Passengers’ Perception of Acoustic Environment in the Airport Terminal: A Case Study of Tianjin Binhai International Airport

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate passengers’ perception of the acoustic environment in airport terminals. Airport terminals typically consist of several interconnected large spaces and have a noisy environment in China. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 221 passengers at the T2 terminal of Tianjin Binhai International Airport in China to explore their perception and attitude towards the acoustic environment. On-site measurements were also taken to obtain the noise levels in different areas. The results show that the sound pressure levels vary periodically, ranging from 60.7 dB(A) to 79.1 dB(A) across different areas. The acoustic environment lacks eventfulness and pleasantness, with nearly two-thirds of respondents expressing dissatisfaction. Public announcement is generally perceived as the loudest but most preferred sound, while other audible sources are given varying degrees of negative attitudes. The perceived loudness of aircraft and footstep sounds is not high, but their absence significantly improves overall evaluations. Furthermore, age influences the perceived vitality of the acoustic environment. This study is important for the improvement in the indoor environment of the terminal building and the satisfaction of passengers.