Systematic review of indoor soundscape assessments: Activity-based psycho-acoustics analysis

This study examines 22 peer-reviewed papers to offer insights into the current utilization of psycho-acoustic sound quality metrics in research focused on indoor soundscapes. The selection of papers followed the PRISMA method for systematic review, followed by descriptive and bibliometric analyses. The review focuses on (i) identifying what psycho-acoustic indicators can be utilized to obtain an objective soundscape assessment, and (ii) determining if soundscape descriptors vary with the desired activities within the indoor space. The findings provide an overview of how psycho-acoustic sound quality metrics are used to predict perceived annoyance in indoor environments. The discussion delves into response variables related to occupants’ sound perception across various indoor settings. It highlights the lack of sufficient research on prediction models based on psycho-acoustic sound quality metrics within indoor soundscapes. Further research is required to develop tools enabling the optimal design of indoor soundscapes, which can vary according to the intended use of the room.