Research, Technology and Innovation

Success Stories

A Tessellated Approach to 3-D Parabolic Equation Acoustic Modelling

The sounds of industrial activity may indicate progress, but they can also pose a threat to our environment. Sea animals are particularly vulnerable to such disruptions. A freeze on offshore oil and gas exploration in BC has protected marine life since 1976. In 2004, a Royal Society of Canada report concluded that this freeze could be discarded safely if certain measures to protect the marine environment, including underwater noise assessments, were put in place.

Existing underwater sound modeling methods don’t account for certain physical conditions. Of special interest is the Queen Charolette Basin, which contains valuable natural resources. Ms. Melanie Austin, together with MITACS and JASCO Research Ltd., is working to update modeling techniques to precisely predict the spread of industrial noise underwater. Her work is quickly making BC a pioneer in noise impact assessment. Her research may allow the expansion of underwater oil and gas exploration. And in the process, her project brings together public and private sectors in minimizing our ecological footprint.

For more information, please visit http://www.jasco.com/Acoustics.aspx

Photo courtesy of JASCO Research Ltd.

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