Perception of urban soundscape and landscape using different visual environment reproduction methods in virtual reality

Abstract This study investigated the effects of visual environment reproduction methods of virtual reality (VR) on soundscape and landscape assessments for reproducing VR environments in laboratory settings. It also subjectively assessed urban environments to compare assessment method qualities. Specific monitor and head-mounted display (HMD) environments were selected as visual reproduction methods. Spatial audio that applied first-order ambisonic-based head-tracking technology was equally provided in both visual environments. We analyzed the subjective responses of 40 individuals according to overall satisfaction, VR reproduction quality, perceived audio-visual elements, and adjective attributes describing soundscape and landscape. The results showed that urban environments were more sensitively assessed through HMD than the monitors. Negative and positive components were more clearly perceived in the HMD environment. Furthermore, the negative effects of artificial components were rated highly in the HMD environment. The surrounded landscape affected urban contextual perceptions positively in HMD and negatively in monitor environments, making it an important assessment factor. Consequently, monitor and HMD environments were beneficial to the overall awareness of urban environments and spatial presence, respectively. The discoveries and data of this study could be extensively used as a basis for developing experimental methodologies to assess the soundscape and landscape of urban environments in laboratory settings.