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| The Department of Engineering
Systems - Acoustics Group |
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Research Projects
Development of a Speech Intelligibility Test
for Children
Researcher Anne Carey Supervisors Prof B Shield, Prof J
Dockrell (IoEd.)
Funding EPSRC
The project aims to develop a new speech intelligibility test for use by
young children who may not yet be proficient in reading and writing. There
is a need for such a test as current recommendations on speech
intelligibility, including those for schools, are based on previous work
with adults. The test being developed involves children listening to a set
of words and marking each word they hear on a set of pictures which includes
the word and similar sounding words or ‘foils’. When the test has been fully
validated it will be made available as a research tool and also for use in
assessing the acoustics of classrooms. |
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Acoustics of Open Plan Classrooms
Researcher Emma Greenland Supervisors Prof B Shield, Dr S
Dance
Funding EPSRC DTA and LSBU scholarship
Open plan classrooms became popular in the 1960s for educational reasons but
many teachers found them difficult to work in because of noise and visual
disturbance, and in general they ceased to be used for teaching. However, in
the current new generation of school buildings open plan spaces are
increasingly appearing in both secondary and primary schools, often in the
guise of ‘resource areas’ which are also used for teaching. There is now a
legal requirement in England and Wales, as part of the Building Regulations,
to provide conditions for good speech intelligibility in open plan spaces.
This project will include acoustic and noise surveys of open plan spaces in
primary and secondary schools, together with questionnaire surveys of
teachers and children, to determine whether it is possible to achieve
acoustic conditions appropriate for learning.
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Improvement of Speech Intelligibility in
Enclosed Spaces using Sound Amplification Systems
Researcher Christos Nestoras Supervisors Dr S Dance, Prof B
Shield
Funding LSBU Scholarship
Previous acoustic research projects have found that sound amplification
systems have been poorly designed in the learning environment. The project
has two aims: development of a low noise measurement system, so as not to
disturb the learning environment; and secondly, to produce easily understood
design guides for sound amplification systems in rooms. The results will be
applicable to a range of types of room where information has to be
disseminated, such as auditoria, schools and underground stations
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Development of a Measurement and Prediction
System for Speech Intelligibility Systems in Complex Underground
Environments
Researcher Louis Gomez Supervisors Dr S Dance, Prof B. Shield
Funding DTI /KTP programme with Telent plc
The key challenges in this project concern the development of novel
measurement and prediction methods in the context of a ‘live environment’.
Previous measurement systems are based on isolating the room, no background
noise, and using an array of temporary cables to carry the measurement
signal to the loudspeaker and a return cable for the microphone. This closed
loop system is entirely unsuitable for stations, so it will be necessary to
test an open loop measurement system using the cabling already installed as
part of the Public Address System. The mathematical models should be capable
of predicting the critical regulatory parameters for the Public Address
System in all areas of the underground stations. Novel solutions using audio
equipment will be investigated to improve the clarity of the communication.
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Design and Development of Culturally
Acceptable Products and Techniques for the Mitigation of Noise Exposure for
Classical Musicians
Researcher Georgia Zepidou Supervisors Dr S Dance, Prof B
Shield
Funding AHRC / KTP programme with Sound Research Laboratories
The key challenges in this project concern four specific areas: education of
musicians, individual audiometric assessment; personal noise exposure; and
solutions to reduce the risk of excessive exposure. Normally, Health and
Safety courses are run for employees where the noise is an unwanted side
effect of a process, which can be mitigated easily with better equipment,
different procedures or hearing protection. However, for musicians the noise
is all important. This poses a different set of questions which need to be
addressed according to current and new regulations. Current practical
solutions are based around hearing protection are not liked, and hence not
used by classical musicians. Thus, a non-intrusive noise mitigation device
is envisaged.
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Developing systems and models to achieve
optimum performance of Urban Rooftop Wind Turbine minimising noise and
vibration
Researcher Linda Liviani Supervisors Dr S Dance, Mr K Rotter
Funding TSB / KTP programme with Capita Symonds
The last Mayor of London introduced a 10% renewable energy requirement on
all developments over 1000m2 in 2006. The Elephant and Castle regeneration
project 2008-2016, will be the largest development of central London, 170
acres, and the first major application of the Mayor’s office new planning
conditions to include renewable energy. It will provide the test bed for
many new technologies, in high density residential housing. Creating a built
environment which has three times the area whilst maintaining the same level
of C02 emission. One solution is the generation of electricity locally using
the roof space on blocks of residential flats using urban wind turbines,
urbines. The project will develop measuring, monitoring and modelling
techniques for two types of urbine to investigate noise, vibration, wind and
electricity generation.
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Acoustics in Hospitals
Researcher Nicky Shiers Supervisors Prof B Shield, Ms R
Glanville Med.Arch
Funding EPSRC Industrial Case Award with Arup
A joint project with the Medical Architecture Research Unit (MARU). The
project will undertake a noise survey of different hospital areas, undertake
a questionnaire survey of the patients and staff. Measurements will be taken
of the different areas using techniques developed by the Acoustics Group
using low level noise signals. The information gained will be used as
evidence as part of the updated hospital acoustics guidance documents.
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Identifying a sound environment for secondary
Schools
Researcher Rob Conetta Supervisors Prof B Shield, Prof J Dockrell
(IoEd.)
Funding EPSRC
The largest and most significant school building programme for over 50 years
is currently being undertaken in the UK. Under the ‘Building Schools for the
Future’ initiative, all secondary schools in England are to be refurbished
or rebuilt at a cost of over £45 billion. These initiatives have provided a
stimulating challenge to the architecture profession; many of the new
buildings are visually exciting and several have won architectural awards.
However, despite the cutting edge visual aesthetic of many new schools, the
acoustic environment appears not to have a similar high priority. As a
result of unsuitable acoustic conditions in many schools the Department for
Education and Skills (now DCSF) in 2003 introduced new acoustic performance
standards for new schools under the Building Regulations. The project will
survey secondary schools in the UK.
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