Research in architectural acoustics

The ArquiLAV group has extensive experience in acoustic insulation of facades and windows, as well as in the development of listening tests to analyze the adequacy of the global acoustic indices used to describe the insulation of these elements. This experience is due to the development of several competitive projects in this area and participation in projects such as Aena’s Isolation Plan, which has involved conducting thousands of acoustic insulation measurements of facades in homes near various airports in the Spanish network.

DEFE Researcher: Mª de los Ángeles Navacerrada Saturio.

This technique, the result of a complex process, consists of an audio signal that produces in the listener a sound sensation similar to what they would experience if they were present in the environment that has been modeled. This technology can be applied to all types of spaces, being used for the mere aural experience of listeners or for the analysis of the sound result. The group works on a line of virtual acoustic reality technologies with various objectives, including the recovery of the cultural heritage of the sound of historical venues that have been lost or whose characteristics have changed over the centuries.

DEFE Researcher: Mª de los Ángeles Navacerrada Saturio.

In this line, the acoustic and thermal characterization of acoustic absorbing materials is carried out. Different types of materials have been developed based on natural fibers (such as fique and coconut) or recycled materials (cotton fibers, cotton fibers) or metal foams made from recycled aluminum from transformers. Currently, the focus is on the development of acoustic absorbing materials manufactured through 3D printing, defined as periodic structures designed to achieve specific acoustic properties.

DEFE Researcher: Mª de los Ángeles Navacerrada Saturio.

This line explores the development of data models and algorithms to capture the sound field in existing spaces. On one hand, it focuses on the development of new experimental measurement techniques that allow for large-scale sound field capture through remote and non-invasive measurement techniques such as acousto-optic interaction. On the other hand, it concentrates on the development of field models that enable the capture and visualization of the sound field in extensive spatial domains based on point observations. In this way, we can characterize, for example, the acoustic field throughout an auditorium, using a few microphones distributed in the room, with applications in creating immersive environments for artistic or technical purposes.

DEFE Researcher: Mª de los Ángeles Navacerrada Saturio.