The acoustics of the environment in which we live influences our health, comfort, performance, and well-being. Optimizing acoustics is crucial in ensuring a comfortable environment and thus improving the quality of life. The sonic environment can be controlled using passive and active strategies applied to a breadth of elements both indoor and outdoor, i.e., in buildings, in the transportation systems and in the urban area. Control of the sonic environment can span from an innovative building envelope to smart interior components or effective management of occupancy in the indoor environment. Control can also include improved sound quality of HVAC systems, home appliances and device, mitigation of urban noise and design of acoustically restorative areas in the outdoor environment.
The engineering aspects of sound and vibration, such as sound propagation and noise control techniques are covered in this framework, as well as perception aspects of sound, such as indoor acoustic comfort and environmental soundscapes. The research is conducted in laboratory and in field, through acoustic measurements, simulations and subjective tests. In the Ambisonic laboratory, realistic conditions of sound spatialization are reproduced around the subject. As part of the research, new technologies for noise reduction are being explored, including metamaterials.
Supervisor:
Prof. Arianna Astolfi http://www.tebe.polito.it/research/applied_acoustics