What is the title of your research project?
ISCOB (Impact Sound Comfort in Buildings – Perception-based Descriptors Based on Measurement Data and Listening Tests)
German: Impact sound comfort in buildings – Perception-based descriptors based on measurement data and listening tests
Who is involved in the project?
Prof. Dr Christoph Höller
Research Assistant: TBD, position currently open
What is your funded project?
Impact sound insulation – that is, the dampening of noises such as footsteps, furniture being moved or objects falling – is important for a positive living environment. However, current methods for estimating this noise generation at the planning stage do not adequately reflect people’s actual perceptions. ISCOB is therefore developing new, practice-oriented assessment methods for impact sound in buildings and is compiling a corresponding database based on measurements and audio recordings. In addition, listening tests are being carried out with a large number of people to capture the full range of possible perceptions of sound.
What excites you about the project?
Our Building Physics Laboratory is responsible for some of the listening tests. What makes this project special is that, this time, these listening tests are being carried out not only in the laboratory but also online. Online listening tests have so far been little researched scientifically, and we want to investigate how well this method is suited to assessing noise levels caused by impact sound. Online methods allow us to involve a larger and more diverse group of test subjects. One of the outcomes of the project is intended to be an interactive online demonstrator that allows users to listen to various impact sound scenarios in their future home in advance.
How can the findings from the project be applied in practice?
One outcome of the project is a database that collects acoustic impressions for various structures (timber floors, concrete floors, etc.) based on measurements and high-quality audio recordings. This allows structural solutions to be ‘heard’ as early as the planning phase, enabling a realistic assessment of their impact on residents. To this end, new descriptors (standardised descriptions) are also being developed to reliably reflect how impact sound is perceived by people. Planners, building contractors and manufacturers can draw on this database to optimally design floor structures and avoid unnecessary extra work. In addition, an online demonstrator is to be developed which will enable architects, engineers and building owners to directly compare and listen to the acoustic performance of various structural solutions.
On our website, you will find an overview of the current funded projects at OTH Regensburg.
