Auralisation methods as tools for urban traffic noise assessment

Paper in proceeding, 2016

Assessment of sound environments for urban areas under development can be achieved by auralising them. This paper discusses auralisation tools needed for evaluating traffic noise. Depending on their usage, the tools could be developed either by simplified or physically detailed models. Simplified but perceptually valid models would suffice for spatially extensive areas. Such a model is outlined targeting distant background traffic noise in flat city scenarios. A more detailed modeling procedure is required for local urban events such as traffic within close range to a receiver, also when obscured by structures. While auralisation methods constantly evolve, their relevance for assessment of environments depends on the perceived acoustic field. A study of a soundwalk is described, where both recordings and data form survey questionnaires are available. The link between the two different forms of data and its use in auralisation tools is discussed.