Acoustic specialist: between technology, communication and innovative solutions

Working as an acoustics specialist requires more than just technical skills. It requires the ability to understand and analyze complex noise situations and to reconcile the concerns of those affected, noise-intensive activities and legal requirements. A noise professional is responsible for analyzing noise-related problems and finding innovative and balanced solutions. They have to juggle diverging interests and mediate between the various interest groups. In this blog, we find out more about this exciting profession with its diverse skills but also the corresponding challenges.

What is an acoustics specialist?

The acoustics specialist is an expert who deals with the investigation of noise. He/she is tasked with assessing and solving noise problems emanating from various sources, e.g. road noise, military firing ranges, industrial noise, construction site noise and many others. In addition to analysis, their expertise also includes proposing innovative solutions that improve the quality of the noise environment and thus the quality of life of people and the environment. These solutions take different forms and must be adapted to the respective noise situation. Source-side or operational measures reduce the noise at the point of origin (e.g. low-noise surfaces on roads or whisper mode of a refrigeration machine at night). Structural measures, such as noise barriers, reduce noise along the propagation path. Last but not least, measures on the building, such as noise loggias, help to reduce noise from open windows.

Competencies and challenges

Acoustic specialist with different roles

Maestro of measurements

The implementation of the measures requires careful coordination that reconciles the various interest groups. On the residents' side, the measures are timed and meticulously documented. At the noise source level, the situation is clearly defined and differentiated from other noise sources. In addition, the coordination of measurement campaigns requires constant flexibility and adaptation in order to be able to react to unfavorable weather conditions or unexpected noise disturbances.

Das wichtigste Werkzeug des Lärmspezialisten: das Mikrofon The noise specialist's most important tool: the microphone

Developing innovative solutions

Digital models can be used to simulate sound events and their propagation in a specific environment. The acoustics specialist skilfully handles the model components to best represent the actual noise situation based on the available data and optimizes the configuration for fast and efficient calculations.

Mediator

In addition to technical skills, the engineer must also be able to communicate very well. He/she works together with various experts and promotes dialog between the various stakeholders, such as residents affected by noise and noise polluters. At the end of the mandate, the acoustics specialist prepares a technical report or assists in the settlement of disputes in court - if no agreement is reached in advance.

Neutrality and conflicting interests

The question of neutrality arises, as the acoustics specialist must balance the different interests of the parties involved. In doing so, he/she analyzes the noise situation objectively and neutrally without taking sides. This balancing act is not always easy. A source of noise can be a necessary evil that benefits the general public. How do you navigate such situations? For example, cars and trains create noise, but the users benefit from it; heat pumps are an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating, but they create more noise; the army needs to train its troops, but often near residential buildings. These contradictions underline the unique challenges faced by acoustics specialists.