Marine Acoustics

Marine acoustics combines physics, biology, and engineering principles to investigate the generation and propagation of underwater sound and its significance in marine environments. Our sound field modelling and marine receptor analysis aims to provide robust assessments of underwater sound on marine organisms.

Overview

From passive acoustic monitoring to mapping the sea floor, sound plays a crucial role in understanding oceans and their ecosystems. INSPIRE is invested in providing high fidelity acoustic modelling to ensure the safe use of sound in offshore operations and using sound field monitoring to study the impact of noise on marine ecosystems.

Expertise Description

Leading the way in the world of underwater sound

INSPIRE offers a wide range of marine acoustic services spanning modelling, monitoring, data analysis, and reporting. Our modelling team provides detailed sound source characterization and propagation modelling for impact and vibratory pile driving operations, vessel-based SONAR systems, air gun arrays, and UXO removal. Our acoustic models inform marine receptor and noise exposure analysis, helping us to predict the impact of noise on marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish.

Our acoustic data analysts provide robust analysis of sound field measurements, including detecting marine mammal vocalizations in passive acoustic data and reporting calibrated measurements of sound levels. Our combined expertise allows us to provide high quality impact assessments, regulatory reporting, and data visualization. INSPIRE is also invested in science education, engaging with academic partners to make the complex world of marine acoustics more accessible to students, educators, and industrial and regulatory parties.

Meet Our Staff

MEET OUR MARINE ACOUSTIC EXPERTS

Kathy Vigness-Raposa, PhD

VP of Technical Service Delivery

Andrew Millar, PhD

Principal Acoustic Modeller

Cristian Graupe, PhD

Senior Scientist Marine Acoustics

Related Services

Related Projects

Cape Holland Vibroacoustic Modelling

Developing simulations of the sound field resulting from vibratory pile installation and investigate the extent of noise-induced behavioral responses in marine mammals compared to impact-hammer pile installation.

Related Projects

PUREWIND Operational Noise Modelling

Acoustic modelling of example sources over the lifecycle of offshore wind farm developments, with a particular emphasis on the operational noise from a fully developed offshore wind farms.

Related Projects

Offshore Wind Sediment-borne Vibrations

Engaging with partners across academia, industry, and government to simulate the generation and propagation of sediment-borne waves generated by offshore pile driving operations and investigate their impacts on benthic ecosystems.