Acoustic engineers are sound experts that specialize in handling vibration and noise issues. These technical professionals often have a Master’s degree within the engineering field, including audio, sound, electrical, or mechanical engineering.
Acoustic engineers or consultants often find work or employment in different business sectors. These include:
- Architectural design
- Highway noise reduction
- Environmental science
- Warehouse sound management
- Underwater noise control.
Acoustic engineers often work as a “consultant” providing expert and professional sound advice that they provide to education providers, governments, and businesses. These technical experts design retrofit noise-pollution solutions, noise-reducing setups, arrange sound studies, and a lot more such as carrying out noise surveys in London.
Assisting with addressing environmental impacts and safety concerns, including how specific sound frequencies affect animals and wildlife, are some of the other ways that acoustic engineers are able to support private and public entities.
What Are the Roles of an Acoustic Consultant?
Generally, acoustic consultants or engineers conduct assessments on the impacts of noises at a specific location, by performing various tests that identify and isolate all sources of noise on a site. If you would like to report a noise disturbance in your area, the local council in your area should have a dedicated department to submit complaints to.
From the tests that they perform acoustic engineers will analyse the data to establish whether certain sources of noise, including highways, transportation hubs, or electrical substations are in the required bounds of ordinance-compliance regulations in that local area.
Acoustic engineers will often work with a broader team of specialists from different fields to come up with solutions to a challenging noise problem. They also often act as a mentor to acousticians that are still training to assist them in maintaining the best standards across this discipline.
Here is a list of some of the common tasks that acoustic consultants undertake:
- The use of advanced equipment that accurately measures sound levels
- Identifying the source of noise
- Data-modelling used for visual presentations
- Creating summaries relating to the sound problems along with solutions (options)
- Customising solutions for noise pollution for different locations, keeping visual appeal in mind
- Data analysis and coming up with grant proposals for a prospective job
- Translating design requirements and technical aspects into non-technical language
- Having knowledge and understanding of how noise levels impact animals, humans, the environment, and machinery
- Identifying any urgent design needs to reduce noise levels along with complying with the national building codes
- Applying their knowledge and experience of “sound-absorbing” treatments
- Using CAD and engineering suites packages to create 3D models and renderings
- Having experience in and dealing with all types of building inspection permits, requirements, and regulations
- Understanding how different environmental factors can play a role in sound levels
- Coming up with solutions with the use of noise-absorbing materials rather than outdated sound-reflecting technologies
- Conducting research along with hosting conferences to reveal the latest treatments and data.
Designing Sound Walls for Different Use Cases
Acoustic engineers are experts in installing soundproofing materials that lower noise pollution, focused on protecting the environment along with people that live close to the source of the noise, such as transportation hubs, construction sites, and train lines.
Sound walls often lower or in certain cases eliminate some of the long-range noise issues where bridges and overpasses project noise from traffic from a highway in a residential zone.
Lowering Vibrations with the Use of External Sound Wall Panels
While in operation, most heavy machinery is noisy and some causes very powerful vibrations, especially lower-frequency vibrations. These sound waves can cause bolts and nuts to loosen in certain cases. Acoustic outdoor panels are often used to weaken the strength associated with these sound waves, which reduces the likelihood of vibration-related issues.
Therefore, acoustic consultants are proficient in creating customized solutions for commercial manufacturing businesses and construction firms that are interested in extending the life-span of most heavy-duty equipment, to save money and protect workers.