Contribution
Standard-Compliant Sound Immission Forecasts for Open-Air Music Events
* Presenting author
Abstract:
In the operation of modern sound reinforcement systems, large numbers of coherently radiating loudspeakers are managed. Within sound immission control, however, all calculation methods are based on the assumption of incoherent sound sources, which results in an energy summation at the calculation points. To date, this area of conflict has meant that no method has been able to establish itself that does justice to the targeted sound propagation of open-air sound reinforcement systems on the one hand and the normative calculation methods in sound immission control on the other.In a collaboration between representatives of affected companies, i.e. manufacturers of immission control software, of electroacoustic simulation software, and of loudspeaker systems, as well as an engineering office specialising in immission control, a practical approach was developed and validated. It works within the existing regulations on noise protection and with sufficient accuracy - both with regard to the organiser and the person potentially affected by noise. The paper presents the physical principles of the underlying far-field approximation and describes the necessary data interfaces. The metrological verification of the approach using several large outdoor concerts and comprehensive test setups is explained and its practical applicability is demonstrated. A comparison with previously introduced methods and an uncertainty analysis complete the picture.