The performance of the final design is a function of the order in which various aspects of the design are optimised as well as the optimisation process chosen for each aspect. Here, the optimal hierarchy for control is discussed first of all, followed by a discussion of the optimisation of various aspects of control system design. These aspects include: the physical arrangement of reference sensors, error sensors and control actuators; the choice of cost function; the choice of control system hardware architecture; and the choice of algorithm and associated parameters.
The optimisation of these variables will be illustrated with examples of work currently being undertaken by the AVC group at the University of Adelaide.
Full Paper. This is a classic noise control problem where treatments will not be successful unless they take account of the relative importance of each source and appropriate measures are applied for all the significant sources. Starting from theoretical research into source modelling, a number of practical techniques will be discussed that have been developed for reducing railway noise in the last 10 β 20 years. The difficulties of practical implementation will also be discussed, recognising that the railway industry faces many pressures that make it reluctant to change.
ABSTRACT Over the past few decades, the noise in hospitals has been monotonically rising and is now sufficiently high that speech communication clarity is a concern. The reason hospitals are noisy is clear: the density of people is very high, most of them are ambulatory, and all of them communicate primarily through speech. Add to this mix alarms, a paging system, electronic equipment, mandated high rates of air flow and you have a recipe for acoustic pandemonium. Further, the ability to control the noise through traditional approaches, such as sound absorbing material, are limited by hygiene considerations.
In this talk we characterize interior hospital noise and discuss approaches to its reduction. Our focus is on noise control strategies that will work long term because they involve objective changes in the facilities and sound environment rather than behavioral changes in people.
