The impact of outdoor environment on residential noise level satisfaction: GIS-based Analysis

Urban residents in crowded complexes are making increasing civil complaints about noise and demanding pleasant and comfortable residential environments. Because noise is one of the most important factors related to urban residents' dissatisfaction with their living environments, the present study investigates the direct and indirect effects of noise-related outdoor environmental factors on residential level satisfaction, using noise level data from 29 noise-measuring stations in Seoul. From 62 multi-family apartment complexes near these stations, the authors collected GIS-based environmental attribute data, as well as survey data including the residents' personal characteristics and indicators designed to measure latent psychological characteristics: noise sensitivity and residential noise level satisfaction. This study then utilized structural equation models to analyze the direct variables influencing the latent variables of noise sensitivity and residential noise level satisfaction, as well as the complex relationships among all variables. The result showed that residents who are exposed to less noise, possibly due to living in apartments facing relatively quiet roads, protected by soundproof walls, or surrounded by densely planted trees, tend to be less noise sensitive, which makes them more satisfied with the ambient noise level. Therefore, critical outdoor environmental variables can be used to reduce noise sensitivity and improve residential noise level satisfaction.