Abstract

A soundscape is a multidimensional complex system comprising interrelated variables corresponding to the Acoustic Environment, Extra-auditory Environment and Experienced Environment. This approach represents a basis for the sustainable management of the environmental sound. This management is founded in the premise that sound is a resource that can be optimized in the territory according to different criteria, towards preserve the positive sound sources and mitigate, regulate or relocate those with negative impacts. The complexity of the soundscape requires both from interdisciplinary approaches and technological tools facilitating handling the multiple analysis dimensions. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) represent a power and versatile tool for the multidimensional analysis of georeferenced data. In this sense, GIS facilitate the integration of the multiple soundscape dimensions, as well as the study of its behaviours and interactions over a specific area. This work presents the development of a soundscape multidimensional GIS. Seventeen urban environments in Córdoba (Argentina) were explored, which include parks, squares, roads, pedestrian streets, cultural spaces, university campuses and water fountains. A multidimensional and synchronic data collecting comprising acoustic measurements, audio recordings, questionnaires, video and photography was conducted at 66 positions at the environments, obtaining 97 data sets and 416 surveys. This article describes the methodology for generating and analysing GIS layers of soundscape. Examples of maps are shown and advantages of using GIS for creating multidimensional soundscape maps are discussed.