IEDE academics win funding for project investigating the ideal indoor soundscape during the pandemic

IEDE academics Professor Jian Kang, Dr Francesco Aletta and Dr Tin Oberman in cooperation with Professor Rossano Albatici (Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Trento), Dr Francesco Babich and Simone Torresin (Eurac Research, Institute for Renewable Energy) have been awarded funding by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). 

Due to the COVID outbreak and consequent lockdown situation, home is being experienced as both a place of rest and work. With the purpose of investigating how the acoustic environment and building features affect people’s quality of life and work this project will develop an online survey to:

• get insights into how the stay-home period has changed the acoustic experience at home
• Inform about people's expectations in terms of their ideal indoor soundscape while relaxing and working at home
• Highlight cross-cultural differences between the UK and Italy. 

Professor Jian Kang said:  

“Covid-19 has brought a significant change in our working pattern. While people are working from home much more, it is very important to create a good sound environment at home. We are very pleased to be supported by CIBSE - Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, to carry out such a study."

This project should allow researchers to infer actions to improve the built environment in order to provide high-quality living (and working) home environments.

Photo by Catharina Short Sundberg, Unplash