Dr David Coles
Expertise
David is an experienced acoustician with expertise in environmental acoustics, data analysis and vibration modelling. He was part of the Institute of Acoustics’ working group for amplitude modulation (AM) and played a significant role in the development of the method to rate AM from wind turbines.
David enjoys the finer points of data analysis and computer modelling, having gained significant experience while obtaining his PhD. He has led the development of the in-house intelligent noise monitoring system, and enjoys applying this in interesting and bespoke applications.
Experience Highlights
Killeter wind turbine – a noise nuisance investigation for a wind turbine in Northern Ireland involving internal & external measurements, and tonality & AM assessments. Both the tonality and AM assessments required modification of standard assessment techniques to account for the rapidly changing frequency of the tonal noise and the blade passing frequency being higher than usual.
MMD vibration – a custom vibration monitoring system was developed rapidly to measure tri-axial acceleration across 6 locations on a large item of mining machinery. Third-octave data were streamed live to a control room, where levels could be monitored for abnormalities.
Fortech Wind Farms – long-term monitoring of amplitude modulation using our in-house intelligent noise monitoring system. The site was in Belgium, but it was possible to monitor the system online and download data remotely for analysis without the need to return to site. This project included a detailed analysis of AM and an assessment of the reduction in AM from various mitigation strategies.
FINDWAVE modelling – finite-difference time-domain modelling of railway vibration and how it propagates through the track system into the foundations of a building and manifests as re-radiated noise. Numerous projects have been undertaken, assessing noise and vibration from Crossrail, London Underground and overground trains.
Chip Lane – a complex retrospective housing and retail application, assessing what might have been possible to develop on land that had been reclaimed by the local council. This involved assessment of noise from a nearby railway (including a working depot), adjacent roads, and potential supermarket deliveries.
INMs – the development of our own in-house intelligent noise monitoring system has numerous applications, including monitoring of construction and demolition noise, music festivals, blast noise, and wind turbine noise (including the assessment of AM in real-time.
Education & Qualifications
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, BEng Acoustical Engineering
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, PhD Underwater Acoustics
Member of the Institute of Acoustics
