Human assessment of soundscapes has been postulated to depend on whether sounds are wanted or unwanted in a particular context, rather than on energy-based metric of sound level. A study has been undertaken in the countryside of Hong Kong to determine how the visitors assess and evaluate the soundscapes and what factors influence their preferences. Based on an extensive social survey at different locations with various soundscapes in the countryside of Hong Kong, this study demonstrates that human preference is not statistically related to the common acoustical and sound quality metrices. Higher correlations are found between human preference scores and the absence or presence of certain wanted and unwanted sounds. Findings of this study can enhance our understanding of human evaluation of countryside soundscapes and facilitate planning and management of the natural acoustic environment.
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