Wind farm acoustics course for engineering students

Abstract

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has two learning outcomes for all engineering students that relate to “public health, safety, and welfare” and the need to consider “the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.” We describe the development of a one-credit hybrid course on wind energy acoustics that meets these learning outcomes. This course was one of five one-credit modular courses on different aspects of wind energy developed via a SUNY-funded initiative. Topics included human and environmental impacts of wind farm noise, sound perception, noise regulations, wind farm noise generation and propagation, and noise control. Students gained the acoustics background needed to understand the necessary technological aspects of wind farm noise. They used simple models to predict community noise levels and assess noise control strategies and then completed a case study project in which they proposed and debated strategies for reducing the negative impacts of a controversial wind farm. Upon completion of the course, the students expressed that they had not previously considered the possible impacts of wind farm noise. They seemed to have grown in their ability to think holistically about the potential societal and environmental impacts of wind farm noise.