R5].
Green acoustics
This research area focuses on reducing noise in a sustainable manner.
Since 1999 Professor Kang has established basic acoustic theories for a
number of green building elements, including natural ventilation window
systems [R6], low-noise ventilators, low-height noise barriers, green
roofs and non-fibrous micro-perforated membrane sound absorbers.
Correspondingly, a series of field and laboratory experimental studies
were carried out, to validate the theories.
References to the research
R1. Kang, J. (2001) Sound propagation in interconnected urban streets: a
parametric study. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design,
28, 281-294.
R2. Kang, J. (2002) Acoustics of Long spaces: Theory and Design
Guidance. Thomas Telford Publishing, London.
R3. Kang, J and Zhang, M. (2010). Semantic differential analysis of the
soundscape in urban open public spaces. Building and Environment,
45, 150-157. doi:
10.1016/j.buildenv.2009.05.014
[REF submission]
R4. Yu, L and Kang, J. (2009). Modelling subjective evaluation of
soundscape quality in urban open spaces — An artificial neural network
approach. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 126,
1163-1174. doi: 10.1121/1.3183377
[REF submission]
R5. Kang, J. (2007) Urban Sound Environment. Taylor & Francis
incorporating Spon, London. [First book specifically in the field of
urban acoustics — it has been positively reviewed in 7 acoustics and
engineering journals including the Journal of the Acoustical Society of
America. Chinese version published in 2011 by the China Science Press]
R6. Kang, J. and Brocklesby, M. W. (2005) Feasibility of applying
micro-perforated absorbers in acoustic window systems. Applied
Acoustics, 66, 669-689. doi: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2004.06.011
[One of the most cited articles in Applied Acoustics].
Details of the impact
Development of design guides/ tools that have advanced professional
practice
The design guides/tools developed by Professor Kang, based on his
research in sound propagation and soundscape, have been adopted by built
environment and industry professionals worldwide. These include:
1) Noise abatement best-practice guide, requested and initially used by
BP in 2001 and since adopted worldwide by acoustic consultants for use on
large-scale noise-mapping projects, including, within this REF period,
urban noise-mapping projects in Taipei and Wuhan, and industrial
noise-mapping projects for BP Shanghai and BP Grangemouth. The consultants
for these projects, Acoustic Modules Ltd, assessed it as a "comprehensive
guidance" [S1];
2) A design guide for soundscape in urban open public spaces published by
the EU in 2004, and correspondingly, a neural network model for predicting
perception of soundscapes. Both are now used worldwide as benchmark
guidance for planners, architects and urban designers, such as in 5 urban
soundscape projects since 2008, in Harbin and Dalian (China), Valdera
(Italy), Assen (The Netherlands), and Antwerpen (Belgium) [S2];
3) Design guide for long spaces, requested and initially used by Hong
Kong Mass Transit Railway Cooperation, and finalised in 2002. Its
applications since 2008 by consultants and planning authorities include
underground projects in Buenos Aires, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Tianjin,
Guangzhou, Harbin, and road tunnels/motorway enclosure projects in New
Zealand and Australia. For example, the use of these design tools in
underground station projects has led to improved speech intelligibility of
public address systems [S3], which has been strictly regulated since the
King's Cross fire in 1987. Conversely, 2012 documents from DLA Piper [S4]
demonstrated that employing Professor Kang's long space design tools over
conventional acoustic design theories would have saved multi-million A$
worth of remedial work on a railway tunnel project.
Invented sustainable low-noise products that have led to commercial
outputs and environmental improvements.
Based on his acoustic theories for building elements, Professor Kang has
invented and, together with industrial partners below, successfully
commercialised a series of construction products for sustainable
environmental noise abatement that satisfy the requirement of Planning
Policy Guidance: 24 (Planning and Noise). These include low noise domestic
ventilation systems manufactured by Greenwood and Titon; acoustic
green-roof systems developed by Kingspan; and road noise barriers
manufactured by Acoustic Modules Ltd. In particular, since 2011 a novel
acoustic window system, designed by Professor Kang, has made significant
contributions to overall built environment sustainability in six major
projects led by the Hong Kong Housing Department [S5]. The system reduces
external noise while allowing effective day-lighting and natural
ventilation, with a typical saving of £60k per year per building over the
use of standard air- conditioning systems.
Organised networks and workshops that have helped define the
regulatory agenda
Based on his research in sound propagation, soundscape, and green
acoustic components, Professor Kang has set up and chaired three
professional networks to propagate research and best practice and inform
the development of relevant regulations:
1) European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) [S6] Network on
Soundscape of European Cities and Landscapes (2009-2013, €500k), which
created an international network of 83 participating organisations from 22
COST countries and 7 partner organisations outside Europe;
2) EPSRC Noise-Futures network [S6] (2006-2009, £100k, Professor Kang is
joint Chair), with 52 participating organisations including policy makers,
consultants and researchers;
3) Worldwide University Network on Environmental Acoustics (2004- ) with
major world-leading acoustic centres.
32 workshops have been hosted by these networks across the EU, attended
by over 2000 people, to discuss and define environmental acoustic practice
and policy. Sonic installations following COST workshops in Brighton, in
2011, demonstrated a ground breaking soundscape implementation that
enhances public safety and improves crowd behaviour [S7]. The workshop
outputs also formed the foundation of the first ISO Standard for
soundscapes: ISO/TC 43/SC 1/WG 54: Perceptual Assessment of Soundscape
Quality — a key standard for designers, planners and policy makers. Part 1
of this standard was published in 2012 [S8].
Influenced development and adoption of international policies on
environmental noise
A major impact of Professor Kang's research is that urban planning now
takes better account of environmental noise. Professor Kang's soundscape
research has been delivered to policy makers through invited keynote
lectures at international and national conferences and workshops organised
by local authorities and government policy-making organisations. In 2009
Professor Kang delivered a keynote speech to 150 practitioners and
policymakers at the Tranquil Spaces conference, organised by the
Greater London Authority [S9]. Ten similar presentations have been
delivered since 2008 in London, Brighton, China, India, Malta and Sweden,
with a total audience of over 500. As a consequence, Professor Kang's
research is now included in the recent DEFRA benchmarking report [S10] on
soundscape and creation of quiet areas, following the strict requirements
by the EU Directive 2002/49/EC.
The impact of his research on international policy is evidenced by
Professor Kang being appointed as Chief Environmental Acoustics Adviser to
the Planning Department of four major Chinese cities, Dalian, Harbin,
Huludao, and Taiyuan. In this role he is able to apply his research to
guiding planning policy to integrate environmental noise and soundscape
issues with a fast urbanisation process. The dissemination of Professor
Kang's research and its adoption as part of national and local planning
policy has been encouraged by media coverage of his work on urban sound
environment, including BBC, Times, Radio New Zealand National, and China
Changsha TV.
Sources to corroborate the impact
S1. Letter from a Senior Consultant at Acoustics Modules Ltd.
corroborates the impact of the application of the design guide.
S2. The screening plan-Mer-plicht, RUP Nieuw Zurenborg, VERZOEK TOT
RAADPLEGING corroborates the claims of the application of soundscape
design guide
www.lne.be/merdatabank/uploads/nthnvg1443.pdf.
[See page 100]
S3. A letter from Kandaswamy Acoustics in India corroborates the
application of the design guide.
S4. A letter from DLA Piper Australia and attached reports from acoustic
consultants corroborate the claim that employing the research would have
saved multi-million A$ worth of remedial work on a railway tunnel project.
S5. Contract between Professor Kang and the Housing Department of the
Hong Kong Government through ENVIRON corroborates the application of the
window system.
S6. Websites for two of the networks established by Professor Kang
corroborate the activities with impact on regulatory agenda: http://www.soundscape-cost.org/
and http://www.noisefutures.org/.
S7. Report of the project on the UK Noise Abatement Society web site
corroborates the impact of the soundscape research and workshop: http://tinyurl.com/lg69bbq
S8. ISO/TC 43/SC 1/WG 54: Perceptual Assessment of Soundscape Quality.
Part 1: Definition and Conceptual Framework, 2012.
S9. Kang research impact is corroborated by this invited keynote in this
practice-led bench marking event: TRANQUIL SPACES — from understanding
perceptions to practical protection. A one-day conference organised
by the Greater London Authority, London, UK, 2009.
S10. The DEFRA report corroborates the claim that it was underpinned by
Professor Kang's research. Research into the Practical and Policy
Applications of Soundscape Concepts and Techniques in Urban Areas (NANR
200). DEFRA, October 2009.
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