Soundscape Analysis in Urban Areas of High Heritage Value – the Case Study of Coimbra

Traditionally, the management of environmental noise was focused mainly on measuring the physical parameters of the acoustic environment, as defined by international standards. However, over the years, several studies have shown that reducing sound pressure levels not always leads to an improvement in quality of life. Consequently, a new perspective on this problem has been emerging, called the “soundscape” approach, which also incorporates users’ perception and contextual factors in this evaluation. Since the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, in 2003, there has been a growing interest in the analysis of soundscapes in places of high cultural significance, recognizing the need to preserve the acoustic environment as it contributes to the identity of a place and influences the visitor’s experience. In this study, the soundscape of historical areas of high heritage value, located in the urban zone of Coimbra, Portugal, was analysed, applying the soundwalk methodology, according to the ISO/TS 12913. The acoustic environment is described by means of appropriate acoustic indicators; however, it does not incorporate psychoacoustic parameters. The findings suggest that this comprehensive approach is essential for fully understanding the sound environment of a place, as sound pressure levels alone are insufficient to explain acoustic perception, since the type and characteristics of sound sources significantly affect how environments with similar LAeq values are experienced. ​