End of Year Review

Thanks for all your support over 2009. The Acoustics Group went from strength to strength, with £50,000 of new equipment, 2 PhD completions, 4 international conferences attended in force and a new performance science group with 7 renowned classical music partners. We are looking forward to 2010 when another 2 researchers are due to complete their PhD, 3 international conferences will be attended, Prof Shield will become President Elect of the Institute of Acoustics, and we hope to get funding for 3 new research projects. Best Wishes for the New Year, the picture is how we celebrated the holidays!

Workshop at the International Symposium on Performance Science

On 17th December 2009 Steve Dance, Georgia Zepidou, Aaron Williamon and Bradford Backus held a workshop for performance scientists. The new musician noise badges were presented followed by a question and answer session. Then the newly patented sound absorbing mirror was demonstrated. A last minute addition to the presentation was the new Good Ear noise screen!

Noise and Performance Group meet in Auckland

The 2nd International Symposium on Performance Science was where the Noise and Performance Group met for discussions about future collaboration. University of Auckland hosted the event between the 15-18th December 2009, which was enjoyed by all!

Spring Conference in Ghent, Belgium

The Acoustics Group have submitted 4 papers to the joint Institute of Acoustics/Belgium Acoustical Sociey Spring Conference. The conference will take place in the University of Ghent, Belgium on 29-30 April 2010. The MSc and Phd students have got to get writing!

Next President of the Institute of Acoustics

On Thursday 3rd December the Institute of Acoustics elected Prof. Bridget Shield as the President Elect for 2010. Bridget will be president for 2 years: 2012-14. She will take over the position from Prof Trevor Cox, an old member of the Acoustics Group. Well done!

ABO award for the Royal Academy of Music

On 27th November the Royal Academy of Music were presented with the Healthy Orchestra Bronze Award from the Association of British Orchestras. Timothy Jones Deputy Principal (Programmes and Research) was present, as were the Noise team, which London South Bank University lead. Nicola Mutton gave the acceptance speech. Well done to the entire team, particularly Hannah Melville-Smith.

Royal Academy Test New Screens

On Friday 27th November, the Royal Academy of Music received the first prototype portable orchestra pit screen. The screen has a zero footprint and is designed to be suitable for use in the small theatre pit.

New KTP Associate with Capita Symonds

Anne Unwin has joined the Acoustics Group, she'll start as a KTP Associate on 1st December 2009, working on rooftop wind turbines with Capita Symonds. Welcome Anne!

Dr Dance interviewed on the Ecophon stand

Ecophon's Acoustic Bulletin article on the Sound absorbing mirror is now available. Dr Stephen Dance explains the idea behind the mirror and where it can be applied. The interview was recorded at Euronoise 2009 conference.

The Acoustics Group at Euronoise 2009

The Acoustics Group had a significant presence at Euronoise 2009 in Edinburgh: 8 papers were presented and 17 representatives with links with London South Bank University were present; 4 sessions were chaired by Prof Shield and Dr Dance; and GMTV asked for an interview on teenagers and MP3 players. The 11 students had a good time!

MSc student Bob Lorenzetto presents at Euronoise

On Tuesday 27th October 2009 Bob Lorenzetto presented his Masters dissertation on the sound absorbing mirror at Euronoise 2009. The paper was entitled, "A new type of absrober for use by classical musicians in rehearsal rooms." Once again the mirror got lots of finger prints!

Dr Christos Nestoras presents at Euronoise

On Tuesday 27th October 2009 Dr Christos Nestoras presented a summary of his room acoustics Phd thesis at Euronoise 2009. The paper was entitled, "Computer model validation and the application to threshold efficient S/N room acoustic measurements." That's the only time you'll be introduced as a doctor!

Georgia Zepidou presents at Euronoise 2009

On Tuesday 27th October 2009 Georgia Zepidou presented a paper on music and the noise of performance at Euronoise 2009. The paper was entitled, "Novel noise monitoring and noise control solutions for the mitigation of excessive noise exposure of classical musicians."

MSc student GIl van Buuren gives his 1st paper

On Tuesday 27th October 2009 Gil van Buuren gave a presentation on his Master thesis on room acoustics at Euronoise 2009. The paper was entitled, "Parametric studies of low frequency acoustics of listening rooms using a numerical wave model". Gil then asked lots of questions!

Nicky Shiers gives her 1st paper

On Monday 26th October Nicola Shiers gave her first conference paper at Euronoise 2009 in Edinburgh. Her topic was hospital acoustics and the paper was entitled, "Noise levels in in-patient hospital wards".

Radio Headset Testing

On 23rd October 2009 the Acoustics Group tested radio headsets for telent plc using a HATS system connected to a Norsonics Nor 140 sound level meter. The feedback alert noise levels were measured for each alarm tone.

Amadeus Screens Tested by a Full Orchestra

On Monday 19th October 4 of the 27 Amadeus screens purchased were tested during a full orchestral rehearsal at the Royal Academy of Music. It's very difficult to see the screens in the pictures as the musicians were so closely spaced!

ER-200 Personal Noise Dosimeter

On 20th October 2009 the Acoustics Group took delivery of a ER-200 Personal Noise Dosimeter. This noise badge costs $99 but by the time it arrives to the UK £95. This will be tested in our laboratory and by the students of the Royal Academy of Music.

Acoustic Refrigeration Experiment

On Tuesday 12th October 2009 the acoustic refrigeration experiment went live in the Acoustics laboratory at London South Bank University. Using a low frequency tone through a powerful amplifier connected to a bass speaker at the end of a long steel tube a cooling effect was seen when the sound passed through a catalytic converter. At the end of the tube a sound level meter is used to verify the sound frequency. It's a start...

Environmental Protection UK Urbine Presentation

On the 7th October 2009 the non government agent, Environmental Protection UK, invited the Acoustics Group to give our views on noise from urban roof top wind turbines. Here's the programme and our presentation.

Dr Christos Nestoras

Christos Nestoras passed his Phd viva on 23rd September 2009. His external examiners Prof John Turner Pro Vice Chancellor of Portsmouth and Peter Mapp gave him a hard time. The thesis was entitled, "The assessment of speech intelligibility for efficient application in computer modelling and improved room acoustic". Then some of us got drunk...

Guest lecturer Bradford Backus

Dr Bradford Backus of MIT-Harvard and the UCL's Ear Institute will be giving a series of lectures on subjective acoustics on the Masters course. He specialises in audiology and acoustic engineering. Here's hoping there's not too many equations!

Rooftop Wind Turbines to overlook Westfield

On 28th September 2009 ECD Architects invited Dr Stephen Dance to advise on the installation of 6 Proven turbines on the Edward Woods Estate. "Three pairs of turbines will be erected over new penthouse suites on the 23 storey buildings", explained Andre Revill. "Work will begin in early 2010", added Henry Robinson, the project manager. The acoustic consultant is AECOM.

New Students on the Acoustics Masters Course

Ten students are on the MSc in Environmental and Architectural Acoustics for 2009/10. Their from all over the world - North and South America, UK and Europe. Notice the creative use of an iPhone as a sound meter! Welcome all.

ISVR Advanced Course on Noise & Vibration

On 11th September 2009 Dr Stephen Dance gave a seminar on noise propagation in industrial halls, he had a hangover! The ISVR delegates were very friendly and generous... Thank you all.

At last - a lightweight amplifier!

The Acoustics Group now have a Class D power amplifier, a Technical Pro 3000. The amplifier is capable of delivering 600 W at 8 Ohms in bridged mono mode. It weights 4 Kg, which is a great relief!

Seminars at the Royal Academy of Music

On 2nd and 3rd of September 2009, Dr Stephen Dance gave a series of 4 seminars to the new students of the Royal Academy of Music on the Noise of Performance and its affects on Musicians' hearing. This will be folllowed by 300 individual audiometric tests over the next weeks!

Euronoise Programme

Dr Stephen Dance will chair and co-chair two sessions at this year's acoustic conference - see Euronoise 2009 programme: Health effects –hearing damage plus Occupational noise with Professor Deepak Prasher from the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford and Acoustics of Enclosed Spaces with Prof Murray Hodgson. I hope I can still get to some papers!

Haringey Council visit rooftop turbines

On Friday 28th August 2009 Haringey Council's Sustainability group visited Ashenden House at Elephant and Castle. The visit was to understand the pros and cons of rooftop wind power generation. They were investigating the possibility to put 3 Nheolis turbines on top of their Headquarters!

Mirrors at the Royal Academy of Music

On Wednesday 19th August 2009 the performance of the sound absorbing mirrors at the Royal Academy of Music was established. ANV Measurement Systems undertook the measurements in one of the teaching rooms. The mirrors demonstrated excellence performance, but really needed to be cleaned!

LSBU Scholar submits his Phd Thesis

Christos Nestoras submitted his PhD entitled, "The assessment of speech intelligibility in room acoustics for efficient application in computer modelling and improved enclosed spaces". He started in November 2005, so 3 years and 9 months of suffering! Well done Christos.

Hand-Arm Vibration Kit for the Students

The Acoustics Group now have the hand-arm vibration kit for the Rion VX-54 meter purchased from ANV Measurement Systems . It will be used by the Masters students to measure tri-axial vibration forces according to the new standards. Please don't break it!

Svantek Environmental Kit on-site

On Friday 14th August 2009 the first environmental noise and vibration measurements were taken on the rooftop of Ashenden House on the Heygate Estate. A Svantek 958 was used to carry out the simultaneous assessment of the Quiet Revolution 5 turbine. The study will continue until the site is demolished in early 2010.

Strategy agreement with Health and Safety Solutions

On Wednesday 12th August 2009 an understanding was agreed between Dr Stephen Dance and Health and Safety Solutions. New devices to monitor and mitigate noise exposure of professional musicians will be jointly developed and marketed in late 2009. Well onboard!

New Norsonic 132 Sound Analyser

On 6th August 2009 the Acoustics Group received a new Norsonic 132 sound analyser. This is a class 2 device with the real time 1/3 octave band frequency option. The analyser will be used in a new acoustic refigeration demonstration.

Second audiometric booth

On 29th July 2009 a second audiometric booth was commissioned at the Acoustic laboratory of London South Bank University. Health surveillance will be undertaken for the Royal Academy of Music from early September. The automated screening audiometer, Amplivox 850, will be used to test 350 students. It will be a busy time!

Henry Wood Hall undergoing refurbishment

On Friday 24th July 2009 installation of innovative acoustics solutions at Henry Wood Hall commenced. The solutions were designed and tested by Dr Stephen Dance. Now, we are crossing our fingers!

Steve at the Magic Circle

On Wednesday 22nd July 2009 Dr Stephen Dance was invited to the Magic Circle... to present the research undertaken with the London Philharmonic Orchestras funeded by the Knowledge Connect scheme. The presentation was to an invited audience from the Arts and Culture community of London. Luckily he managed to show off the sound absorbing mirror using his beautiful assistant!

1st Meeting of the Noise and Performance Group

On Monday 20th July 2009 the 1st meeting of the Noise and Performance Group was convened at Kensington Square. This is the new headquarters for the Centre for Performance Science at the Royal College of Music. We also had Braford Backus from the Ear Institute, UCL and Aaron Williamon of RCM. Plans are afoot for a new noise meter, an EU proposal, the Royal Society's Exhibition 2010, lecturing in 2009/10, and a conference in New Zealand, ISPS. So plenty to talk about!

Dr Dance joins Newman advisory board

Dr Stephen Dance has joined the advisory committee for the Newman Student Award Fund, under the umbrella of the Acoustical Society of America. He will be the 1st international representative on the board. Here's to more trips to Hawaii!

Student wins award from the Acoustical Society of America

Gil van Buuren won the Newman best student dissertation for his Masters project on, "Parametric studies on the low-frequency acoustics of listening rooms using a numerical wave model". The Robert Bradford Newman Medal is for excellence in the study of acoustics and its application to architecture. The prize will be awarded by the Acoustical Society of America. Gil will present his work at Euronoise 2009 in Edinburgh. Well done Gil!

New Nor140 sound and vibration analyser

The Acoustics Group have ordered yet another Norsonics Nor140 from Campbell Associates. This time with a calibrator and the single channel vibration option.

Acoustics Group wins Awards

Prof Bridget Shield and Dr Stephen Dance won two London South Bank University Excellence awards. Bridget won the Research Excellence award and Steve won the Enterprise Excellence award for 2009. Modesty stops me from showing off, but I was celebrating!

Steve's Orchestra Pit screen tested

On 26th June 2009, Dr Stephen Dance together with Georgia Zepidou tested the real world acoustic performance of a new designed sound barrier. The musicians of the Royal Academy of Music played trumpet, drums, saxophone and Glock. The mid and high frequency sound reduction was significant with minimal throwback. Thanks to all the graduating musicians!

Amadeus Screens tested at Royal Academy of Music

The Acoustics Group tested the perspex Amadeus screens in the orchestra pit of the Royal Academy of Music on 24th June 2009. Three musicians playing- trumpet, glock and saxophone, whilst 3 acousticians measured the performance of the Amadeus screen. Results suggest that the Amadeus screen is most suited to high frequency generating musical instruments.

Capita Symonds visits Urbines

On 22nd June 2009 representatives of Capita Symonds consulting engineers visited the Elephant and Castle rooftop wind turbines. Architects and sustainable engineers were interesting in following up the initial niose and vibration research funded through the KTP scheme. Unfortunately, that day there was no wind!

Rob Canetto joins the Acoustics Group

Rob Canetto joined the Acoustics Group on the 1st June 2009. He came to us from the University of Surrey where he studied for his PhD. Rob is going to work as a new EPSRC Research Fellow on acoustics of secondary schools with Prof Shield, Prof Dockrell (Institute of Education) and Prof Cox (Salford University) for the next 3 years. So, he's surrounded by Professors!

Sizing up a LSBU Rooftop for an urbine

On Thursday 12th June 2009, Keith Chapman of rooftop-turbines sized up the Tower Block of London South Bank University for a Proven 6 kW turbine. Although mobile phone masts are located on the 8 storey concrete building, is was deemed possible to mount the urbine. We'll be monitoring noise, vibration and structural stresses, so I hope it stays up!

CFD software from Meteodyn

Meteodyn presented their CFD software Urbawind to London South Bank University on 8th June 2009. A team of modellers from Capita Symonds attended to ask the difficult questions!

New Equiment for Hospital Acoustics

The Acoustics Group have purchased a 3rd Norsonic Nor140 sound level meter from Campbell Associates. This analyser will be used by Nicky Shiers to improve the acoustics in hospitals, in association with Arup through an EPSRC Case Award.