Urban Soundscapes and Noise Assessment: Key Insights from ANSI, ASTM, and ISO Standards

Urban noise and soundscape assessment is critical for sustainable, human-centered city planning. A comprehensive overview of key standards is essential to ensure consistent measurements, enable cross-study comparisons, and support practical applications. This review examines standards from the American National Standards Institute/Acoustical Society of America (ANSI/ASA), ASTM International, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), highlighting their principles, methodologies, and roles in evaluating urban acoustic environments. It discusses how these standards facilitate accurate noise quantification, capture human perceptual responses, and guide soundscape design and management across occupational, community, and experimental settings. Standardized questionnaires, rating scales, and perceptual frameworks are also reviewed. Finally, this paper identifies gaps in current guidance, including limited approaches to continuous monitoring, cultural adaptation, multisensory interactions, and integration with urban planning.