Real-time Mixed Reality Auralization of Urban Soundscapes

Traditional noise control planning and regulation relies primarily on quantitative sound level metrics, while empirical research additionally emphasizes the importance of sensory and context-dependent factors. This interdisciplinary study introduces a mixed reality auralization system that bridges this gap by rendering future soundscapes perceptible and interactive, thereby creating a boundary object that enables different stakeholder groups to communicate and engage. The system was validated through technical verification of the modeled acoustic phenomena and a case study with stakeholders from traffic planning, noise control, politics, and citizen groups during urban redevelopment of a highway section in Switzerland. The results demonstrate that the auralization’s modeling of acoustic phenomena successfully enables comparison of different planning variants, while meeting the needs of different stakeholder groups in earlier planning phases. This approach combines concepts from acoustical signal processing, soundscape studies, and participatory urban planning methodologies.