Acoustics Research

Dr. Siu-Kit Lau (Eddie)

Connect

Advisor of University of Nottingham

by

Dr. Siu-Kit Lau is honored to have opportunity to serve as an advisor in the industry panel for the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo.

The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was the first Sino-foreign university in China. Established in 2004, with the full approval of the Chinese Ministry of Education, they are run by The University of Nottingham with cooperation from Zhejiang Wanli Education Group, a key player in the education sector in China.

Invitation letter for advisor of University of Nottingham

Invitation letter for advisor of University of Nottingham

The 11th International Conference on Green and Energy-Efficient Building & New Technologies

by

The 11th International Conference on Green and Energy-Efficient Building & New Technologies and Products Expo has been held in Beijing on March 24 and 25.  Dr. Siu-Kit Lau has been invited for a speech regarding the current research at classroom acoustics in China.  Results have been compared with a recent study in UK.  There are other professionals sharing their studies and experiences in green campus development.

CGBC 2015 (Register)Dr Siu-Kit Lau (CGBC 2015)Green Campus (Guests)

 

Dr Siu-Kit Lau (CGBC 2015)

A Major Element for Health, Wellbeing and Productivity of Staff

by

Acoustics in Offices:

— A Major Element for Health, Wellbeing and Productivity of Staff

Typical Business Operation Cost (Source: http://www.worldgbc.org)

Typical Business Operation Cost (Source: http://www.worldgbc.org)

Recently, a new report from the World Green Building Council (WGBC) finds “overwhelming evidence” that office design significantly impacts the health, wellbeing and productivity of staff.

Staff costs typically accounts for 90% of business operating costs. A study in 1998 found that there was up to a 66% drop in performance for a ’memory for prose’ task when participants were exposed to different types of background noise. A follow-up study by the same authors in 2005 found that 99% of people surveyed reported that their concentration was impaired by office noise such as unanswered phones and background speech.

Background sound levels need to drown out unwanted distraction, but not be too loud to cause stress, therefore a background sound level of 45dBA is recommended in open plan offices. In private or cellular offices the background sound levels can be reduced to 40dBA. In both cases, any higher and that background sound itself risks becoming a distraction.

For more details about the report, it is kindly suggested to visit the link below.

http://www.worldgbc.org/activities/health-wellbeing-productivity-offices .

An investigation of acoustic treatment for children in a classroom of an elementary school

by

The South China Univeristy of Technology and Dr. Lau of Armstrong have compared the objective acoustic parameters and students’ subjective responses before and after an acoustic treatment in an elementary-school classroom. Acoustic treatment was done by installing sound absorption materials on the ceiling of the classroom for control of sound reverberation. The effects of reverberation time on children’s speech recognition have also been investigated. Results show that (1) the objective acoustic parameters in the classroom were obviously improved; (2) the subjective loudness of different types of noise sources, that students experienced in the classroom, were reduced; and (3) the speech intelligibility was significantly improved in the classroom after the acoustic treatment.

The article can be found from this link.

20141022_0723

ISO/TC 163 and ISO/TC 205 meeting in Wuxi on Sep 14-20, 2014

by

ISO/TC 163 and ISO/TC 205 meeting had been held in Wuxi on September 14-20, 2014.  ISO/TC 205 is for the international standards of Building environment design, while ISO/TC 163 is for the international standards of Thermal performance and energy use in the built environment.  This meeting is hosted by China.  Next meeting will be held in Canada.

[Show slideshow]

International bidding announcement Research and Planning Project : How to make Shanghai become a science and technology innovation center with global influence?

by

Shanghai now invites the research institutes which are intereseted in the future development of Shanghai with international insights, and also have research experiences on science and technology innovation, to participate in the project, including domestic and foreign research institutes.

Please refer to the link below:
Research and Planning Project : How to make Shanghai become a science and technology innovation center with global influence?

IMG_5469.JPG

ISO/TC163 and ISO/TC205 Meeting (Building Environment Design)

by

Meeting of ISO/TC163 and ISO/TC205 will be held in Wuxi on September 14th-20th, 2014.  ISO/TC205 (Building Environment design) is responsible for standardization of the design of new buildings and retrofit of existing buildings for acceptable indoor environment and practicable energy conservation and efficiency.  Indoor environment includes air quality, thermal, acoustics, and visual factors.  ISO/TC163 is the ISO committee for Thermal performance and energy use in the built environment. Dr. Siu-Kit Lau has been invited to participate in the meeting.

学校建筑室内环境研究中心成立 改善学校声学环境

by

学校建筑室内环境研究中心成立 改善学校声学环境 (中国教育在线)

http://career.eol.cn/gong_si_ming_pian_4368/20140630/t20140630_1143582.shtml

School Building Indoor Environment Research Center (学校建筑室内环境研究中心）

by

“School Building Indoor Environment Research Center” has been founded on May 26, 2014.  The aim of this center is to offer advanced research to support the movement of green campus and improvement of indoor environmental quality of the learning facilities/classrooms.  Acoustic committee has been established at the same date, which members include:

  • Prof. Wu Shuoxian (South China University of Technology)
  • Prof. Zhao Yuezhe (South China University of Technology)
  • Prof. Peng Jianxin (South China University of Technology)
  • Prof. Yan Xiang (Tsinghua University)
  • Prof. Mao Dongxing (Tongji University)
  • Prof. Xie Hui (Chongqing University)
  • Lily Wang (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
  • Dr. Ou Dayi (Huaqiao University)
  • Dr. Siu-Kit (Eddie) Lau (Armstrong)

The ceremony and kick off meeting were held in Beijing on May 26, 2014.

Group photo with Professors

Group photo with Professors

Photo of Dr. Siu-Kit (Eddie) Lau

Photo of Dr. Siu-Kit (Eddie) Lau

Acoustic Aspect in Green Buildings

by

Dr. Siu-Kit Lau has been invited for a presentation in a visit to the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (中国节能环保集团公司) on June 3, 2014.  The presentation has discussed Acoustic Aspect in Green Buildings.  The faculty and students from the University of Nottingham as well as staffs in the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group were attended.

Group photo in the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (After the visit and presentation in Acoustic Aspect in Green Buildings)

Group photo in the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group