09 Nov Acoustics Week in Canada 2016
Photo Credit: Andy Metelka
Another successful Acoustics Week is in the books! This year’s conference was held in Vancouver from September 21 – 23, 2016, and saw researchers, professionals, educators and students gather from across Canada to attend lectures, technical sessions and an exhibition of acoustical equipment and services.
During the exhibition, BKL celebrated its 50 year anniversary by showcasing resources and instrumentation from its past.
Several members of BKL’s team presented papers during the technical sessions. You can read more about each presentation below, or pick up the September issue of Canadian Acoustics to read the complete papers.
Acoustical Design for 21st Century Learning
by Paul Marks
Paul presented about the acoustical challenges presented by open-plan educational spaces. He discussed sound transmission in flexible, open-plan spaces, and reviewed how differences between contemporary and traditional classroom design affect acoustics. He concluded with a look at potential design solutions. Paul’s corresponding article appears in the fall issue of Design Quarterly.
Acoustical Verification Testing of Ground Run-Up Enclosure at YVR
by Mark Bliss
Mark Bliss spoke on the Vancouver Airport Authority’s behalf about the airport’s ground run-up enclosure, which was completed in 2012. He discussed BKL’s assessment of the enclosure’s effectiveness in relation to the contractor’s commissioning requirements.
British Columbia Wind Power Project Acoustic Assessment Guidelines
by Brigette Martin
Brigette critiqued BC’s guide for assessing the acoustical impact of wind farms and compared it to the guidelines created by the UK-based Institute of Acoustics, which many consider to be best practice across the globe. She concluded by outlining the risk that following the BC guidelines may not necessarily lead to compliance with BC’s Wind Farm Policy.
Comparing NEF Contours to Field Measurement Results
by Eric Gu
Acoustical consultants commonly use Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) contours to assess the impact of aircraft noise on new residential developments. But how do these contours compare to on-site noise measurements in relation to the municipal criteria specified for these projects? Eric explained some of the limitations of using only NEF contours and discussed how using both NEF Contours and on-site measurements provides more accurate results.
Identifying Localized Noise Sources During Truck Passbys
by Jordan Reniak
What’s noisier: a clanging trailer or the exhaust from a heavy truck? Using an acoustic camera, Jordan examined how various components on a tractor-trailer assembly contribute to the overall passby noise experienced on the roadside. He shared his findings and discussed how they could help inform noise barrier design.
Standards for Modelling Road Traffic Noise in Western Canada
by Forest Borch
Forest assessed three popular road noise prediction standards to determine which is the most accurate in the specific setting of Greater Vancouver. He compared real-world measurements to the predictions made by each standard within sound models for local infrastructure.
Sustainability in Acoustical Design
by Brigette Martin and Forest Borch
Brigette and Forest spoke about alternative ways to incorporate sustainability into acoustical design, providing an overview of current practices worldwide and investigating the conflict that can sometimes arise between simultaneously achieving acoustical criteria while implementing other important elements of the sustainable building design.
Transportation Noise Ingress in Residential Buildings
by Gary Mak
Gary compared the accuracy of two prediction methods commonly used to assess how residents are affected by exterior noise including road, rail and aircraft noise. By conducting real-world measurements and comparing them to the various prediction methods, he found that not all acoustic standards are created equal.
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