The role of audio-visual elements in Residential Location Choice

Abstract

Understanding how individuals perceive and value audiovisual elements in the urban environment is challenging but essential to model people’s residential location choices. We investigate the willingness to pay for improved audiovisual attributes in a residential choice context, considering the effect of three latent constructs: noise sensitivity, sound pleasantness, and visual liveability. We complement the econometric estimation using individuals’ socio-demographic and place location information. Data came from a stated choice experiment using a digital survey with immersive audiovisual techniques considering a set of scenarios from 36 different residential locations. A hybrid choice modelling approach revealed significant heterogeneity in the willingness to pay for residential choice location when respondents (i) considered different spatial combinations of audiovisual metrics; (ii) demonstrated sensitivity to noise and were exposed to high-energy fluctuations in sound pressure levels; (iii) lived near a particular place condition and matched a socio-demographic characteristic and (iv) preferences were allowed to be influenced by auditory and visual perceptions. Our findings have implications for housing location and policy, demonstrating the influence of subjective perceptions and individual and physical characteristics in the choice of residence.