Whilst recent events have thrown a curve-ball at a number of Christchurch based developments, AES has shown its diversity and resilience, and it has been business (almost) as usual since February, with a number of new earthquake-related local projects on top of the existing incoming workload of building, environmental and industrial projects based in Canterbury and further afield.

We look forward to the challenges ahead as the city rebuilds, and there are a number of areas where AES can provide assistance including acoustic advice for new, temporary and relocated office fit-outs; replacement acoustic products for noise sensitive spaces (such as auditoriums); noise monitoring and noise management plans for outdoor entertainment areas; assisting with compliance for demolition, crushing and recycling activities; and construction noise review.

Please do not hesitate to contact us or pop in and visit if we can be of assistance.

The sound received from a wind farm can vary considerably depending on turbine blade and gearbox design, height and operating conditions, wind speed and direction, land contouring and ground absorption, atmospheric conditions, ambient noise levels and distance between the receiver and wind farm.

For protection from sleep disturbance and protection of residential amenity, wind farms must generally comply with the guidelines outlined in NZ Standard 6808:2010 Acoustics – Wind Farm Noise.  This Standard recommends that sound from a wind farm at a dwelling should not exceed 40 decibels, or the background sound level plus 5 decibels, whichever is the greater.  In certain special circumstances the Standard provides an even greater level of protection with a more stringent 35 decibel limit.

The Chatham Islands project has been an interesting one – not least because it has been welcomed by the local community, in contrast to a number of wind farms proposed on the ‘mainland’. However, the project has still undergone a rigorous consent process. Predicted noise levels and an assessment of environmental noise effects undertaken by AES have helped in the selection of the best suited site and turbine for the farm on the island. AES then visited the site to complete background noise level logging to confirm appropriate consent conditions have been put in place.

The role will involve a wide variety of practical and theoretical analysis and documentation in the general fields of building acoustics, environmental acoustics, and acoustic research and development. We encourage excellence and personal development in all aspects of the business, and aim to provide world-class support including instrumentation and software.

The role requires a high level of written English, and the ability to relate easily to a wide range of clients including local councils, developers, contractors, architects, project managers, planners and other engineers. The role will involve some flexible working hours and is likely to provide opportunities for travel throughout New Zealand.

The successful candidate should hold an engineering or science degree majoring in acoustics, or have at least two years experience in the field. A proven record of expertise in written technical literature preferred.

An attractive remuneration package is available to the right candidate, with the opportunity to advance quickly in the business.

Please apply in writing (including a copy of your CV) to office@aes.atomicrobot.co.nz

It has long been known that, when built on-site, the performance of noise control walls can vary dramatically. This is of relevance when deciding how many of the walls in a building must be tested to verify compliance with a given noise control standard. However, many factors other than quality of workmanship are known to cause a significant variation in the sound insulation measured for any given wall. These include factors such as variation in material properties, variation in the size of the walls, variation in the geometry of the rooms on each side of the walls, and even the person doing the testing. Though an innovative testing program, this work was able to deduce the effect of variation solely due to workmanship, from amongst these other variables.

Since its launch in 1968, Applied Acoustics, the journal in which the paper will appear, has been publishing high quality research papers concerned with application of acoustics in its widest sense. As an established international vehicle for the reporting of applications in acoustics, Applied Acoustics provides state-of-the-art coverage of research findings for engineers and scientists involved with the design of buildings with active and passive noise control and with structural and computational acoustics and vibrations. Papers must undergo an arduous peer-review program before acceptable into the journal.

Copies of the article are available through the publishers at www.elsevier.com, by searching for the authors name – J. Trevathan.

We are thrilled to have been able to work with some of New Zealand’s leading companies throughout this time including Warren and Mahoney, Dalman Architecture, Courtney Architects, Wilkie + Bruce Architects, 2 Architecture Studio, Alan Reay Consultants, Ngai Tahu Property, Carson Group, Scott Freeman Consulting, Planit and Associates, Insignis, Peak Projects, Fisher and Paykel and Winstone Wallboards. These projects have taken us all the way from Auckland to Invercargill, and many places in between. We would like to thank these, and all the other organizations and individuals who have had a hand in our success to date, including ever faithful associates Cosgrove Major.

We look forward to the future, and the many exciting developments there are in store, including the commissioning of our website (well, if you are reading this then you already know that) and, you never know, you may just see a ‘now hiring’ sign in our window in the near future.