Editor’s View

Welcome to our annual special issue!  Each year the March NNI focuses on a specific topic.  This year it’s how our community is applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to acoustics and vibration problems.  The two terms are often used interchangeably and sometimes combined (AI/ML) although they are different.  Rather than repeating the usual definitions (try the trusty Wikipedia for them) we present several wide-ranging articles by researchers and companies that show how they are being developed and used:

• Jennifer Bastiaan of Kettering and Ed Green of Hottinger Brüel & Kjær use Artificial Neural Networks to judge vehicle vibration quality 

• Dani Hernandez Comesana and the Microflown Team apply Machine Learning to near-field acoustic particle velocity measurements to evaluate product quality 

• Paul Sinclair of Nti Audio AG uses Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to classify noise sources 

• Guillaume Demerliac of Treble Technologies generates synthetic acoustic data to train ML models and AI applications 

• Veerababu Dharanalakota from the India Institute of Science uses Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to simulate acoustic fields 

Along with the AI/ML articles this issue includes recurring features from Jim Thompson (What is all the noise about?) and educational materials from Eric Ungar (Acoustics from A to Z) and Stig Ingemannson (Principles of Noise Control).  Starting with this issue, NNI will be the sole publisher of reviews of books in our field (The Noise Control Engineering Journal – NCEJ – has published them in the past as well).  This month you can learn about Munjal and Venkatesham’s Second Edition on Noise and Vibration Control.  Speaking of NCEJ, the first issue of 2025 is out, and features 11 new articles spanning several aspects of noise control engineering, including three Case Studies.   

Both of the INCE annual noise conferences – the USA NOISE-CON and the international Inter-Noise – have closed their abstract submission periods, but it’s not too late to get involved.  You can register now for both conferences at noisecon2025.org and internoise2025.org.  Both will feature lots of technical papers and large expositions from all of vendor friends and sponsors along with excellent social programs for your networking enjoyment.  The NoiseCon also has lots of great short courses scheduled for the Sunday before the conference – see the listing in this issue for details. 

Finally, we’re looking for a lead editor for NNI.  I’m just filling in until we can find a permanent replacement for our long-time previous editor Eoin King.  Please see our announcement in this issue and contact us at ibo@inceusa.org if you’re interested.