Editing Acoustical engineering (section)

{{Short description|Branch of engineering dealing with sound and vibration}}
'''Acoustical engineering''' (also known as '''acoustic engineering''') is the branch of [[engineering]] dealing with [[sound]] and [[oscillation|vibration]]. It includes the application of [[acoustics]], the science of sound and vibration, in technology. Acoustical engineers are typically concerned with the design, analysis and control of sound.

One goal of acoustical engineering can be the reduction of unwanted noise, which is referred to as [[noise control]]. Unwanted noise can have significant impacts on animal and human health and well-being, reduce attainment by students in schools, and cause hearing loss.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|last=World Health Organization|title=Burden of disease from environmental noise|year=2011|publisher=WHO|isbn=978-92-890-0229-5|url=http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/136466/e94888.pdf}}</ref> Noise control principles are implemented into technology and design in a variety of ways, including control by redesigning sound sources, the design of noise barriers, sound absorbers, suppressors, and buffer zones, and the use of hearing protection ([[earmuffs]] or [[earplug]]s).

[[Image:Hamer Hall equipment detail.jpg|right|thumb|The transparent [[sound baffle|baffle]]s inside this auditorium were installed to optimise sound projection and reproduction, key factors in acoustical engineering.]]

Besides noise control, acoustical engineering also covers positive uses of sound, such as the use of [[medical ultrasound|ultrasound in medicine]], programming [[digital synthesizer]]s, designing concert halls to enhance the sound of orchestras<ref>{{cite book|last=Barron|first=Michael|title=Auditorium Acoustics and Architectural Design|year=2009|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0419245100}}</ref> and specifying railway station sound systems so that announcements are [[Intelligibility (communication)|intelligible]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ahnert|first=Wolfgang|title=Sound Reinforcement Engineering: Fundamentals and Practice|year=2000|publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0415238700}}</ref>