Abstract:
Recent audio technologies facilitate simulation of the acoustical signatures of historic structures. Together with immersive visual technologies it is possible to provide new perspectives and deeper insights into the role of architecture on human behavior. This panel will discuss the implications of using immersive technologies to reanimate cultural heritage sites with particular emphasis on archaeology, musicology, anthropology, and sound studies.
Keywords:
Data acquisition, analysis, modeling, architectural acoustics, cultural histories, resonant properties, performance spaces, performance practice, spatial audio, virtual reality, cultural studies, musicology, history of art and architecture, cognitive science, audio engineering, archaeology, anthropology, musicology, music, rituals, sound and space, cognition, perception, psychology.
Session co-chairs: Jonathan Berger, Stanford University and Cobi van Tonder, University of Bologna
Bios: Jonathan Berger is the Denning Family Provostial Professor in Music at Stanford University. Berger is a composer of a wide range of genres including opera, orchestral, chamber, end electroacoustic music. He is also an active researcher, with expertise in computational music theory, music perception and cognition, psychoacoustics, and sonification. He has published over 70 academic articles in a wide variety of fields relating to music, science, and technology, including relevant work in digital audio processing in Neuron, Frontiers in Psychology, andthe Journal of the Audio Engineering Society. Among his awards and commissions are the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize, fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and commissions from Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, the 92nd Street Y, The Spoleto Festival, the Kronos Quartet, and others. Berger is the Principal Investigator of a major grant from the Templeton Religion Trust’s Art Seeking Understanding initiative, to study the interplay of architectural acoustics and musical and ritual sound.
Cobi van Tonder is a practice-led researcher and interdisciplinary artist. She composes and performs microtonal drone music, synthesized music, and sound pieces based on field recordings, infrasound, and virtual acoustics. Her current project, ACOUSTIC ATLAS – Cultivating the Capacity to Listen, developed during a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship, enables remote listening in the browser through virtual acoustic technology. Cobi completed a Ph.D. in Music Composition at Trinity College, Dublin, an MFA Art Practice degree at Stanford, USA; and a BHons in Music in History and Society (Musicology) at WITS, Johannesburg, South Africa. Cobi is currently a research fellow at the Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna.
LIST OF SPECIAL SESSIONS (In progress…)
SPECIAL SESSION 1: “Resounding the Past: Immersive Technologies and the Heritage Acoustics of Performance Spaces ” – Chairpersons: Angela Bellia & Antonella Bevilacqua
This session aims to investigate how acoustic modelling and virtual reality (VR), combined with advanced 3D audio technologies such as binaural audio and ambisonics, are transforming our understanding of the relationship between space, performance, and audience.
By exploring immersive and virtual reconstructions of historical performance spaces, this session aims to:
This research has implications for a wide range of fields, including architectural acoustics, psychoacoustics, and immersive soundscape design. Moreover, it can shed light on the evolution of musical performance practices, the use of sonic space for body movement, and the use of spoken and sung voice in historical performance spaces (e.g. ancient theatres, odeia, amphitheatres, cathedrals, etc.).
This session welcomes contributions that:
This interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from heritage acoustics, sound studies, musical acoustics, vocal studies, and performance studies, will contribute to a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the history of music, theatre, dance, and opera.
Keywords: Historical Performance Spaces; Heritage Acoustics; Soundscape; Dancescape; Voicescape; Tangible and Intangible Heritage; Musical Acoustics; Architectural Acoustics; Aural Architecture.
Chairperson: Angela Bellia, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Heritage Science
To see her work: https://nationalacademies.academia.edu/AngelaBellia
SPECIAL SESSION 2: “Applications of advanced audio reproduction in the areas of perception and cognition ” – Chairperson: Nicola Prodi, University of Ferrara, Italy
The blending of advanced multichannel spatialized audio reproduction with virtual reality has granted the possibility to develop virtual scenes that either closely mimic real conditions or fit desired scenarios in a totally virtual paradigm. In parallel with these technological developments also a search for a fruitful and epistemologically valid way of employing such resources has been undertaken. Research in the areas of perception and cognition has thus been boosted, for instance in the study of the basic mechanisms by which audition functions, or in the study of various cognitive processes, from core executive functions such as memory and attention to more high level processes such as speech comprehension and reasoning. In addition, reaction of humans to peculiar or even critical audiovisual conditions can be based on similar premises.
This session aims to host presentations that deal with the design, implementation and use of advanced simulation platforms with special potentials on spatialized audio which are focused on, but not limited to, the areas of perception and cognition. Case studies that involve tests with target populations of different kind are welcomed as well as more methodological contributions on characteristics, efficacy and limits of the systems conceived for the various types of applications. Moreover, theoretical contributions on the conceptual framework by which ecological validity and systems’ layout are assessed are also within the scopes of the session.
Keywords: spatial sound, perception, cognition, ecological validity
Session Chair:
Nicola Prodi graduated cum laude in physics at the University of Bologna and earned the PhD at the University of Ferrara where he is now Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering. He is also teaching at the University of Padova and at the Conservatory of Music in Ferrara. His main research interests include both the physical aspects of sound in enclosures, such as propagation and interaction with acoustical materials, and the perceptual ones, that is how sound is received, interpreted and what are its effects on listeners. In particular his current studies concern psychoacoustics and sound spatialization, intelligibility of speech and listening effort and the effects of noise on cognitive and physiological processes. He is also studying noise in the context of multimodal interaction with other indoor environmental quality stressors.
SPECIAL SESSION 3: “Spatialisation, Binaural Reproduction and Personalisation of Audio in Virtual, Augmented Reality” – Chairperson: Athanasios G. Malamos
Recent technological developments are having a fundamental impact on the field Human-Computer Interaction. Technologies such as holography, head-mounted displays, full-dome immersive video projection, kinesthetic communication (haptic technology), transparent monitors, and three-dimensional (3D) sound and electronic sensors, facilitate sophisticated and interactive environments using augmented and virtual reality. The scope of this augmentation is participant immersion, which is the ultimate goal of an effective virtual or augmented experience. It is a common belief that aurality constitutes an essential part in VR and AR and offers additional details and a visceral sense to the immersive experience. Aurality encloses the synthesis, spatialisation, and reception of sound in a virtual world.
In this session, we welcome research papers that lie in all the individual aspects of aurality and sound spatialisation as well as novel engineering efforts and applications that bridge VR and AR development with immersive sound and auralisation.
Chairperson:
SPECIAL SESSION 4: “3D Audio for Automotive Industry” - Chairpersons: Valeria Bruschi & Daniel Pinardi
The 3D measurement, simulation, and auralization of the sound field inside and outside cars are covered in this session. Researchers are invited to submit scientific contributions on the following topics but not limited to:
Chairpersons:
He is a Research Assistant of Prof. Angelo Farina at University of Parma since 2016, mainly specialized in spatial audio, design of transducer arrays, acoustics simulations and 3D auralization, applied to automotive field, and underwater acoustics.
SPECIAL SESSION 5: “3D Acoustics Measurements in Auditorium and Concert Halls: Case Studies” - Chairperson: Ruoran Yan
The measurement, recording, and simulation of auditorium and theater acoustics are covered in this session. We are looking for tearing technologies and innovative scientific approaches for acoustic measurement and modeling.
Keywords: historical theatre, modern auditorium, acoustic measurements and simulations, acoustic modeling, data analysis, computer science.
Chairperson: Ruoran Yan
SPECIAL SESSION 6: “3D Audio and Nonlinear Acoustics” - Stefania Cecchi & Valeria Bruschi
This special session is focused on nonlinear acoustics applied to 3D audio systems.
Every audio system could be affected by nonlinearities introduced by the sound reproduction and acquisition chain.
In nonlinear systems, the output signal presents additional frequency components that are not contained in the original signal. This aspect becomes important in immersive audio systems, which require a high fidelity reproduction and a realistic identification of the environment.
We are pleased to invite you to submit scientific contributions on the following topics but are not limited to:
– nonlinear audio system identification
– nonlinear 3d auralization
– acoustic measurements for nonlinear systems
– nonlinear sound propagation
– nonlinearities in 3d audio systems
Chairs: Stefania Cecchi & Valeria Bruschi
SPECIAL SESSION 7: “Acoustic characterisation of materials and systems” – Chairperson: Edoardo Piana
A wide range of sound-absorbing and sound-insulating elements are currently available on the market. They are generally used to adjust the acoustic features of a room, thanks to the progress made in the research and development of materials and the introduction of new manufacturing technologies. With the growing need to protect the environment, acoustic performances are only one of the required characteristics, together with environmental compatibility, longevity, and affordable cost.
The session “acoustic characterisation of materials and systems” has the aim to collect the advances in the description of sound-absorbing and sound-insulating materials. The application fields can be building, industrial, and tertiary sectors. Works featuring experimental, numerical, or theoretical applications of novel materials and meta-materials are welcome.
-sound absorption
– surface acoustic properties
– metamaterial
– porous material
– environmental compatibility
– life cycle assessment
– experiment
– simulation
– model
Chairperson:
Edoardo Piana holds the position of associate professor and founder/head of the Applied Acoustics Laboratory (ISO 9001 certified) at the University of Brescia. His main research fields are: acoustic insulation of composite materials, acoustic absorption of innovative materials, acoustic metamaterials, environmental acoustics, noise from high voltage power lines and electrical substations and sound propagation in ducts.
He authored numerous articles in international and national scientific journals and participates actively to the main congresses in the sector. He is the scientific referent for the University of Brescia in the cooperation agreements for the development of projects in the field of vibroacoustic with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm and the Katholieke Universiteit in Louvain.
Member of ISO/TC 43/SC 2/WG 32, “Determination of acoustical parameters of materials” and of the UNI technical commission “Acoustic and vibrations”, collaborates with various companies on projects with high scientific content.
At his own university, he holds Applied Acoustics and Technical Physics courses. He has also supervised numerous degree and doctoral theses.
SPECIAL SESSION 8: “The Acoustics of Sacred Spaces” – Chairperson: Gino Iannace
This session concerns the study of the acoustics of sacred spaces such as churches, mosques, places of worship generally located outdoors and in confined spaces (even caves). The purpose of the session is to discuss the effects of acoustics in these environments and how the acoustics influence perception and participation in religious services. Experiences relating to the acoustic correction of these environments can also be presented.
SPECIAL SESSION 9: “Immersive environments in humanities research” – Chairpersons: Jonathan Berger & Cobi van Tonder
Abstract:
Recent audio technologies facilitate simulation of the acoustical signatures of historic structures. Together with immersive visual technologies it is possible to provide new perspectives and deeper insights into the role of architecture on human behavior. This panel will discuss the implications of using immersive technologies to reanimate cultural heritage sites with particular emphasis on archaeology, musicology, anthropology, and sound studies.
Keywords:
Data acquisition, analysis, modeling, architectural acoustics, cultural histories, resonant properties, performance spaces, performance practice, spatial audio, virtual reality, cultural studies, musicology, history of art and architecture, cognitive science, audio engineering, archaeology, anthropology, musicology, music, rituals, sound and space, cognition, perception, psychology.
Session co-chairs: Jonathan Berger, Stanford University and Cobi van Tonder, University of Bologna