Enhancing authenticity in historic districts: A sound selection and control method

Historic districts are essential to urban planning and protection. Authenticity has been less studied in soundscape research, despite the fact that previous studies focused on acoustic comfort or preferences. With an emphasis on soundscape design, this research explores methods for enhancing the authenticity in historic districts by sound selection and control. The research focuses on three main topics: the dimensions of authenticity evaluation, how changes in spatial characteristics effect authenticity evaluation, and how changes in the sound environment effect authenticity evaluation. First, the main dimensions are first determined by cluster analysis, index screening, and dimensionality reduction. Second, the research examines the ways in which spatial functions, morphological characteristics, and heritage preservation effect authenticity evaluation. On the basis of this, the indicator and spatial screening system were established through kernel density analysis. Finally, the study investigates how changes in the sound environment effect authenticity evaluation in different spaces. This research encourages the integration of authenticity and heritage conservation and providing practical guidelines for the soundscape design in historic districts. Additionally, to address the lack of soundscape design for tour route, an interactive soundscape design platform will be created in further studies.