Mapping the soundscape: Impacts of the sounds of faith

Abstract

The Brazilian religious field has been undergoing transformations, such as the diversification of religions and, in consequence, the increase in places for celebration. Religious sounds can overcome the physical limits of the building and become part of the local soundscape. In this respect, this work aims to investigate the sound impacts caused by religious places of worship in the Village Campestre district of Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, which has an average of seventy such places and is the main reason for justifying it as the focus for investigation in this study. The methodology adopted comprised an analysis by means of sound maps (noise and perceptive maps) that were obtained from in situ measurements and questionnaire. The results showed a mapping model for point source identification and analysis. The sounds of the worship impact the local soundscape because the sound pressure levels exceed, on average, 20 dB(A) of the values determined by NBR 10151:2019. However, the qualitative data showed that the sound perception of faith was classified four times more pleasant than unpleasant. The sounds of the worship impact the local soundscape because the sound pressure levels exceed 20 dB(A) of the values recommended by the ABNT NBR 10151:2019. Therefore, the analysis model resulted in relevant information on the local soundscape by considering qualitative and quantitative maps.