Our acoustic services

Assessment and reporting

Most development requires an assessment of environmental effects under the Resource Management Act. We work with private and public clients, as well as councils, to identify the relevant issues for consent and designation applications

Noise can be difficult to explain at times, and many people's eyes glaze over at the mere sound of 'dBs'. We specialise in performing robust technical assessments, yet presenting our findings in plain English, strengthened by clear graphics.

We have experience in developing and presenting expert evidence for hearings.

Road-traffic noise

Our experience with the NZ Transport Agency and other road controlling authorities is extensive. We work closely with the national office provining services which influence local and national policy decisions. We have extensive experience in providing the full range of road-traffic noise assessment, reporting, and mitigation services for individual roading projects.

Some examples of roading projects we have worked on:

• Acoustics guides (NZS 6806, noise barriers, reverse sensitivity)
• Programme Business Case (Nelson Southern Links)
• Consenting (Russley Road 4-laning, Peka Peka to North Otaki)
• Detailed design / construction (Tauranga Eastern Link, Cambridge Bypass)
• Close Proximity Measurement (CPX) of road surface noise
• Noise barrier performance measurement and evaluation

Construction noise management

We work closely with contractors to produce Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plans that actually work for them. We aim to develop management plans that are much more than a simple document produced for compliance purposes and collect dust in the corner.

We specialise in developing tools that allow clients to take control of their noise and vibration management. This saves the client money, improves compliance, and supports good relationships with affected stakeholders.

We have prepared the State highway construction and maintenance noise and vibration guide for the Transport Agency.

Wind farms

Wind farms are an emotive topic and the line between physics and psychoacoustics is a fine one, but we stick to the settled science. We stay up to date with international research and published journal articles in Acoustics Australia and other international journals.

We are experienced in all stages of wind farm noise assessment:

• Modelling of wind farm noise and optimisation of layout to meet noise criteria
• Consenting and application of NZS 6808
• Measuring turbine sound power level (IEC 61400-11)
• Compliance measurements including tonality (ISO 1996-2)

Modelling

Accurate and efficient noise modelling is key to ensuring your project achieves compliance with the relevant noise and vibration requirements. In addition to commercial noise modelling software we have experience in implementing noise and vibration assessments using GIS, yielding fast results that can be rapidly updated or modified.

We have experience in the use of:

• SoundPlan
• CadnaA
• iNoise

We don't just put in values and hit 'go' - we have a detailed understanding of the implementation of both the Calculation of Road-Traffic Noise (CoRTN) and ISO 9613-2

Measurement

We are measurement experts and have experience in undertaking short-term and long-term noise and vibration measurements.

We have also developed a range of innovative measurement solutions for more non-conventional measurement requirements. In addition, we have experience in the design and development of measurement equipment, laboratory facilities, and measurement methodologies.

Specific capabilities and standards measured to include:

• Environmental noise (NZS 6801 and 6802)
• Road-traffic noise (NZS 6806)
• Wind farm noise (NZS 6808)
• Source characterisation (sound power) including use of intensity probes
• Room acoustics (Reverberation and background noise)
• Road traffic barriers (prEN1793)
• Laboratory testing (Qualification of reverberation rooms, Ceiling Attenuation Class, panel transmission loss)