Jonathan Sheaffer
Research Student
Contact details
Email: j.sheaffer@edu.salford.ac.uk
Location: Newton Building Room G11
Profile
I am interested in computational acoustics with strong emphasis on sound localisation in enclosed spaces. My research is multidisciplinary by nature, and spans around techniques for simulating sound source propagation, room acoustics, virtual listeners (including HRIRs) and modelling the perception of sound locus. I am using finite difference methods to numerically solve the acoustic wave equation in the time domain, allowing for effective simulation of arbitrary room geometries, complex boundary conditions and models of the human head and torso. As part of my ongoing study, I have parallelised the FDTD method to run on highly accelerated general purpose graphics hardware (GPGPU) allowing for high-resolution simulation with minimal dispersion errors. The model can generate virtual auditory spaces which can be used either for subjective studies or as input to further auditory modelling
I have always been fascinated by the ability of humans to localise sound in complex situations, and in particular by mechanisms such as the precedence effect. I am currently working on a psycho-acoustically plausible sound localisation model which is based on both analytical and physiological approaches. Another area of interest of mine is the acoustics of ancient places. In the past I have collaborated on the preserving acoustics for posterity project. Currently, when time permits, I do some work with my supervisor on the acoustics of stonehenge. Coming from a land of many historical sites, I have been fortunate to be able to measure many interesting sounding places at different occasions.
My PhD thesis is entitled From Source to Brain: an Integrated Model of Sound Localisation in Rooms, and is supervised by Dr. Bruno Fazenda and Prof. Jamie Angus.More Details
Many more details on my project, including visual demonstrations, is available on my personal research page.Also, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn.
