Acoustics, Noise and Vibration

Dubai Metro, Dubai, UAE Atkins role included the full multidisciplinary design and management of the metro civil works, part of which incorporated the acoustic design work. Our specialist acoustics division played a major role in the design and implementation of the station and depot design elements of the project.

Who we are > Atkins is a multinational design and engineering consultancy, providing expertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment.

Whether its the concept for a new skyscraper, the upgrade of a rail network, the modelling of a flood defence system or the improvement of a management process, we plan, design and enable solutions. Founded in 1938 by Sir William Atkins, Atkins employs over 16,000 staff based in more than 200 permanent offices worldwide. Projects have been undertaken in more than 150 countries. As of June 2009, Atkins generated an annual turnover in excess of 1.5 billion. Atkins is the UKs largest engineering and design consultancy and the worlds 11th largest design firm and the largest UK engineering consultancy in the Middle East. We have the breadth and depth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and timecritical infrastructure projects and the urgent transition to a low carbon economy. Our size brings significant value to our clients, allowing us to harness an unrivalled pool of creative, professional people to produce outstanding solutions to challenging problems.

Quality delivery
Atkins implements a comprehensive range of fully certified and integrated quality, safety and environmental management systems that distinguish us from our competitors. This means we can guarantee unrivalled performance standards. All of our Middle East & India operations are externally certified to all three internationally recognised QSE management systems:

BS EN ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System BS EN ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series
We have a regional Business Quality Director to oversee the administration of the business management systems, including the implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS). Each office also has a Quality Manager. We are able to integrate quality procedures into all the projects that we deliver on behalf of government ministries, local governments, hotel and leisure project operators, major real estate developers, national oil companies, contractors in the oil and gas sector and private clients.

What we deliver > Atkins has over 40 years experience in acoustics,

noise and vibration analysis.

Our working, domestic, social and leisure environments are affected every day by the aural environment that surrounds us. This is evidenced by the increasingly prescriptive and more stringently reinforced building regulations and international standards, supported by the demands of architects, clients, operators and individuals. In order to comply with this raft of technically demanding requirements, virtually every aspect of the building environment has important acoustic issues which need to be addressed, assessed and resolved.

Atkins provides unrivalled services in the acoustic sector across Europe, the Middle East and many other parts of the world via our international offices. Our clients range from private individuals to large corporations and national governments.

Bahrain World Trade Center, Bahrain LEAF Awards 2006 Best use of technology within a large scheme Acoustic design services including complete analysis of wind turbine noise and vibration using specialist noise and vibration software

Our services

Atkins offers a full range of acoustic related services tailored to meet specific client requirements. Our international specialist team of acousticians has been involved in a wide range of international projects covering a comprehensive range of building types, including: Airports and railway stations Commercial office and mixeduse developments Council chambers, courts and assembly rooms Education and research facilities Health care facilities and hospitals High-rise residential towers Hotels and resorts Museums, libraries, art galleries, churches and mosques Performing arts spaces and auditoria TV / radio / recording studios Research and manufacturing facilities Sport, leisure, hotel and entertainment

Atkins acoustic services range from providing detailed advice from initial concept and masterplan to completion and handover stages of a project. This can include: Building envelope and internal sound insulation advice Building regulations compliance advice Building services noise and vibration analysis Compliance to international standards for acoustics Design of public address and voice alarm systems Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAs) Engineering and construction noise assessment Industrial noise assessment Environmental Noise Surveys and assessment NoiseMap software modelling of noise from roads, railways and open sites On-site investigation and troubleshooting On-site testing and commissioning Specialist room acoustic design including modelling and auralisation Specifications for finishes and materials Environmental regulation compliance, such as LEED, BREEAM and ESTIDAMA

Supreme Education Council, Doha Our work included full acoustic design services from concept to detailed design phase of the project. The project is a large scale education and training facility in Doha. Areas of conflicting uses, large open atriums and a large auditorium were all challenging parts of this project. Digital modelling allowed us to predict noise disturbance from the atrium area. Digital modelling was also used to precisely engineer the finishes in the auditorium to create a space acceptable both for speech and other uses.

Acoustics, noise and vibration in the built environment > The built environment surrounding us dominates
every aspect of our daily lives.

Our team of highly experienced and qualified acousticians are able to deliver solutions and designs covering every aspect of the built environment. Acoustic integrity is essential within the areas where we live, work, socialise, relax and spend our leisure time. With our effective and holistic approach to acoustic design, design solutions exist in harmony with architectural visions and engineering designs. This is essential in delivering successful multidisciplinary designs. Atkins acoustic design services within the built environment include: acoustic review of architectural, structural and building services designs; sound insulation specifications and detailing; specification of reverberation times and how they may be achieved including specifications for finishing products; built environment environmental assessments (BREEAM, LEED, ESTIDAMA); faade design input and development of practical costs effective noise control solutions.

Trump International Hotel and Tower, Dubai, UAE We provided full acoustic design services for the prestigious hotel and residential development on the Palm Jumeriah. The tower is over 60 storeys tall and required full acoustic design including digital modelling of acoustically complex spaces. A NoiseMap was also created to predict noise impact on faade from adjacent transportation systems, resulting in an accurate acoustic performance specification for the faade system.

Arcapita Bank and Mosque, Bahrain Atkins completed a full acoustic design service review of the architecturally prominent Bank HQ building. The project required high levels of confidentiality between occupied offices, acoustic recommendations for complex plant room area and specific design advice for a large auditorium located within the building. Adjacent to the building is a large mosque which was also acoustically designed to ensure an acceptable balance between spaciousness and intelligibility.

Acoustics, noise and vibration in the natural environment > We develop integrated environmentally sustainable
solutions around the world.

We offer a comprehensive range of services focused on noise and vibration assessments within the natural environment. Atkins has over 40 years experience in offering assessments for all areas of transportation noise and vibration, including road rail and air traffic. In addition to this we also undertake assesments of other sources of environmental noise such as: construction, wind turbine, entertainment, recreational, building services and industrial.

We input into all variations of environmental assessments including: EIAs, EISs. PERs and SEAs. To aid in these assessment processes we utilise the most up to date software suites as well as the Atkins developed NoiseMap.

Wind Farm NoiseMap, UK

DIFC enabling works, Dubai, UAE

Public Address/voice alarm system design

Appropriate levels of speech intelligibility and room acoustic design are essential if public address and voice alarm system designs are to be optimised. Atkins is able to utilise the most up-to-date software suites to assess and specify the number and locations of speakers, speaker types, orientation, sound pressure coverage, directivity, tappings and reverberation time.

Dubai Metro, Dubai, UAE Our work included extensive acoustic modelling of public address and voice alarm systems within a number of Dubai Metro stations. Using specialist software we were able to offer input on speaker locations, speaker types, sound pressure levels, directivity and acoustic finishes in order to achieve acceptable levels of intelligibility throughout the stations.

Use of technology

In order to keep up with the technically demanding nature of acoustic and vibration design work, it is necessary to utilise the most up-to-date software suites and tools. Within our day-to-day work Atkins is able to use the following software to assist our design:

ODEON Odeon is a room acoustic software that allows for simulation of internal room environments for the prediction of acoustic parameters such as reverberation, speech intelligibility, clarity, definition and sound pressure levels. It is extensively used in design of sound reinforcement systems and specification of room finishes in acoustically complex spaces. ODEON allows the user to exactly specify exactly the correct surface shapes and absorption /reflective characteristics to ensure optimal conditions without over specification of performance or quantity.

NoiseMap NoiseMap is a noise contour mapping software suite that has been developed in-house by Atkins. NoiseMap allows noise contour maps to be created over large areas in order to predict propagation of noise throughout the natural environment from all sources such as transportation, construction, entertainment and building services. NoiseMap can also be used to accurately predict faade incident noise levels in order to control internal noise levels by the accurate assessment and specification of glazing and facade elements.

DIRAK DIRAK is a software suite that allows room acoustic parameters to be calculated in accordance with BS EN ISO 3382 (room acoustics) and IEC 60268-16 (speech intelligibility). DIRAK is extensively used for acoustic commissioning of specialist areas.

Carbon Critical Design

TM

Carbon Critical DesignTM weaves its way through all areas of acoustic design from initial planning and construction stages of a project to the final selection and installation of materials. As with other disciplines the carbon critical agenda is actively engaged in acoustic design solutions. By challenging design norms, we are able to offer carbon friendly acoustic solutions to a wide range of problems and projects.

We drive down carbon content in acoustic design by implementing include the following: Alternative specification of materials to ensure minimum impact on the environment Specification of locally available materials to minimise environmental impacts relating to shipping Research and specification of region specific materials and construction methods Rationalisation of acoustic performance guidelines to minimise material usage and excessive on-site installation times Rationalised use of floating floors, sound attenuators and other commonly used materials by careful design of alternative methods of attenuation Precise engineering of public address / voice alarm systems to minimise speaker numbers, power requirements and cabling, back up systems, with emphasis put on optimising the internal environment to maximise sound energy rather than increasing speaker installations Specification of natural green noise barriers over and above barriers constructed from man-made and energy intensive materials

Taaleem Flagship Campus, Dubai, UAE This large scale educational facility required specific acoustic design input in order to achieve LEED certification and compliance to ANSI S12.60-2002. Strict specification of materials and constructions were required in order to achieve acceptable levels of reverberation, sound insulation, impact isolation, building services noise and break-in noise. Close coordination with architectural, MEP and structural design teams ensured solutions were found to complex acoustic challenges.

Web: www.atkins-me.com/contactus Email: acoustics.mei@atkinsglobal.com

BC/CP/DH/30/05/2010

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