The Challenges of Acoustic Comfort in Outdoor Private Study Areas: Campus Planning and Design in Universities
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Date
2025-07-30
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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.
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This Journal Article was published by Discover Environment