Speaker: Francesco Aletta, University College London
Wed 22nd April 12:00 – 13:00 UK time. This seminar will be held in person in Newton 241 and online via Microsoft Teams.
Abstract
Recent advances in soundscape standardization show how the field has evolved from broad conceptual definitions to a structured international framework centred on the ISO 12913 series and its growing relevance for research, assessment, and design. The current state of the field includes standardized methods for data collection, analysis, and reporting, alongside quantitative tools such as circumplex models, predictive approaches, and Soundscape Perception Indices (SPI) that allow soundscape quality to be described and compared more systematically. At the same time, major efforts to validate perceptual descriptors across multiple languages, particularly through the Soundscape Attributes Translation Project, are helping make soundscape assessment more robust and internationally applicable. Together, these developments point toward a shift from simply measuring sonic environments to actively informing soundscape design and intervention in ways that can support better urban experiences and more context-sensitive environmental planning
Biography
Francesco is an Associate Professor in Building Physics and Soundscape at Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London (UCL). His research focuses on environmental acoustics and soundscape studies. Francesco is committed to advancing soundscape research through his contribution to the ISO 12913 series on soundscapes, which provides a comprehensive framework for assessing and managing urban sound environments. Francesco’s research has informed international policy discussions. He authored a United Nations Environment Programme report in 2022, addressing emerging environmental concerns related to noise and its impact on public health and urban environments. His work is frequently referred in policy documents and guidelines aimed at promoting healthier and more sustainable sound environments globally. As part of his standardization efforts, Francesco coordinated the Soundscape Attributes Translation Project, an international collaboration of more than 100 scholars worldwide. He is also an active member of editorial boards for leading journals, including the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Coordinating Editor for TC Noise), and member of the organizing committee of several international conferences, including the Urban Sound Symposium, and the Lancet UK Public Health Science Conference. Francesco is a member of the Italian Acoustical Society (AIA), the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), and serves as Chair of the Technical Committee Noise of the European Acoustics Association (EAA).