Browsing by Author "Herranz-Pascual, Karmele"
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Item Analysis of Field Data to Describe the Effect of Context (Acoustic and Non-Acoustic Factors) on Urban Soundscapes(2017) Herranz-Pascual, Karmele; García, Igone; Diez, Itxasne; Santander, Alvaro; Aspuru, Itziar; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; CALIDAD Y CONFORT AMBIENTAL; ADAPTACIÓN AL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICOThe need to improve acoustic environments in our cities has led to increased interest in correcting or minimising noise pollution in urban environments, something that has been associated with the resurgence of the soundscape approach. This line of research highlights the importance of context in the perception of acoustic environments. Despite this, few studies consider together a wide number of variables relating to the context, and analyse the relative importance of each. The purpose of this paper is therefore to identify the acoustic and non-acoustic characteristics of a place (context) that influence an individual’s perception of the sound environment and the relative importance of these factors in soundscape. The aim is to continue advancing in the definition of an acoustic comfort indicator for urban places. The data used here were collected in various soundscape campaigns carried out by Tecnalia in Bilbao (Spain) between 2011 and 2014. These studies involved 534 evaluations of 10 different places. The results indicate that many diverse contextual factors determine soundscape, the most important being the congruence between soundscape and landscape. The limitations of the findings and suggestions for further research are also discussed.Item A comparison of thermal comfort conditions in four urban spaces by means of measurements and modelling techniques(2015-11-01) Acero, Juan A.; Herranz-Pascual, Karmele; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; CALIDAD Y CONFORT AMBIENTALMicroclimatic conditions inside urban areas depend on the result of the interaction of the regional climate with the whole urban area and on the local characteristics of the urban development. Inadequate human thermal comfort conditions can affect quality of life and the use of public open spaces. In this study, outdoor thermal conditions are examined through three field campaigns in Bilbao in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Climate variables are measured in four different areas of the city in different regional climate conditions. Thermal comfort evaluation is undertaken by means of the thermal index PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). Measurements are compared with estimated values derived from ENVI-met model. Results show that the differences between modelled and measured climatic variables can imply a relevant deviation in PET (i.e. difference between modelled and measured values). Regression and correlation analyses account for the importance of the deviation of each climatic variable in the deviation of PET values. Deviation of PET appears to be highly conditioned by the deviation of mean radiant temperature values especially during clear sky days. Under overcast conditions deviation of wind speed also becomes a relevant aspect. Consequently, reliable estimation of these variables is required if modelling techniques are to be used in the assessment of thermal comfort in outdoor urban spaces.Item Going beyond Quietness: Determining the Emotionally Restorative Effect of Acoustic Environments in Urban Open Public Spaces: Determining the emotionally restorative effect of acoustic environments in urban open public spaces(2019-04-01) Herranz-Pascual, Karmele; Aspuru, Itziar; Iraurgi, Ioseba; Santander, Álvaro; Eguiguren, Jose Luis; García, Igone; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; CALIDAD Y CONFORT AMBIENTAL; SG; ADAPTACIÓN AL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICOThe capacity of natural settings to promote psychological restoration has attracted increasing research attention, especially with regards to the visual dimension. However, there is a need to extend these studies to urban settings, such as squares, parks or gardens, due to the global trend towards urbanisation, and to integrate the dimension of sound into landscape. Such was the main aim of this study, in which 53 participants assessed four public spaces in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) as part of the CITI-SENSE Project (137 observations were used for analysis). A smartphone application was used to simultaneously collect objective and subjective data. The results show that at the end of the urban environmental experience, there was a statistically significant reduction in negative emotions and perceived stress, and a slight increase in positive emotions. Emotional restoration was mainly associated with prior emotional states, but also with global environmental comfort and acoustic comfort. The soundscape characteristics that contributed to greater emotional restoration and a reduction in perceived stress were pleasantness, calm, fun and naturalness. Therefore, in agreement with previous research, the findings of the present study indicate that besides contributing to the quietness of the urban environment, the urban soundscape can promote psychological restoration in users of these spaces.Item Integrating Soundscape Criteria in Urban Sustainable Regeneration Processes: An Example of Comfort and Health Improvement: An Example of Comfort and Health Improvement(2022-03-08) Herranz-Pascual, Karmele; Iraurgi, Ioseba; Aspuru, Itziar; Garcia-Pérez, Igone; Santander, Alvaro; Eguiguren, José Luis; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; CALIDAD Y CONFORT AMBIENTAL; SGThis paper reports an example of an urban sustainable regeneration process in a small open square following the soundscape approach in urban design and involving a transdisciplinary team. The renovation of this urban public space brought changes in its acoustic environment and improved soundscape perception as much more pleasant (enhanced comfort). The rehabilitation broadened the use of the square and enhanced users’ wellbeing and health, showing a significant positive impact of sound: reduction in negative emotions and perceived stress while increasing positive feelings. To conclude, the implications of the results about restorative environments in urban sound planning and future areas of research are discussed.Item Moving towards for Active Role for Smart Grid Users: Study about the perception of smart grids among domestic consumers in Spain (UPGRID project) / Avanzando hacia el rol activo de los usuarios de las smart grids: estudio sobre la percepción de las redes eléctricas inteligentes entre los consumidores domésticos en España (proyecto UPGRID)(Taylor & Francis, 2020) Herranz-Pascual, Karmele; Garcia-Quincoces, Eduardo; Diez-Gaspon, Itxasne; Bachiller-Prieto, RaúlIntegrating the perspective of smart grid users is the next challenge to be tackled in order to deploy fully the broad technical development of this new generation of electrical grids and improve the efficacy thereof. This is the conclusion reached by the social research developed within the framework of the European UPGRID project. This paper presents the main findings of the Spanish demonstration, working with domestic electricity consumers. The results indicate that these consumers know little about their contract and consumption of electricity, with regard to smart grids. In spite of this, there is some evidence that there is willingness among these consumers to make a change in their energy use towards more environmentally responsible behaviours, a tendency that needs to be developed so that consumers play an active role, which is essential in order to deliver optimal energy supply through smart grids. However, the results must be taken with a degree of caution, since, in spite of the major drive for recruitment, the sample was small and the experimental mortality between phases was high, so the research presented is exploratory in nature.