Surface acoustic analyzer (SAA)

Modeling sound propagation and interaction in virtual environments is a product of a variety of complex procedures under digital signal processing. One of these is concerned with the acquisition of the acoustic properties of a surface within an environment. In line with this, there is also the issue of the proper prediction of sound propagation from source to receiver in the same environment. Obtaining the acoustic properties is done through, for instance, the analysis of the impulse response of the surface. Sound propagation, on the other hand, is predicted by the implementation of existing algorithms such as Ray Tracing Method and Image Source Method. The research aims to develop a system that correctly and automatically determines the acoustic properties of configured wooden surfaces placed within a controlled environment. To achieve this, a wooden surface, whose material and geometric properties will serve as the input parameters to the system, is placed within the environment. The material properties of the surface involve its acoustic absorption and coefficient of reflection. In geometric properties consists its dimensions such as length and width. Other inputs to the system include the location of the source and the location of the receiver. Finally, the system will output the acoustic properties that will describe how sound propagate in the environment. The system will make use of three configurations of wooden surfaces namely, straight, double-edged, and curved surfaces. The accuracy of the system is verified by comparing its results to actual values obtained through an acoustic modeling technique known as the Maximum Length Sequence