Using acoustic retroreflection in architecture to improve rooms for speech

The project will generate new knowledge on the theory, design, and effects of acoustically retroreflective surfaces in room acoustics. Expected outcomes include solutions for effective acoustic retroreflectors, knowledge on how retroreflection influences people’s voice regulation and sound quality perception, and guidelines and simulation tools for integrating retroreflective treatments to improve speaking comfort. This should provide significant benefits including opportunities to resolve seemingly intractable design dilemmas in the acoustics of education and workplace environments.

• Associate Professor Densil Cabrera, University of Sydney 

• Associate Professor Dagmar Reinhardt, University of Sydney

• Dr Shuai Lu, University of Sydney / Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University

• Dr Manuj Yadav, University of Sydney / RWTH Aachen University 

The project is funded through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project (DP) scheme under the number DP230101357