Getting Ahead of the Curve: Soundscape Assessment and the Future of Acoustic Practice

The John Connell Soundscape Award 2025 was jointly awarded to the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) and the Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (IEDE) at UCL for the development of the groundbreaking Certificate Course in Soundscape Assessment (CCSA).

This new certificated course represents the first formal training programme designed to equip practitioners, regulators, and researchers with the skills to deliver evidence-based, ISO 12913-aligned soundscape assessments, bridging the gap between scientific research, design practice, and public policy.

The course development was chaired by Dr Chris Barlow, Head of Innovation and Research at KP Acoustics Research Labs, leading the IOA Course Development Committee alongside experts from UCL, University of Salford, University of Surrey, Birmingham City University, Sustainable Acoustics, Apex Acoustics, the Welsh Government, the Noise Abatement Society, and the Open University.

This recognition marks not just a milestone for the team, but a clear signal of where the acoustics profession is heading, toward an integrated, perceptually aware approach to sound that values how environments feel as much as how they measure.

The shift from “noise control” to “soundscape design”

For decades, acoustic design has centred on measuring and reducing noise levels. While sound pressure level remains an essential metric, it does not tell the whole story of how people actually experience sound. The emerging discipline of soundscape assessment moves beyond simple decibel reduction, focusing instead on the perceptual and contextual aspects of sound, what we hear, how we interpret it, and how it affects wellbeing.

Soundscaping considers how pleasantness, appropriateness, and context influence our response. A busy marketplace may be loud but engaging, while a quiet yet mechanically humming office can feel stressful. Understanding these nuances requires a structured approach grounded in ISO 12913, which provides an international framework for the measurement, analysis, and reporting of soundscapes.

The IOA Certificate in Soundscape Assessment is the first accredited training designed to teach practitioners how to collect, analyse, and interpret soundscape data, both quantitative and perceptual, in line with this international standard.

Regulation is catching up – and leading the way in Wales

The relevance of this new field has been cemented by recent legislation. The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024, which came into force in February 2024, establishes the UK’s first statutory framework for the assessment and management of soundscapes.

The Act requires the Welsh Ministers to prepare a National Strategy for Soundscapes, and places duties on local authorities and other public bodies to take account of this strategy in their work. The Noise and Soundscape Plan for Wales 2023–2028 fulfils this role, setting out objectives for protecting and enhancing positive sound environments across the country.

In practice, this means that soundscape assessment will become a regulatory requirement in planning, environmental management, and health policy, not just an academic exercise. Those with expertise in ISO 12913-based methods will be at the forefront of how new development, urban design, and policy decisions consider the aural environment.

A changing landscape for practitioners

The implications for industry are far-reaching. As health and wellbeing continue to shape planning and building policy, acoustic professionals will need to integrate perceptual and qualitative sound data into environmental assessments.

This evolution affects multiple disciplines:

• Acoustic consultants will need to demonstrate competence in ISO 12913 methodologies.
• Urban designers and architects will increasingly incorporate soundscape principles to enhance comfort and productivity.
• Environmental regulators and policy-makers will require evidence-based assessments that consider not only decibels, but the human response to sound.

Getting ahead of this transition means building technical and methodological expertise now.

About the course

The IOA Certificate in Soundscape Assessment is a five-day programme introducing the science, policy, and practice of soundscape work. Delegates learn to:

• Apply ISO 12913 in real-world contexts
• Collect and interpret perceptual and acoustic data
• Relate soundscape metrics to wellbeing and design outcomes
• Understand legislative and policy frameworks including the Wales Act and the Noise and Soundscape Plan

Upcoming courses:

• Salford (January 2026) – Delivered in collaboration between KP Acoustics Research Labs, University of Salford, Birmingham City University, and the Welsh Government.

This training is ideal for acoustic consultants, planners, environmental health officers, architects, designers, and sustainability professionals who want to stay ahead of legislative and technical change.

A future built on listening

Chris’s leadership ensured that the course reflects both academic rigour and the realities of professional practice, creating a framework that will guide how soundscapes are understood, assessed, and designed across the UK and beyond.

As soundscape considerations move from research into regulation, the industry is entering an era where perception, wellbeing, and environmental context are integral to acoustic design. The next generation of practitioners will not only control sound, they will curate it.

KP Acoustics Research Labs is thrilled about this transformation and encourages professionals across the sector to engage with this new discipline, develop the skills to lead it, and help shape the environments of tomorrow.

Learn more:
Noise Abatement Society – John Connell Awards 2025
Institute of Acoustics – Certificate in Soundscape Assessment

For more information or to reserve your place, please contact: education@kpacoustics.com | 0208 222 8778 | 02382 544 965