13. Acoustical Engineering

The job

Acoustical engineering typically involves equipment noise reduction, vibration studies and structure-borne noise management.

• Equipment Noise Reduction: reducing excessive noise from various mechanical and electrical sources both within and outside of buildings.
• Vibration Studies: addressing the effects of low frequency vibration propagation in the ground and in structures, generated by building systems, rail lines and roadways, on people and on sensitive equipment.
• Structure-Borne Noise Management: isolating vibrating equipment and footfall-generated noise capable of being transmitted throughout the structural elements of buildings.  

Straight out of school, most acoustical engineers join a consulting firm already in existence.  Eventually they may have the option of taking over that firm or starting their own firm.  Once a firm gets a reputation for quality service, it may go from working on churches and recording studios to working on large concert halls and well-known structures.  According to acoustical consultant-sensation Ron Spillman, advance degrees aren’t necessary to succeed in the consulting business.  Experience, not education, can bring great success to a consulting firm. Apart from firms, there are many organizations which hire acoustical engineers. These include anything from large airplane manufacturers to planning councils. 

Rising Demand

I asked a few acoustical engineers about the job demand, and here are their replies.

• Ron Spillman: “In terms of demand, it is probably very good, because we and our competitors have great difficulty finding qualified applicants.”
• John Erdreich, Ph.D.: “There is more demand for acoustical engineers now than there are engineers. At the meeting of the Acoustical Society of America last week, there was the largest number of job ads I have seen in 30 years.”
• Felicia Doggett: “The demand for good acousticians today is very great.  I was trying to hire someone and it took about 6 months to find that person.  Everyone is looking for good people right now.”

    Needless to say, there is a big market out there for Acoustical Engineers. All the three individuals mentioned are prominent figures in this field. 

Educational Requirements

The education required for an acoustical career is not at all defined.  It is an engineering field that not many, if any, colleges offer.  Robert H. Tanner, an acoustical consultant for the past forty years, said “There’s no one highway into the profession…Some are electrical engineers, some are mechanical engineers, some are physicists and some are architects.”  Ronald Spillman, an associate of the HFP Acoustical Consultants Inc., gave the following advice: “In terms of education, you might consider majoring in architecture or architectural engineering.  Or, acousticians often have backgrounds in physics or mechanical engineering.”  In summary, it is suggested that an acoustical consultant get an education in any of the following areas:

•  Science
•  Electrical Engineering
•  Mechanical Engineering
•  Math
•  Music
•  Architectural
•  Physics

    Many acoustical consultants emphasize the value of communication skills.  In fact, John Erdreich, Ph.D., believes that an English course is very important in becoming an acoustical consultant. He said the following: “The most important part of acoustical engineering (or any engineering) is the ability to communicate your ideas. If you can’t explain your ideas so that non-technical
people can understand them, you will not be a successful engineer.” 

The University of Hartford offers a program that combines music and acoustical engineering.  Other schools that offer acoustics programs are Auburn, Penn State, Univ. of Texas, Univ. of Houston, and Purdue. Many good universities Like Georgia Institute of Technology have such programs under other departments as a combined degree. 
In France, some good courses are available at
Conservatoire National des Arts et Metieri
Université du Maine
I am not personally aware of any courses available in India. There are loads of courses on architecture and that can serve as a good platform for a future graduate level course in Acoustical Engineering from USA.

For more information and links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustical_engineering