Leo Beranek's contributions to noise control

Abstract

Leo Beranek has made contributions to noise control for many years, beginning with projects during World War II when he was a Harvard University. Later, at MIT, he taught a course (6.35) which included noise control, and ran MIT summer courses on the subject. His book, Noise Reduction, was published during that time. Additional books followed. Noise control became an important part of the consulting work at Bolt Beranek and Newman. Two projects are of particular interest: The efforts to silence a wind tunnel in Cleveland, Ohio, and the differences in noise emissions and perception as the country entered the jet age. Leo was one of the founders of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, and served as its charter president. Much of the success of the Institute is due to his early leadership. He has also played an important role in noise policy, beginning in the late 1960s and, in particular, with the passage of the Noise Control Act of 1972. This work continued into the 1990s with the formation of the “Peabody Group,” and cooperation with the National Academy of Engineering in the formation of noise policy.