Sonotope

A sonotope is a physical site (Greek: -topos) that produces sound (Latin: sono-) in a particular way. It is characterized by sound phenomena that occur according to a specific pattern at that location. It can be compared to the concept of a biotope. The soundscape of the place can be distinguished from imaginary soundscapes in, for example, films or radio programs.

In spatial planning, urban design and landscape architecture,^[1]^[2] the concept has been implemented to enhance the awareness, understanding, and design of landscapes and settlements as being multimodal.^[3]^[4] The visual hegemony in these fields of study and practice, is balanced by incorporating hearing as an additional sense, leading to an understanding of landscapes not only visually but also aurally - as environments that embrace site specific soundscapes.

The concept has been further developed into sonotope analysis^[5] and a sonotope hypothesis.^[6]^[7]

References

^ Hedfors, Per (2003). Site soundscapes: landscape architecture in the light of sound. Diss. Uppsala: SLU. http://epsilon.slu.se/a407.pdf
^ Cerwén, Gunnar (2017). Sound in landscape architecture: a soundscape approach to noise. Diss. Alnarp: SLU http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-e-4380
^ Hedfors, P. 2003. ”Site Soundscapes - Landscape architecture in the light of sound.” ISBN 91-576-6425-0
^ Hedfors, P. & Howell, P. 2011. ”Urban Sonotopes: Towards a participatory design.” Finnish Journal of Urban Studies, 2011:1, vol. 49, 24-43
^ Hedfors, P. & Thiirmann Thomsen R., 2011. ”Sonotope Analysis: Characterising Sonic Landscapes for the Swedish Transport Administration.” Conf. paper. ISBN 978-91-85125-42-5
^ Farina, A. & Mullet, T.C. 2024. ”Sonotope patterns within a mountain beech forest of Northern Italy: a methodological and empirical approach.” Front. Ecol. Evol. 12:1341760. doi:10.3389/fevo.2024.1341760
^ Farina, A., Mullet, T.C., Bazarbayeva, T.A., Tazhibayeva, T., Polyakova, S. & Li, P. 2023. ”Sonotopes reveal dynamic spatio-temporal patterns in a rural landscape of Northern Italy.” Front. Ecol. Evol. 11:1205272. doi:10.3389/fevo.2023.1205272

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[1] Hedfors, Per (2003). Site soundscapes: landscape architecture in the light of sound. Diss. Uppsala: SLU. http://epsilon.slu.se/a407.pdf

[2] Cerwén, Gunnar (2017). Sound in landscape architecture: a soundscape approach to noise. Diss. Alnarp: SLU http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-e-4380

[3] Hedfors, P. 2003. ”Site Soundscapes - Landscape architecture in the light of sound.” ISBN 91-576-6425-0

[4] Hedfors, P. & Howell, P. 2011. ”Urban Sonotopes: Towards a participatory design.” Finnish Journal of Urban Studies, 2011:1, vol. 49, 24-43

[5] Hedfors, P. & Thiirmann Thomsen R., 2011. ”Sonotope Analysis: Characterising Sonic Landscapes for the Swedish Transport Administration.” Conf. paper. ISBN 978-91-85125-42-5

[6] Farina, A. & Mullet, T.C. 2024. ”Sonotope patterns within a mountain beech forest of Northern Italy: a methodological and empirical approach.” Front. Ecol. Evol. 12:1341760. doi:10.3389/fevo.2024.1341760

[7] Farina, A., Mullet, T.C., Bazarbayeva, T.A., Tazhibayeva, T., Polyakova, S. & Li, P. 2023. ”Sonotopes reveal dynamic spatio-temporal patterns in a rural landscape of Northern Italy.” Front. Ecol. Evol. 11:1205272. doi:10.3389/fevo.2023.1205272

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