The Accuracy of Predicted Acoustical Parameters in Ancient Open-Air Theatres: A Case Study in Syracusae

Nowadays, ancient open-air theatres are often re-adapted as performance spaces for the additional historical value they can offer to the spectators’ experience. Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in the modelling and simulation of the acoustics of such spaces. These open-air performanc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inApplied sciences Vol. 8; no. 8; p. 1393
Main Authors Bo, Elena, Shtrepi, Louena, Pelegrín Garcia, David, Barbato, Giulio, Aletta, Francesco, Astolfi, Arianna
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2018
Subjects
Accuracy
Acoustic noise
acoustical measurements
Air temperature
Algorithms
Architectural acoustics
Architecture
Background noise
Boundary conditions
Calibration
Computer simulation
Environmental conditions
Frequencies
historical acoustics
Information science
Noise levels
open-air theatres
prediction models
Relative humidity
Software
Sound
Virtual reality
United Kingdom > UK
Italy
Germany
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Summary:Nowadays, ancient open-air theatres are often re-adapted as performance spaces for the additional historical value they can offer to the spectators’ experience. Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in the modelling and simulation of the acoustics of such spaces. These open-air performance facilities pose several methodological challenges to researchers and practitioners when it comes to precisely measure and predict acoustical parameters. Therefore this work investigates the accuracy of predicted acoustical parameters, that is, the Reverberation Time (T20), Clarity (C80) and Sound Strength (G), taking the ancient Syracusae open-air theatre in Italy as a case study. These parameters were derived from both measured and simulated Impulse Responses (IR). The accuracy of the acoustic parameters predicted with two different types of acoustic software, due to the input variability of the absorption and scattering coefficients, was assessed. All simulated and measured parameters were in good agreement, within the range of one “just noticeable difference” (JND), for the tested coefficient combinations.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app8081393