Method for determining the sound environment of a room in a building

Abstract

Method for determining the sound environment of a building room The method for determining the sound environment of a building room of a naval building comprises the following steps: - (A) analyzing the activity carried out inside the room, - (B) carrying out a binaural acoustic measurement of the sound emitted in the room to obtain an experimental binaural sound signal, - (C) establishing an acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room to obtain a theoretical sound signal, - (D) carrying out a listening test from the experimental binaural sound signal to obtain a first piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room, - (E) carrying out a listening test of the theoretical sound signal to obtain a second piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room, - (H) determining a measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room from the first piece of information and the second piece of information. Figure for abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for determining the sound environment of a room in a building

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining the sound environment of a room in a naval vessel.

[0002] In a naval building, such as a military ship or a submarine, it is known to arrange the various rooms of the building so that they meet habitability requirements, particularly in terms of noise levels. Thus, the overall noise level in a given room must remain below a certain noise level threshold measured in decibels.

[0003] However, the criteria used to determine the noise level of a room do not allow the presence of noise pollution to be detected in the room, particularly when it is of low intensity. Thus, this noise level requirement is not sufficient to ensure the comfort of personnel on board the naval vessel. Indeed, parasitic noise, even of low intensity, can disturb the concentration, sleep, or even health, of a sailor on board a naval vessel, particularly for long-term deployments.

[0004] These parasitic noises can have several sources and have a different impact depending on the position of a person in a given room. The absence of treatment of these noise nuisances is therefore detrimental and no solution is proposed to improve the sound environment in a given room.

[0005] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing a method for determining the sound environment of a room in a naval building making it possible to objectively estimate the level and source of noise pollution in a room in a naval building.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a method for determining the sound environment of a room in a naval vessel comprising at least the following steps:

[0007] - analyze the activity carried out inside the premises,

[0008] - measure the reverberation time inside the room,

[0009] - carry out at least one binaural acoustic measurement of the sound emitted in the room while said activity is carried out to obtain at least one experimental binaural sound signal,

[0010] - establish an acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room from the analysis of the activity carried out inside the premises to obtain at least one theoretical sound signal,

[0011] - carry out at least one listening test from the experimental binaural sound signal to obtain at least some initial information relating to the sound environment in the local,

[0012] - carry out at least one listening test of the theoretical sound signal to obtain at least a second piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room,

[0013] - determine at least one measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room from the first information and the second information.

[0014] From the comparison of information from a binaural measurement of the sound emitted in a room and a modeling of this sound during an activity carried out in the room, it is possible to establish one or more measurable quantities representing the sound environment in the room during this activity. Thus, if the measurable quantity exceeds a certain acceptable threshold, it is possible to implement measures to improve this sound environment so that it does not disturb the people present in the room. In addition, by using a binaural measurement of the sound, the sound environment in a room is determined as closely as possible to the human perception of this sound environment.

[0015] The determination method according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, considered alone or in any technically conceivable combination:

[0016] - the determination method comprises a step of mixing the at least one signal experimental binaural sound in order to obtain a matrix of sound stimuli, said matrix being used to carry out the listening test from the experimental binaural sound signal;

[0017] - the determination method comprises a step of calculating at least one criterion psychoacoustics from the experimental binaural sound signal, said psychoacoustic criterion being used in the determination of the measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room;

[0018] - the psychoacoustic criterion is at least one of the following criteria: loudness, acuity, tone-to-noise ratio, emergence ratio, auditory pattern tone, fluctuation strength, roughness, impulsiveness and / or relative approach;

[0019] - the determination method comprises a step of comparing the first in training and the second information, the acoustic model being validated if the second information corresponds to the first information and the acoustic model being refined if the second information differs from the first information;

[0020] - the acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room is established from beams and theoretical sound particles fired into a three-dimensional model of the room, said beams and particles reproducing at least part of the sounds emitted in the room while the activity is carried out in said room;

[0021] - the modeling step (C) comprises a modeling of the propagation of sound in the room from the reverberation of theoretical sound beams and particles on the modeled walls of the three-dimensional model of the premises and on the furniture modeled in the three-dimensional model of the premises depending on the material and geometry of said walls and said furniture;

[0022] - the determination method comprises a virtual reality modeling step from the premises while the activity is carried out, the listening test of the theoretical sound signal being carried out by observing said modeling in virtual reality;

[0023] - the measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room is a level of noise annoyance felt by an operator located at a predetermined location in the room

[0024] - the determination method further comprises a step of modifying the premises in order to reduce the measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room.

[0025] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

[0026] [Fig. 1] - [Fig. 1] is a diagram representing different stages of the method for determining the sound environment of a room according to the invention.

[0027] With reference to [Fig. 1], a method is described for determining the sound environment of a room of a naval vessel. The invention applies more particularly to a naval vessel for military use receiving a large number of personnel and in which a wide variety of activities are carried out in different rooms, or rooms, of the naval vessel. The remainder of the description will be given for a particular room of the naval vessel, but it is understood that the invention applies to all rooms of the naval vessel regardless of their function from the moment these rooms receive navigating personnel. Thus, the invention can for example be applied to a command bridge, a central station, an engine room, a technical room, a cabin receiving one or more berths, etc.

[0028] During a first step A of the method, the activity carried out in the premises for which the sound environment is to be determined is analyzed. This analysis of the activity includes in particular, when the activity is in progress, the recording of the number of people, or operators, present in the premises, the description of the tasks carried out and the time allocated to each task, the interactions between the operators and the path of the operators within the premises. In other words, the analysis of the activity carried out in the premises consists of a recording of the operations carried out in the premises and the people carrying out these operations.

[0029] The method further comprises a step B of acoustic measurements in the room while the activity is being carried out.

[0030] More particularly, the measurement step B comprises the measurement of the reversion time beration inside the room. The reverberation time corresponds to the time it takes for the sound emitted in the room to decay by at least 30 dB, for example 60 dB. Such a measurement of the reverberation time makes it possible to characterize the sound environment in the room and to validate an acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room as will be described in more detail later.

[0031] The measurement step B further comprises at least one binaural measurement of the sound emitted in the room while the activity analyzed during the analysis step A is taking place. Such a measurement is made at a particular location in the room corresponding, for example, to the place of an operator for whom it is desired to determine the noise pollution experienced when this operator takes part in the activity carried out in the room. Preferably, several binaural measurements are carried out at different locations in the room, for example, at the place of each operator taking part in the analyzed activity. The binaural measurements make it possible to record the sounds emitted in the room as they are perceived at the location where the measurements are carried out. These binaural measurements can then be listened to again, as will be described later. The binaural measurements are carried out using at least one binaural measuring device, such as an acoustic head or binaural headphones.

[0032] One or more such binaural measurements make it possible to measure sound substantially as a human ear perceives this sound. Thus, binaural measurements reproduce the capabilities of the human ear, in particular by having very good temporal and frequency resolution and by allowing the recognition of several sound incidences, the suppression of background noise and echo reduction, the separation of several sound sources and sound listening. Furthermore, in the case of measurements carried out using an acoustic head, binaural measurements take into account the modifications of the sound wave at the location of a person's head, that is to say the diffraction and sound reflections at the level of the auricle, the auditory canal, the shoulders and the torso, these phenomena depending on the sound incidence.

[0033] The binaural measurement(s) make it possible to obtain at least one experimental binaural sound signal, preferably several experimental binaural sound signals that can be listened to by an operator.

[0034] In parallel with the measurement step B, the method comprises a modeling step C of the sound emitted in the room during the activity analyzed during the analysis step A. By "in parallel", it is meant that this step can be carried out independently of the measurement step B and not necessarily before or after the measurement step B.

[0035] The modeling step C consists of establishing an acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room, this model making it possible to generate at least one theoretical sound signal which can be listened to, as will be described later, preferably several theoretical sound signals. Such a step is carried out by means of appropriate software based on data from the analysis of the activity carried out inside the premises and information about the premises itself.

[0036] The modeling step C comprises a step of modeling the premises, that is to say the creation of a three-dimensional model of the premises, taking into account the geometry of its walls and the furniture inside the premises. The materials of the walls and the furniture are also taken into account in the creation of the three-dimensional model of the premises. The three-dimensional model of the premises thus comprises modeled walls and modeled furniture associated with information on the materials of the walls and the furniture. The modeling step C then comprises a step of firing theoretical sound beams and particles into the three-dimensional model of the premises, the beams and particles reproducing at least part of the sounds emitted in the premises while the activity is carried out in said premises. In other words, the sound activity in the premises is simulated while the activity is carried out from the information collected during the analysis step A.The acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room includes a modeling of the propagation of the sound in the room from the reverberation of theoretical sound beams and particles on the modeled walls of the three-dimensional model of the room and on the furniture modeled in the three-dimensional model of the room.

[0037] Such a modeling step C is for example carried out with acoustic simulation software in complex spaces, of the type proposed by the Scientific and Technical Center for Construction (CSTB) under the name ICARE.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the modeling step C further comprises a step of modeling in virtual reality the premises while the activity is carried out. Thus, the experimental binaural sound signals and the theoretical sound signals obtained in the acoustic measurement step B and in the modeling step C can be listened to by operators while observing the scene formed by the activity carried out in the premises in virtual reality.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the experimental sound signals are further mixed and shaped for the tests described above. The purpose of these tests is to determine whether hearing discomfort is experienced due to a particular sound signal. However, the experimental and theoretical sound signals are not sufficient in number to carry out this type of test. The experimental and theoretical sound signals are therefore mixed by a sound design tool to generate a matrix of additional sound stimuli to be used for the tests which will now be described.

[0040] During test steps D and E, one or more operators listen to the experimental binaural sound signals and the theoretical sound signals obtained in the acoustic measurement step B and in the modeling step C. According to one embodiment The signals are listened to by a representative panel of users in order to improve the robustness of the acoustic model established during the modeling step C.

[0041] More particularly, during a test step D, one or more operators listen to the experimental binaural sound signal(s) in order to obtain therefrom at least one first piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room. This first piece of information, preferably several first pieces of information, consists for example of an operator's feeling of a level of discomfort with respect to one or more experimental binaural sound signals obtained during the acoustic measurement step B. Preferably, the tests are conducted for experimental binaural sound signals obtained in several locations in the room and / or at different times during the activity carried out in the room and several first pieces of information are obtained from the operator(s) carrying out these tests.

[0042] In parallel, one or more operators, preferably the same operators as those who carried out the tests of test step D, listen, during a test step E, to the theoretical sound signal(s) in order to derive therefrom at least one second piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room. This second piece of information, preferably several second pieces of information, consists for example of an operator's feeling of a level of discomfort with respect to one or more theoretical sound signals obtained during modeling step C. Preferably, the tests are carried out for theoretical sound signals obtained at several locations in the three-dimensional model of the room and / or at different times during the activity carried out in the room and several second pieces of information are obtained from the operator(s) carrying out these tests.Preferably, the theoretical sound signals tested correspond, at least in part, to the experimental binaural sound signals, i.e. they were obtained at the locations of the three-dimensional model of the room corresponding to the locations of the room at which the experimental binaural sound signals were obtained and to the times of the activity at which the experimental binaural sound signals were obtained. In addition, the listening of the theoretical sound signals can be binaural. In other words, the second information is comparable to the first information since it relates to corresponding sound signals.

[0043] Preferably, the operators conducting the tests of test steps D and E are sailors familiar with the sound environments on board naval vessels, these sailors forming the panel of representative users mentioned above. The tests are carried out with binaural recording playback headphones. The playback chain, comprising the listening system and the playback headphones, is also calibrated in order to ensure the audio conformity of the experimental and theoretical binaural sound signals re-listened in order not to bias the judgment of the operators carrying out the tests.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the method also comprises a step F of calculating at least one psychoacoustic criterion from the experimental binaural sound signal, preferably from the matrix of binaural sound stimuli obtained during the step of mixing the experimental sound signals described above. Preferably, several psychoacoustic criteria are calculated from an experimental binaural sound signal, preferably from the matrix of sound stimuli. More preferably, the psychoacoustic criteria are calculated for several experimental binaural sound signals. The psychoacoustic criteria are criteria established for evaluating the auditory perceptions of the human being in relation to the sounds which reach his ears.The psychoacoustic criterion(s) calculated during the calculation step F are for example chosen from the following criteria: loudness, acuity, tone / noise ratio, emergence ratio, tonality (auditory model), fluctuation strength, roughness, impulsiveness and / or relative approach. Preferably, all these criteria are calculated from the experimental binaural sound signals obtained in the acoustic measurement step B.

[0045] Loudness is the perceived loudness of different types of noise, as defined for example in ISO 532-1:2017. Acuity is the sharpness of different types of noise, as defined by DIN 45692. Pitch-to-noise ratio is the perceived tonal component in a quasi-stationary noise, as defined in ISO 7779:2010. Emergence ratio is also the determination of whether a quasi-stationary noise contains components that can be perceived as tonal, for example by means of algorithms. Fluctuation strength is the assessment of the perceived magnitude of fluctuations in a fluctuating pseudo-stationary signal. The sensation of fluctuation is due to amplitude modulations with modulation frequencies between 0.25 Hz and 20 Hz, the maximum being 4 Hz. Roughness corresponds to the rough or scratchy character of a stationary, unstationary and transient noise.The sensation of roughness is produced by amplitude modulations with modulation frequencies between 20 Hz and 150 Hz, the maximum being 70 Hz. Impulsivity is the perception of the snapping character of a noise composed of rapid variations. Impulsivity applies to repetitive pseudostationary signals. The relative approach is the evaluation of the detection of low-energy but potentially annoying sound components.

[0046] During a comparison step, the first information and the second information are compared in order to validate or not the acoustic model established during the modeling step C. Indeed, if the second information is substantially identical to the first information, this means that the established acoustic model is consistent with reality and can be used to establish the quality of the sound environment in the room in a reproducible and assessable manner. If the second information does not correspond to the first information, obtained from real measurements in the room, then the acoustic model is not in conformity with reality and it must be modified, or refined, until the second information corresponds to the first information.

[0047] During a determination step H, the first and second information obtained during the test steps D and E are compared with the psychoacoustic criteria calculated during the calculation step F to determine at least one measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room. In other words, the determination step H makes it possible to objectify the judgment of the tester(s) by attributing to the information obtained during the test steps D and E a measurable quantity, such as a score corresponding to a level of discomfort felt when listening to a sound emitted in the room. Preferably, several measurable quantities are determined during the determination step H, the measurable quantities corresponding for example to different types of sounds emitted in the room while the activity is carried out there.Thus, from the determined measurable quantities, it is possible to determine the quality of the sound environment in the room, for example by comparing the measurable quantities with corresponding tolerance thresholds. The sound environment can then be described as disturbing if at least one of the measurable quantities exceeds the corresponding tolerance threshold.

[0048] According to one embodiment, during a modification step I, the room is modified to improve the sound environment if the sound environment was determined to be annoying during the previous step. The method described above can then be implemented again to determine whether the sound environment in the modified room has been improved by the modification. This improvement is for example observed when the measurable quantity determined during the determination step H is reduced.

[0049] It is understood that the method described above is preferably applied for several locations in the premises, corresponding for example to the location of each of the people present in the premises when the activity is carried out there. Indeed, a particular sound may be annoying for an operator located at a particular location without being annoying for an operator located at another location.

[0050] The method described above makes it possible to objectively and repeatably determine the sound environment of a particular room on board a naval vessel, in particular a military naval vessel, during operations carried out in the room. It is understood that the method can be implemented in several rooms of the naval vessel. Depending on the results of this determination, the design of the naval vessel can be modified in order to improve the sound environment in the different rooms of the naval vessel.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for determining the sound environment of a room of a naval building comprising at least the following steps: - (A) analyzing the activity carried out inside the room, - (B) measuring the reverberation time inside the room, - (B) carrying out at least one binaural acoustic measurement of the sound emitted in the room while said activity is carried out to obtain at least one experimental binaural sound signal, - (C) establishing an acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room from the analysis of the activity carried out inside the room to obtain at least one theoretical sound signal, - (D) carrying out at least one listening test from the experimental binaural sound signal to obtain at least one first piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room, - (E) carrying out at least one listening test of the theoretical sound signal to obtain at least one second piece of information relating to the sound environment in the room,- (H) determine at least one measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room from the first information and the second information.,

2. A determination method according to claim 1, comprising a step of mixing the at least one experimental binaural sound signal in order to obtain a matrix of sound stimuli, said matrix being used to carry out the listening test from the experimental binaural sound signal.

3. Determination method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a step of calculating (F) at least one psychoacoustic criterion from the experimental binaural sound signal, said psychoacoustic criterion being used in the determination of the measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room.

4. A determination method according to claim 3, wherein the psychoacoustic criterion is at least one of the following criteria: loudness, acuity, tone-to-noise ratio, emergence ratio, auditory model tone, fluctuation strength, roughness, impulsiveness and / or relative approach.

5. A determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a step of comparing the first information and of the second information, the acoustic model being validated if the second information corresponds to the first information and the acoustic model being refined if the second information differs from the first information.

6. A determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the acoustic model of the sound emitted in the room is established from theoretical sound beams and particles fired in a three-dimensional model of the room, said beams and particles reproducing at least a portion of the sounds emitted in the room while the activity is carried out in said room.

7. Determination method according to claim 6, in which the modeling step (C) comprises modeling the propagation of sound in the room from the reverberation of theoretical sound beams and particles on the modeled walls of the three-dimensional model of the room and on the furniture modeled in the three-dimensional model of the room as a function of the material and geometry of said walls and said furniture.

8. Determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a step of modeling in virtual reality of the premises while the activity is carried out, the listening test of the theoretical sound signal being carried out by observing said modeling in virtual reality.

9. Determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the room is a level of sound discomfort felt by an operator located at a predetermined location in the room.

10. Determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a step of modifying (I) the premises in order to reduce the measurable quantity representative of the sound environment in the premises.

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