This document summarizes a study on soundscapes in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The study assessed three green areas in Tanah Rata township to identify relationships between soundscape elements and landscape features. Physical sound level measurements and psychological assessments via lab tests and questionnaires were conducted. Results found that vehicle sounds dominated and one site had lower acoustic quality. Landform, activities, and vegetation influenced soundscapes. Questionnaires rated natural ambience and bird sounds most positively. The study concluded soundscapes are declining due to vehicle noise and recommended enhancing environments with more positive natural sounds.

1. Imagineering Soundscape
Hazreena Hussein
Engku Mastura Engku Mohd Anuar
Nazli Che Din
Faculty of Built Environment, Department of Architecture
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur
reenalambina@um.edu.my
Royal FLORIA
InternaKonal Dialogue
Sowing the Seeds for Industry Excellence
Putrajaya InternaKonal ConvenKon Centre; 27-28 May 2016

2. Development
Effects of Sound Pollu0on on Health and Well-Being
In Kme, urban environment becomes increasingly developed and crowded,
sound pollu0on is considered a major environmental health problem
(Skanberg & Ohrstrom, 2002).
The health consequences of regular exposure, to consistent elevated sound
levels can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, annoyance, and sleep
disturbance.
Natural Sound Natural Sound + Human
Sound + Mechanical Sound
INTRODUCTION

3. SOUNDSCAPE :
The sound of environment
at an area as perceived
by people and people's
response to it.
Environment
People
+VE & -VE Sound
NOISE & ANNOYANCE:
The sound that is unpleasant
or disturbance. Focus on
control and reduc0on.
SOUND
INTRODUCTION

4. 4
THE HIGHLANDS: then…

5. 5
THE HIGHLANDS: now…

6. 6
Land Use 1947 1966 1974 1982 1990 1997
Forest 95% 78% 76% 73% 72% 62%
Agriculture 1.7% 2.4% 3.8% 9.3% 10.2% 17.8%
Tea & Orchards 2.7% 8.9% 10.8% 9.7% 9.5% 7.5%
Urban/Housing 0.6% 10.7% 9.4% 8.0% 8.3% 12.7%
Increase
Decrease
Inc/Dec
(Source: TNB Research Sdn Bhd (1997) The Development of Catchment Monitoring and Management for
Pergau and Cameron Highlands Batang Padang Using GIS. TNB Research Sdn Bhd, Kajang - see Chan, 2006)
Sound pollu0on ever-growing
problem occurs in any develop
area (Raimbault & Dubois, 2005)
()
LAND USE CHANGE

7. To idenKfy the relaKon between the soundscape elements and
landscape features in the selected areas in Cameron Highlands
To assess the simulaKon of exisKng and arKficial elements of the
Soundscape using audio-visual approaches
7
OBJECTIVES

8. 8
2nd largest township
Main a`racKon: Weekend night market
LARGEST TOWNSHIP
ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE
MAIN HUB
GREEN AREA AS RECREATION SPOT
Trading area for commercial acKviKes
Old style shops and convenient stores
SELECTED TOWN

9. 9
Site A: Taman Pertabalan
Sunken
AcKve and passive acKviKes
Site B: Bus Sta0on Pocket Park
Flat
Passive acKviKes
Site C: Undula0ng Landscape
Passive acKviKes
SAMPLING GREEN AREAS

10. 10
Sound level measurement is not
restricted to just traffic sounds but
comprises of whole sounds. Urban
landscape areas deal with complex
soundscape as it involves with various
sound sources.
Temperature and humidity
Time and duration: 0900-1700 daytime
(eight hours) & 2050/2200-2150/2300
night-time (one hour).
Six days: 3 days of public holiday & 3
days of non-holiday/weekday
Observation: soundscape elements,
landsape features, activities and
numbers of vehicles.
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT

11. 11
Source of sound
Source of sound
Source of sound
Site A: Taman Pertabalan

12. Source of sound
Source of sound
12
Site B: Bus Sta0on Pocket Park

13. 13
Source of sound
Source of sound
Site C: Undula0ng Landscape

14. Apple Macmini EPSON
Projector
Behringer
Pro-8 HA8000
Shure
Headphone
Sound Level
Meter
Hygro-
Termometer
Free Video
Editor
VLC Media
14
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: Lab Test

15. 15
Natural Sound Water flowing
Leaves rustling
Bird chirping
Wind blowing
Insect sound
Dog barking
Human Sound People laughing
People talking
People shouKng
Footsteps
Children whining
Children crying
People cycling
People skate boarding
Mechanical Sound Music from passing car
Traffic sound
Machinery sound
ConstrucKon sound
A) Rate favourableness for 18 sound elements
B) Labtest Audio-Visual (Ques0onnaire Survey)
Visual Audio Audio -
Visual
ExisKng Visual (Video) ExisKng
Soundscape
AddiKonal sounds Scenes
Site A
(Sunken) A
- A1
birds A2
water A3
natural ambience A4
Site B
(Flat) B
- B1
birds B2
water B3
natural ambience B4
Site C
(Undulate) C
- C1
birds C2
water C3
natural ambience C4
E
X
A
M
P
L
E
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT: Ques0onnaire

16. Scene A1: Exis0ng Scene A2: Birds
Scene A3: Water Scene A4: Natural
EXAMPLE: Site A (Taman Pertabalan)

17. 17
It is ascertained that the soundscape at Tanah Rata is declining as the dominated sound of vehicles being
idenKfied. Bus StaKon Pocket Park has the lowest level of acousKc quality.
Landform, ac0vi0es and landscape elements have significant influence on the soundscape.
• Sunken and elevated landform act as sound barrier. Flat landform enable higher sound exposure.
• Provision of both acKve and passive acKviKes generate human sound.
• PlanKng composiKon offers shades, a`ract birds and act as sound barrier.
Site B exisKng soundscape - traffic noise predominate was one of the expected contribuKng factor for
lower ra0ng percentages for all scenes.
Site C exisKng soundscape – natural sound & less traffic sound exposure show high ra0ngs for all subject
preferences.
All sites are exposed to various sounds generated by human and traffic, which could affect the Calmness.
Original sounds with water sound elements are rated lower preferences compared to natural ambience
and birds sound elements for all sites.
All sites rated posi0vely for natural ambience and birds sound. Increase posi0ve expression and
improve/enhance environments selngs.
CONCLUSION

18. 18
Mastura, E., Hussein, H., & Che Din, N. (2014). Soundscape assessment of Cameron Highlands
Environment for Sustainable Development. In Conference Proceeding SUDLiC2014, Malaysia.
Che Din, N., Mastura, E., & Hussein, H. (2015). Inves0ga0on on the Soundscape Preference and
Percep0on of Highlands Environment: A preliminary study. In Conference Proceeding (ICSV22),
Florence, Italy.
Mastura, E., Hussein, H., & Che Din, N. (2016). Landscape Iden0ty of Cameron Highlands Hill
Sta0on: Soundscape. SuSci Symposium #UM111.
This research is funded by the University of Malaya Research Grant, project number
RP009B-13SUS. The authors are grateful for the cooperaKon given by the Cameron Highlands
District Council throughout the research process.
PUBLICATIONS (results in detail)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT