Acoustic Analysis
Good sound is an accessible luxury.
aaline™ Acoustic Spatial Analysis is a proprietary platform to simulate and optimize the acoustic performance of interior spaces. A highly specialized software, developed in-house by our dedicated design/computational-research team allows us to gain a better understanding of spatial acoustics of space, based on finishing materials and geometry. With better analytical tools, we can assist your team in increasing occupant comfort and treating acoustics as an additional interior element in your design toolbox.
We provide feedback reports that include raw data, metrics and visualizations to help determine the optimal shapes, materials, orientations of acoustic reflectors, absorbers, and diffusers in order to reach a desired reverberation time and sound intensity. Our design team will work with you directly and consult through the process from conceptual development to delivery and installation.
“We understand that every space is unique, as are its acoustics. That is why we developed a system to help sculpt with sound and make an ephemeral experience a tangible feeling. “
A sound pressure level and reverberation time analysis on a conference room with the aaline conference room system.
Metrics
Sound Reflection and Absorption
When a sound is produced, it expands through the air in a spherical pressure wave. When the wave reaches a surface, some of its energy is reflected, while some is absorbed. Hard surfaces reflect most of the energy in a sound wave, and absorb very little, while soft surfaces reflect relatively less, and absorb more. This is why we experience an echo when we make a loud sound near a cliff face, or a brick wall.
The atmosphere also has a damping effect on a sound wave, as the molecules in the air absorb tiny amounts of energy as they move with the wave. This effect is called atmospheric absorption.
Sound Pressure Level and Reverberation Time
Outside, a spherical sound wave can expand as much as it needs to. Inside, however, the energy is trapped. Reverberation is the result of sound waves repeatedly reflecting off the surfaces of an enclosed space. Because the space is enclosed, the only way for the sound to dissipate is through atmospheric and material absorption, rather than spreading. Reverberation time is the time it takes for the sound pressure level (SPL) in a room, measured in decibels, to decrease by a certain amount after a source stops emitting sound. RT60 measures the time it takes for the SPL to decrease by 60 decibels.
In general, rooms with mostly hard surfaces tend to have high reverberation times, while rooms with many soft surfaces tend to have low reverberation times. The optimal reverberation time for speech intelligibility is around 0.8 seconds.
The Process
Analysis
The aaline™ acoustic spatial analysis software simulates sound propagation in a room, given its geometry and the acoustic properties of its materials. Absorption coefficients of walls, ceiling, floor finishing, and furniture, are all taken into account.
Geometric reflection, and material absorption are analyzed together, in order to determine the resonance experienced at different locations during a particular acoustic scenario. For example: how much reverberation are people sitting around a meeting table experiencing during a presentation? aaline’s acoustic analysis software helps identify under-performing acoustic areas, in order to improve acoustic balance through spatial dispersion, and provide a comfortable experience for all of the occupants in a space.
Our in-house software can help us understand the acoustics of your space. All we need is a floor plan with material labels, and a ceiling height; or a 3D model of the space, and we can perform the resonance time and decibel intensity analysis.
Optimization
Using evolutionary algorithms, we are able to determine optimal arrangements and sizes of our products in your space to reduce the reverberation in specific acoustic scenarios. By employing these tools, we can narrow potential arrangements down to a couple of top contenders. From there, we can compare the pros and cons of each and determine which iteration offers the best acoustic performance for the intended use of the space.