What do acoustic consultants actually do
Noise pollution is becoming quite a big problem in many built-up areas today and recently I’ve started to think that maybe an acoustic consultant could do something to mitigate noise levels.
As it happens, continuous noise pollution is not such a problem as sudden peaks and troughs although in the work environment, continuous noise that isn’t particularly loud is often a problem and give rise to loss of hearing.
One of the biggest human aspects of noise is that it has a detrimental impact on sleep and incessant low level sleep deprivation is very detrimental to psychological and thus physical well-being.
For an Acoustic engineer this will be familiar territory. Acoustic engineers exploit the latest acoustic apparatus to assess decibel levels & pin point sources of noise. By designing buildings to absorb noise energy they are able to significantly enhance the quality of life for anyone in the vicinity and so improve their health as well.
One common problem is due to aeroplane sound levels, especially near busy airports like Charles de Gaulle where aircraft fly in low over inhabited areas. Although there are usually some controls on take off and landing times, major international and national airports tend to operate nearly twenty-four hours a day. Noise consultants are sometimes being used by airport protestors now to monitor volume levels and then to act as experts in environmental assessment reports.