Natural soundscape is considered a dominant type of hearing in forested areas and contributes to health and recovery effects from exposure to the biophilic outdoor environment. This study focuses on the different forest structures, and aims to explore the relationship between perceived soundscape and acoustical parameters, observe physiological indicators, and model the physiological restorative role of soundscape. Questionnaires and measuring equipment were used to gather psychophysical and physiological information at 20 observation sites in urban forested areas. Back-propagation neural network techniques were conducted to determine the forecasting model from psychophysical to physiological parameters. Our results suggested that L_Aeq and L₁₀ are important factors that influence questionnaire responses. Our findings also showed that electromyogram (EMG) signals were the most obvious and sensitive in physiological parameters. Additionally, we found that L_10–90 played the most important role among all physical parameters in the physiological restorativeness soundscape model. This can facilitate the understanding of the physiological restorative role of soundscape in different forest structures when proposing suitable forest-based health care strategies.

Under the pressure of rapid urbanization, the development of urban land in Vietnam has invaded green lands and had a negative impact on their ecosystems and environments. The new urban development not only does not improve the demand for green urban space but makes the living environment worse. Studying the design seriously and putting forward solutions for green urban space is essential and urgent. Taking Da Nang as a case study, planning a network of multicenter urban green space would change ecological principles to create a sustainable urban ecosystem. This is based on a landscape metrics method to reveal the green space system characteristics and its spatial distribution, area, density, and shape. A set of shapes index including categories such as SHAPE, mean distance (m) between each cell (GYRATE) and mean Euclidean distance neighbour (ENN) was used to display the geometrical shape of patches and continuity. These indices stress the difference in spatial structure in various land-use types. This article draws upon ecological landscape theory to propose a green system of urban regions including green space wedges, greenways, corridors, greenbelts and green additions; these factors help to create a sustainable urban green space.

Urban forests by the riverside are important habitats for various animals and contribute various soundscapes for citizens. Unfortunately, urban forests are exposed to the influence of riverside traffic noises from freeways. This study aims to explore the spatial and temporal variation of soundscape, conduct soundscape optimization for multiple parameters, and find a balance and its interval of soundscape elements through optimizing a soundscape map. Questionnaires and measuring equipment were used to gather soundscape information in an urban forested area in Fuzhou, China. Diurnal variations and soundscape mapping were used to analyze spatial and psychophysical relationships between soundscape drivers. We then conducted optimization for a soundscape map, which included normalization, critical value determination, target interval of optimal SPL determination, and modification of SPL and mapping. Our findings suggest that biological activities and natural phenomena are potential drivers for diurnal variation of soundscapes, especially tidal phenomena contributing water and shipping soundscapes. Our results also suggest that all the high values of perceived soundscapes were found at the southwest corner of the study area, which includes both riverside and urban forest elements. Furthermore, we suggest combining both optimal soundscape and SPL correction maps to aid in sustainable design in urban forests. This can contribute to the understanding and methodology of soundscape map optimization in urban forests when proposing suitable design plans and conservation of territorial sound.

Planning urban park green spaces equitably and effectively is a central concern for maintaining a sustainable city and enhancing the quality of life of urban dwellers. In this case study of Wuxi city, facilitated by multisource big data, a new approach for optimizing the urban park green space distribution was explored. The improved two-step floating catchment area method was employed in combination with the network analyst in ArcGIS, the real entrances of urban park green spaces as search centres, multiple radii, and the distance decay function. The districts with low accessibility to urban park green spaces were mapped accurately as the main zones for equity promotion. Then, the key plots for the layout optimization of urban park green spaces at different scales were identified based on the location-allocation model. The results indicated a significant spatial gradient pattern of the accessibility index and a lower degree of spatial fitting between the service capacity of urban park green spaces and user demands in the old town. Additionally, operable location selection strategies prioritizing the urban natural environment and integrating the urban inventory space for urban park green space layout to improve the accessibility level were tentatively proposed. Finally, for the factors influencing accessibility, the park’s size and conditions, transportation network, and the social attribute of urban residents were further discussed. This study could help city managers and planners conduct the layout optimization of urban park green spaces more effectively with the aim of promoting an environmentally equitable and sustainable life.