Urban acoustic simulation: Analysis of urban public spaces through auditory senses

Barakat, Merate

Abstract

This paper explores the sonic characteristics of urban spaces, with the application of apprehending acoustic space and form theory. The theory defines auditory spaces as acoustical arenas, which are spaces defined and delineated by sonic events. Historically, cities were built around a soundmark, for example, the resonance of a church bell or propagation of a calling for prayer, or a factory horn. Anyone living beyond the horizon of this soundmark was not considered citizens of that town. Furthermore, the volume of urban sonic arenas depends on natural. Digital simulation is necessary to visualize the ephemeral and temporal nature of sound, within a dynamic immersive environment like urban spaces. This paper digitally analyses the different morphologies of old cities and forms of growth in relation to the sound propagation and ecological effects. An experiment is conducted with the aid of an ancient North-African city model, exposed to a point cloud agent system. By analysing how the sound propagates from the known soundmark through the urban fabric, with the wind pressure interference; the paper compares the theoretical concept of soundmarks and the known perimeter of the ancient city.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: eCAADe 2012
• Start Date: Sep 12, 2012
• End Date: Sep 14, 2012
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2012
• Publication Date: Sep 12, 2012
• Deposit Date: Feb 9, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 9, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 587-592
• Keywords: urban public spaces, aural design, auditory arena simulation, soundmark
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/943863
• Publisher URL: http://papers.cumincad.org/data/works/att/ecaade2012_290.content.pdf
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Cumulative Index of Computer Aided Architectural Design (CUMIN CAD)
• Contract Date: Feb 9, 2017