Acoustics of the Built Environment

The course deals with the multiple applications of acoustics in the building sector in the broad sense. The course has two main directions. The first one is noise from outdoor infrastructures, including road and rail traffic noise, aircraft noise, industry noise and wind turbine noise. The intention of the course is to give insight into the specificities of these sources and sound propagation outdoors, while introducing how the impact of these infractructures can be assessed, predicted and controlled in practice, in the context of current legislation, engineering standards for measurement and prediction. The second direction is the acoustic quality of indoor spaces. The course provides a fundament for understanding how sound is perceived in rooms for speech or music communication, as well as for the general acoustic quality in rooms for various uses. Commonly used theoretical models are covered: wavetheoretical models, diffuse-field models, and geometrical acoustics. The functioning of devices for acoustic control, such as sound absorbers and screens, is described. Through field measurements indoors as well as outdoors, students will learn about common measurement tasks. Computer-based exercises will demonstrate the implementations of theories.

Knowledge The candidate has (1) Thorough knowledge of noise emission from outdoor infrastructures (2) In-depth knowledge of how sounds propagate outdoors and indoors (3) Thorough knowledge about sound perception and annoyance (4) Thorough knowledge about tools and devices for acoustic correction and noise reduction Skills The candidate can (1) Propose strategies against unwanted outdoor sound (2) Propose strategies for better acoustic conditions in indoor spaces (3) Perform field measurements following standards General competence The course gives experience in the use of theoretical knowledge/measurement/simulation to solve engineering problems.

Lectures, measurement tasks, simulation tasks.