Assessing the applicability of ISO 12913 in Brazil: insights from a survey with Brazilian soundscape researchers

Verifying the suitability and applicability of acoustic standards is essential to ensure their relevance and effectiveness across diverse sociocultural contexts. The international standard for soundscape assessment and design, ISO 12913, provides a framework for integrating human perception into environmental acoustics, particularly in urban planning and design. However, as urban spaces evolve, these standards need regular review to address new challenges and priorities. Surveys and focus groups are key methods for verifying these standards. Surveys gather data on public perceptions, experiences, and expectations of acoustic environments, offering insights into the effectiveness of existing standards. Focus groups, meanwhile, facilitate in-depth discussions among stakeholders, including residents, experts, and policymakers, revealing gaps and areas for improvement. This work presents the results of a survey and focus group conducted by Brazilian experts in soundscape studies during the first semester of 2025. These findings not only highlight gaps in the applicability of ISO 12913 in the Brazilian context but also provide valuable input for its contextual refinement, supporting future research and informed policy decisions in Brazil's soundscape studies.