Walkable auralizations for experiential learning in an immersive classroom

Abstract

This paper proposes an experiential method for learning acoustics and consequences of room design through the rapid creation of audio-visual congruent walkable auralizations. An efficient method produces auralizations of acoustical landmarks using a two-dimensional ray-tracing algorithm and publicly available floor plans for a 128-channel wave-field synthesis system. Late reverberation parameters are calculated using additional volumetric data. Congruent visuals are produced using a web-based interface accessible via personal devices, which automatically formats for and transmits to the immersive display. Massive user-contributed online databases are harnessed through application programming interfaces, such as those offered by the Google Maps Platform, to provide near-instant access to innumerable locations. The approach allows the rapid sonic recreation of historical concert venues with adequate sound sources. Listeners can walk through these recreations over an extended user area (12 m × 10 m).