Key research themes
1. How do specific acoustic parameters of Room Impulse Responses influence perceptual reverberation and what are their perceptual thresholds?
This research theme focuses on identifying and quantifying the perceptual relevance and impact thresholds of individual acoustic parameters within Room Impulse Responses (RIRs), particularly Binaural Room Impulse Responses (BRIRs), on the perception of reverberation in speech and musical contexts. Understanding these thresholds guides the design of efficient and perceptually plausible artificial reverberation algorithms, crucial for applications in Augmented Reality (AR) and spatial audio rendering where computational resources are limited but realism is required.
2. What are effective computational and signal processing methods for accurate measurement and modeling of Room Impulse Responses under real-world constraints?
This theme addresses methodological advances in the measurement, modeling, and calibration of Room Impulse Responses (RIRs), including tackling challenges such as nonlinear distortions in measurement systems, environmental noise, and sensor/instrument limitations. It covers techniques employing digital signal processing like perfect periodic sequences for nonlinear system identification, calibration of measurement chains using simulated free-field responses, and filter design for boundary reflections and air absorption modeling. Progress in this area improves the fidelity and applicability of RIR data for room acoustics analysis, auralization, and spatial audio.
3. How can room geometry and acoustic environment be inferred or utilized through Room Impulse Response analysis and spatial acoustic modeling?
This theme explores approaches leveraging Room Impulse Responses and spatial acoustics for environmental characterization, including room geometry estimation, acoustic visualization, and location-specific acoustic fingerprinting. It encompasses model-based geometrical inference from RIR reflections, methods to visually represent spatial and temporal sound energy distribution on architectural surfaces, and the use of RIR-derived acoustic signatures for security applications such as copresence verification. These methodologies enhance the understanding and manipulation of room acoustics for auralization, architectural acoustics, and secure device authentication.