Have you ever seen sound? Although it may sound a bit futuristic, you can visualize sound by using a sound camera. Where our ears can hear annoying sounds from machines or devices, our eyes are not able to detect where the sound is coming from. Then there are sounds that you are not able to hear, but that have a profound negative impact on people and animals. If you want to find out if sound is causing issues and what the sound source is, your best and fastest option is to use a sound camera. In this article, we will take a closer look at the basics of using a sound camera in different situations.
What is a sound camera?
A sound camera, also known as an acoustic camera, is a device designed to analyze, locate and visualize sound sources. They are often used to detect and localize air, sound and energy leaks and have many use cases. The Sorama CAM iV64 does not only detect and visualize where a specific sound is coming from, it also enables you to see accurate sound levels of different noices. That way you will not only know where sound is coming from, but you can also identify different sounds by their sound level.
Easy as taking a selfie!
A sound camera or acoustic camera may not be as well-known as a smartphone, but it’s actually just as easy to use! To detect sound or air leaks with an acoustic camera, all you have to do is turn it on and aim it toward the area where you suspect the noise is coming from. The acoustic camera will generate a real-time visual representation, much like a heatmap, of the sound source. It will also show you different sources based on different frequency levels. No matter what is causing the sound, a sound camera will help you find it quickly and provide real time feedback to solve your issue efficiently.
Noise pollution
In Europe alone, 22 million people are affected by noise pollution, according to the European Environment Agency (2020). 6.5 million people of this group are suffering from chronic noise annoyance and sleep disturbance. The effects of long-term exposure to environmental noise are amongst others: high levels of stress, headache, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, fatigue, and depression. You can understand how important it is to reduce noise pollution and why organizations spend a lot of time and money to make sure unnecessary sounds are eliminated. Sorama wants to make the world sound right. That is why we design solutions like the CAM iV64 to help organizations reduce time and costs during the research and design of products and on location.
Noise complaints
One of the most common noises people complain about is that of HVAC units. In crowded residential areas, many of these units can be found as many homes and every apartment building has multiple units installed. HVAC noise can result from various factors, such as poor installation or maintenance, aging equipment, faulty components, inadequate sound insulation, or improper system design. Finding the cause can be time consuming, since there are a lot of HVAC units to be checked. A sound camera can be used to check which HVAC-unit is causing the noise and even more specific: what part of the unit needs to be repaired.
Environmental noise
HVAC units are not the only noise pollution people have to deal with in daily life. In the USA 56% of disruptive noise is caused by neighbors and traffic. An open window is easy to close, but what if that does not stop the noise? The sound camera can be used to detect leaks in doors, windows and facades. By scanning the room with the CAM iV64, the 7-inch display will show you exactly where the noise is coming from. When you know a corner or window frame in your house is leaking air and letting environmental sounds come into your home, the problem can be easily fixed.
Office noise
The office is also a common place where people experience noise. Modern offices offer booths, cubes or pods where employees can work in peace. These mobile offices are designed to be soundproof, but over time air and sound might leak through. The sound camera can be used to detect these leaks, but it is even more valuable if it is used during the research and development of the mobile office. Eliminating the need for an external consultant for sound measurements means the lead time during the R&D process can be shortened. This makes the sound camera very cost efficient. Designed to replace the decibel meter, the Sorama CAM iV64 is equipped with a microphone aray of 64 MEMS-microphones in an optimized sunflower pattern. It will deliver valuable insights of noise localization and sound level measurements, including a spectrum and a spectrogram. This information is then used to further improve the acoustics of the unit before it is delivered to the customer.
Minimize partial discharge
Gas and air leaks in pipelines at industrial sites can give those responsible for maintenance a real headache. Energy waste is a common cost factor that can be mapped by using a sound camera. The sound cameras can help identify and locate where the energy is leaking. The Sorama CAM iV64 is so easy to use that you do not need to hire an expert to investigate and write a report. Your employees just need basic mobile device skills to be able to do the sound imaging. When the source is found you can immediately take the next steps to minimize the partial discharge.
Take a look for yourself
There are numerous ways a sound camera can be used, more than we can fit into this article. If you want to know more about the sound camera and if it can solve your acoustic issues, we’ll be happy to tell you all about it. Or even better! We can show you exactly how it can work for you. In a few clicks you can set up a personal call or live demo with one of our colleagues. Contact us today.