Intelligent passive room acoustic technology to satisfy acoustic design standards in classrooms
Smart and Sustainable Built Environment
ISSN: 2046-6099
Article publication date: 30 August 2022
Issue publication date: 21 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Informed by acoustic design standards, the built environments are designed with single reverberation times (RTs), a trade-off between long and short RTs needed for different space functions. The novel intelligent passive room acoustic technology (IPRAT) has the potential to revolutionise room acoustics, thus, it is imperative to analyse and quantify its effect. IPRAT achieves real-time room acoustic improvement by integrating passive variable acoustic technology (PVAT) and acoustic scene classification (ASC). This paper aims to compare IPRAT simulation results with the AS/NZS 2107:2016 Australian/New Zealand recommended design acoustic standards.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper 20 classroom environments are virtually configured for the simulation, multiplying 5 classrooms with 4 aural situations typical to New Zealand classrooms. The acoustic parameters RT, sound clarity (C50) and sound strength (G) are considered and analysed in the simulation. These parameters can be used to determine the effects of improved acoustics for both teacher vocal relief and student comprehension. The IPRAT was assumed to vary RT and was represented in the simulation by six different absorption coefficient spectrums.
Findings
The optimised acoustic parameters were derived from relationships between C50, RT and G. These relationships and optimal RTs contribute a unique database to literature. IPRAT’s advantages were discerned from a comparison of “current,” “attainable” and “optimised” acoustic parameters.
Originality/value
By quantifying the effect of IPRAT, it is understood that IPRAT has the potential to satisfy the key recommendations of professional industry standards (for New Zealand namely; AS/NZS 2107:2016 recommended design acoustic standards).
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge that an earlier version of this paper was presented at CONVR21.
Funding: The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the Auckland University of Technology, Vice Chancellor's Doctoral Scholarship.
Citation
Burfoot, M., Naismith, N., GhaffarianHoseini, A. and Ghaffarianhoseini, A. (2023), "Intelligent passive room acoustic technology to satisfy acoustic design standards in classrooms", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 1031-1055. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-06-2022-0106
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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