The challenges of acoustic comfort in outdoor private study areas: campus planning and design in universities
Loading...
Date
2025-07-31
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Discover Environment
Abstract
The evaluation of outdoor study environment on University Campuses within tropical regions reveals significant
deficiencies in acoustic comfort, potentially impairing cognitive performance among students. This study specifically
analyzes the acoustic condition of outdoor study areas (vimbwete) across four Tanzanian Universities: Mbeya University
of Science and Technology, the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, Mzumbe University and Teofilo Kisanji University.
Eighty students aged 18 to 24 with a balanced gender distribution from various disciplines were randomly selected to
gauge cognitive performance via a reading comprehension assessment conducted in environments exhibiting ambient
noise levels of approximately 50 dB(A) and 75 dB(A). Noise mapping techniques were employed to characterize sound
levels across the campuses and the study synthesized both qualitative feedback from participants and quantitative
acoustic measurements. The finding indicates a significant prevalence of sound pollution that exceed the World Health
Organization 2018 recommendations for outdoor learning environments. A negative correlation was observed between
elevated noise levels and cognitive performance metrics, highlighting the urgent necessity for improved campus design
and acoustic management strategies. This research provides critical insights into enhancing learning conditions in
outdoor academic settings considering immediate noise reduction strategies for existing campuses and comprehensive
mitigation for future campus development.
Description
This was published by educational environment in 2025