Page 41 - Winter 2009

Instrumentation
Dick Stern
Applied Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University PO Box 30, State College, Pennsylvania 16804
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Braunstein + Berndt GmbH announces the release of their newly developed Dynamic Search calculation method. This new method was used to successfully complete the world’s largest noise map, the Environmental Noise Directive, European Union (END, EU) noise mapping of the railways throughout Germany. Twelve thousand kilometers (7,500 miles) of railway were mapped, which included 11 GB of ter- rain information, 8 million buildings and 36 million receiver points. All of this was calculated on 4 personal computers in less than 30 days run time using 32-bit WindowsXP.
Dynamic Search estimates the contribution for each receiver and ranks the influence of all sources. Only the sources important to the final result of a receiver are calcu- lated; the rest are estimated. By dynamically selecting the
sources that need to be calculated versus estimated, more data can be calculated more quickly than was ever thought possible.
The Dynamic Search method makes it possible to calcu- late huge noise maps with complex geometry, and to simulate details previously not possible in noise control programs. This method was adapted not only for rail noise calculations, but also for other noise source types. The Dynamic Search method, unique to SoundPLAN noise and air pollution eval- uation software, makes it practical for consultants to map any size project regardless of terrain, with any number of noise types (such as road, rail, aircraft, industry, leisure), and unlimited number of sources, in a timely, efficient manner. Contact: Marketing@soundPlan.com
Editor’s Note—The items printed in “Instrumentation” are reported for informational purposes only and are not necessar- ily endorsements by the Editor, Acoustics Today, or the Acoustical Society of America.
40 Acoustics Today, October 2009