Underwater noise exposure assessments combine acoustic modelling, marine mammal, sea turtle, and fisheries expertise to assess the risk that underwater noise poses to marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish.
Our animal noise exposure modelling predicts the sounds marine organisms may be exposed to, building on extensive sound field simulations. Using the best available data and the most recent noise exposure criteria, we can provide species-specific risk and impact assessments that account for population density, diving and swimming behaviors, hearing sensitivity, and behavioral responses to noise.
Our acoustic modelling, marine mammal, sea turtle, and fisheries experts offer critical analysis, interpretation, and reporting of sound field and animal noise exposure simulations to inform noise mitigation and monitoring plans and support offshore wind development.
INSPIRE performed noise modeling and noise impact assessments for a variety of SONAR equipment used for surveys in the Danish North Sea, including multibeam echosounders, sub bottom profilers, side scan SONAR, and USBL positioning systems. Modeling informed marine mammal impact assessments of the potential risk of injury, mortality, and behavioral disturbances to noise.
INSPIRE is working with Cape Holland to develop simulations of the sound field resulting from vibratory pile installation and investigate the extent of noise-induced behavioral responses in marine mammals compared to impact-hammer pile installation.
Learn how INSPIRE and Venterra use VAST, our 3D numerical physics based acoustic model, to predict underwater noise with industry-leading precision.
A workgroup of the 2020 State of the Science Workshop on Wildlife and Offshore Wind Energy identified studies for the next five years to help stakeholders better understand potential cumulative biological impacts of sound and vibration to fishes and aquatic invertebrates as the offshore wind industry develops.
