Building acoustics, community noise, room acoustics, traffic noise
SD2166 Building Acoustics and Community Noise 7.5 credits

Information per course offering
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Information for Autumn 2025 Start 25 Aug 2025 programme students
- Course location
KTH Campus
- Duration
- 25 Aug 2025 - 24 Oct 2025
- Periods
- P1 (7.5 hp)
- Pace of study
50%
- Application code
51603
- Form of study
Normal Daytime
- Language of instruction
English
- Course memo
- Course memo is not published
- Number of places
Places are not limited
- Target group
Open for all master students and CMAST,CMEDT,CFATE,CTFYS,CDEPR as long as it can be included in your programme.
- Planned modular schedule
- [object Object]
- Schedule
- Schedule is not published
Contact
Course syllabus as PDF
Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.
Course syllabus SD2166 (Autumn 2024–)Content and learning outcomes
Course disposition
Course contents
The course aims at the students to have knowledge of building acoustics, its causes and consequences, as well as the ability to implement basic planning with regard to noise issues in construction projects. During the course, students will learn the basic knowledge of building acoustics, explain the guidelines for different sources of noise and explain why they exist.
Areas involved within the course include:
- Perception of sound, different measurements and measurement methods
- Room acoustics, sound propagation, reflexes, reverberation time, etc.
- Building acoustic foundamental knowledge, sound insulation and how this is affected by walls, floor joists, resonances, windows, etc.
- Traffic noise, how sounds from different of traffic sources are calculated and modified with e.g. noise screens
- Community noise fundamental knowledge, WHO's Research Compilations, Guidelines, Health Impact, etc.
- Ground vibrations and vibrations in buildings
Intended learning outcomes
Students will, after passing the course,
- Be aware of the main features of the hearing system and how sound is experienced
- Know and be able to use space acoustic terminology
- Be able to formulate and execute calculations of basic building acoustic problems eg sound insulation and how this is affected by walls, floor joints, resonances, windows, etc.
- Implement methods for calculating traffic noise
- Know the causes of current guidelines for noise, such as annoyance and medical reasons
- Be able to explain how soil vibration and vibrations in buildings arise, reproduce and calculate
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Completed degree proeject on Bachelor level with a major in technology. Basic mathematics in Calculus in One Variable, Calculus in Several Variables and algebra and geometry of at least 22.5 credits and knowledge of differential equations of at least 7.5 credits and Noise and Vibration Control of at least 6 credits.
English B/ English 6
Literature
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- TEN1 - Exam, 7.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
TEN1 - Skriftlig tentamina
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.