This project focuses on optimizing a room acoustic simulation code based on the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method. Our goal is to improve the efficiency and speed of our existing software, which models sound propagation in interior spaces, to make it more accessible and useful for acoustics researchers and practioners around the world. This software can help better understand how sound behaves in rooms, considering aspects like the room shape and material properties. The ultimate goal is to use these simulations in practical applications, such as listening experiences using virtual reality (VR).
The impact of this project is significant in the field of room acoustics research. We have improved the performance of the original code, transitioning it to single precision for increased efficiency, and we are working on a Python-based version that allows for easier future modifications and potential parallelization. These optimizations mean that researchers can now run larger and more detailed simulations within a reasonable time, allowing them to model higher frequency ranges that were previously computationally unfeasible.
The importance of this project lies in enabling researchers who may not have extensive programming backgrounds to use this simulation tool more effectively. The project objectives evolved over time, focusing not just on optimizing the current code but also on preparing a future-proof version in Python. Our target audience includes researchers, educators, students, and practitioners in the fields of acoustics who are interested in accurate simulations of sound propagation within a closed environment.
Moving forward, we have made the Python version of our DG software open source, encouraging collaboration and
contributions from the global research community. Our call to action is to invite interested researchers and organizations to explore and utilize the software for their own studies
