Teaching principles of outdoor sound propagation using football game measurements

Abstract

As part of a sound system evaluation at Brigham Young University's football stadium, measurements were made before and during games by an upper-level undergraduate acoustics class. The measurement experience provided significant training opportunities for the students. Teams of students used sound level meters to make recordings at numerous locations both inside and outside the stadium. These measurements were then correlated with data from stationary microphones placed near the field. From the data, the predicted slow, A-weighted equivalent levels in and around the stadium were calculated relative to a sideline location. Straightforward outdoor sound propagation prediction methods involving geometric spreading, atmospheric absorption, barriers, etc. were successfully used to validate the measured data within 1-2 dB at many locations, including one in the foothills to the southeast of the stadium at a distance of approximately 2.7 km. The students appreciated the hands-on experiences gained by participation in the measurements and analysis.