Acoustic engineers use sound and vibration science to control noise and amplify desired sounds. They work in architectural acoustics, noise control for urban planning, and sonar and medical imaging technology. Specific degree programs are rare.
An acoustic engineer, or sound engineer, applies the science of sound and vibration to real-world technologies. The field is primarily concerned with reducing unwanted noise, called noise control. It also involves amplifying desired sounds and manipulating sound vibrations for measurement purposes. The field of acoustic engineering shares common ground with the more established fields of mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering.
The science of sound is called acoustics and it has several underlying processes. One, absorption, is the loss of energy that sound waves experience when they bounce off a surface. Diffraction is the phenomenon of sound waves bending around small obstacles and scattering again after passing through small openings. Reverb occurs when sound lingers after the original source is output. Refraction occurs when sound waves are bent after passing through or propagating through a different medium.
Many acoustic engineers seek to control sounds within buildings in a process called architectural acoustics. Typically, it focuses on reducing the level of noise that travels through walls. Rooms can also be designed to reduce sound reverberation times, or how long it takes for sound to fade, to improve speech clarity. Some large auditoriums, however, are specifically designed to amplify sounds in the room. Concert halls and public meeting spaces employed this technique before microphones were widely used.
Noise control is not just limited to individual buildings. An urban planner may enlist the services of an acoustic engineer to reduce traffic noise from highways or airports to residential areas. This can be achieved by installing noise barrier walls, which can be seen along many highways in urban areas. Buffer zones can also be designated for noise control. Industrial or commercial zones are often placed between airports and populated regions.
The acoustic engineer may also be involved in sonar and medical imaging technology. Sonar is a technique used by ships to determine local water depth. It works by bouncing sound waves off the ocean floor and measuring the time it takes for them to bounce back. An ultrasound is a technique used to produce an image of a fetus during pregnancy. It is similar to sonar in that it measures the reflection of generated sound waves. The name comes from the frequency of the sound waves used, which is above the threshold of human hearing.
Specific degree programs for an aspiring acoustic engineer are rare, although postgraduate degrees can be found. The field is often integrated into a mechanical or electrical engineering curriculum. Acoustical engineers often find employment as consultants to civil engineers and architects and work on a variety of construction projects.
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