After the positive feedback from the AIA-AICARR meetings in 2021, still waiting for the 49th AIA National Conference, the Acoustical Italian Society organizes a cycle of four webinars “AIA meets the Associations”, each dedicated to the deepening of an interdisciplinary theme negotiated together with one of the Associations with which AIA has signed collaboration agreements.
It begins on Friday 27 January 2023, with the presentation of the book “The noise of technical systems in construction”, in collaboration with AiCARR (Italian Association of Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration); it will continue on 24 February 2023 with a webinar dedicated to “The acoustics of entertainment venues”, in collaboration with AES (Audio Engineering Society, Italy Section) and on 10 March 2023 with an event in which we will talk about “Acoustic pollution and hearing loss”, in collaboration with SIAF (Italian Society of Audiology and Phoniatry). The cycle will end on April 14, 2023, with the webinar “Workplace acoustics”, in collaboration with AIDII (Italian Association of Industrial Hygienists).
The four webinars are free for AIA members and non-members.

Friday, 27th January 2023 1.30-2.45 pm
AIA-AICARR webinar “Presentation of the book “The noise of systems in buildings”
Chairman: Eleonora Carletti (CNR-STEMS)
Greetings: Filippo Busato (President of AiCARR) and Francesco Asdrubali (President of AIA)
Introduction: Francesca Romana D’Ambrosio (University of Salerno)
The volume aims to provide readers with a general overview of the acoustic problems caused by the presence of system sound sources inside and outside buildings. The cut is that of dissemination: it does not enter into the more complex aspects of design and forecast calculations, but is articulated and detailed in the description of the types of sources and in the legislative, regulatory and procedural aspects. Precisely with the aim of providing an approach suitable also for non-specialists, the volume is structured in two general chapters on the sound phenomenon and on legislation in the acoustic sector and in three specialized chapters on the methods of verifying and predicting noise from systems, on plant noise sources, on design features and on improvements. The volume is completed by a glossary and an updated bibliography, including all legislative references and current technical standards.
Speakers

Patrizio Fausti,is Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering of the University of Ferrara where he teaches Technical Physics, Civil Technical Systems and Technical Acoustics. He was one of the founders and professor of the School of Acoustics of the same University. The research activity mainly concerns issues related to building and architectural acoustics, noise control, vibro-acoustics, acoustic properties of materials. He is author and co-author of over 200 scientific papers published nationally and internationally. He is responsible for research projects in building acoustics and noise control, partner of the University Spin-off “Materiacustica srl”. For the AIA he was Treasurer from 2002 to 2005, National Coordinator of the Building Acoustics Group (GAE) from 2005 to 2008, Chairman of the Technical Committee Room and Building Acoustics of the EAA from 2008 to 2011 and member of the Board of Directors since 2014.

Simone Secchi, is Associate Professor of Architectural Technology at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence. He carries out research in the field of environmental quality, performance analysis of building components, acoustics and lighting technology in internal and external environments. Since 1999 he has been part of the research and consultancy group of the Laboratory of Environmental Physics for Building Quality of the University of Florence, currently holding the role of coordinator of the Acoustics sector. He was national coordinator of the Building Acoustics group of the Italian Acoustics Association from 2008 to 2012. He is a member of the Academic Board of the Doctorate in Sustainability and Innovation for the design of the built environment and the product system of the University of Florence . He is the author of over 250 scientific publications in the field of environmental quality in buildings, acoustics, lighting technology and energy saving.i

Roberto Zecchin, mechanical engineering graduate (University of Padua), M.Sc. in Cryogenics (Southampton University, U.K.). Former full professor of thermotechnical systems in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Padua, Director of the Department of Technical Physics and head of the Acoustics Laboratory, President of the Degree Course in Energy Engineering, promoter of the Master in Noise Pollution Control, of the high specialization course in Physics and Energy of buildings and of the Master in Solar energy technologies in African countries; he is active as an expert in the CTI, UNI, in the WG2 and WG19 of the CEN / TC 156 (Ventilation for buildings). He has carried out research in the field of environmental air conditioning, building energy and acoustics, an activity documented by numerous publications at national and international level. He currently carries out consultancy and design activities in the thermotechnical, energy and acoustic plant engineering sector within the Engineering company Manens SpA of Padua.

Wednesday, 22th February 2023 1.30-2.30 pm
Webinar AIA-AES Italia “The acoustics of entertainment venues”
Greetings: Lamberto Tronchin (AES Italia Vice President) and Francesco Asdrubali (AIA President )
Chairman: Francesco Martellotta, Politecnico di Bari
Speakers

Giulia Fratoni, post-doc research fellow at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Bologna, carries out her research in the field of finite element acoustic simulations of innovative materials for acoustic comfort in university classrooms and open space offices. In collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, in 2022 she obtained her PhD with a thesis on the comparison between numerical modeling using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithms and geometric acoustics (GA) in large environments. The research areas range from the acoustic characterization of historical architectures of artistic-cultural interest to the planning of interventions to improve the quality of listening in opera houses, places of worship, conference rooms and auditoriums. She carries out teaching activities for refresher courses for Technicians Competent in Acoustics (TCA) in the context of the CAM obligations concerning the UNI 11532-2 and is Didactic Tutor of the Technical Physics and Plants course at the three-year Building Engineering course at the Ravenna office.

Roberto Furlan, Paduan engineer, born in 1965. I lived the 70s as a child and the 80s as a young man, which means that, even if a little by the hair, I took the good years. At that time we played in “musical spaces” obtained from garages, attics or (in summer) on the terrace with a sea view of an economically very lucky friend. In the case of indoor musical spaces, the acoustic correction was done with the famous egg cartons collected in the back of the shops and a particularly well-trained pair of ears. When the rooms were particularly small, the problem of stationary waves seemed insurmountable, but after all it would have taken subsequent university studies to know and understand them. It is comforting to think that not infrequently this problem is still misunderstood by many today, so there are undoubtedly valid reasons to commit to studying them and excellent professional opportunities in this sense. It has been 25 years since I made Acoustics my profession: from the field of Impact and Acoustic Pollution to that of Architectural Acoustics, not least that of Discography, passing through Cinema. The list of my experiences here would be long and cumbersome and I prefer to give the fruits of so much qualified experience in the field directly and with both hands to my Cuneo students. Musical Acoustics is a border area between Science and Art, it requires solid scientific foundations, engineering synthesis capabilities combined with sensitivity and taste. Knowing how to translate the artistic need into a technical fact is an uncommon skill, but one that can be achieved with study, application and… a good teacher.

Gianpiero Majandi, born in Cremona on 9 February 1963. After graduating in electronic engineering, he began working as an audio consultant in the sector of large paging systems (railway stations, subways, airports, ports). Around 1993 work began on the design of audio systems for public entertainment venues. In the meantime he explores the themes of environmental acoustics and carries out several acoustic reclamation works, for public entertainment and for industry.
He currently carries out consultancy activities for manufacturers of professional and home audio systems, as well as constantly following the acoustics for public entertainment.

Friday 10th March 2023 1.30-2.30 pm
Webinar AIA -SIAF “Acoustic pollution and hearing loss”
Greetings: Stefano Berrettini (SIAF President) and Francesco Asdrubali (AIA President)
Chairman: Arianna Astolfi (Politecnico di Torino)
The European Environment Agency (EEA) considers noise pollution as the second most harmful environmental factor for human health after air pollution. The EEA report “Environmental noise in Europe – 2020” contains alarming data that highlight how environmental noise is a serious problem for the well-being and health of millions of citizens in Europe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vehicular traffic noise alone is harmful to the health of nearly one in three people; one in five Europeans is regularly exposed to potentially harmful noise levels at night. The webinar, which is the first event jointly organized by AIA and SIAF, by virtue of a collaboration agreement signed in 2022, aims to discuss, with authoritative contributions from the health sector, the issue of the correlation between exposure to noise pollution in non- occupational and hearing loss; the recent WHO guidelines for the management of the noise problem will also be presented. Innovative technological solutions will also be presented to improve the quality of life of the hearing impaired elderly.
Relatori

Giuseppe Chiarella, SSD/MED32 Full Professor of Audiology at the “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro. Director of the Audiology and Phoniatrics Operating Unit and of the annexed Regional Reference Center for cochlear implants and ENT diseases at the A.O.U. “Mater Domini” of Catanzaro. President of the Italian Society of Otology and Hearing Sciences (SIOSU). Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology and Audiology. His research activity mainly concerns auditory pathology and vertigo, the most recent lines of research have particular reference to the study of the pathophysiological mechanisms of persistent perceptive postural dizziness (PPPD) through functional imaging, and of Menière’s disease and vestibular migraine through proteomic studies. He is the author of numerous works published in international journals

Davide Pisani, specialization in Audiology and Phoniatrics, University of Naples “Federico II”, December 2019, experimental thesis entitled “Curricular skills in a sample of school-age children with hearing loss”. Degree in Medicine and Surgery, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, October 2012, experimental thesis entitled “Expression of the BMI-1 oncoprotein in laryngeal tumors”. Registered in the Register of Surgeons of the province of Cosenza, number 7786, since March 2013. Research Fellow MED/32 at U.O. of Audiology and Phoniatrics, “Mater Domini” University Hospital of Catanzaro, 12/2020 – 12/2022. Specialist Doctor appointed Subject Expert for the discipline of Audiology and Phoniatrics, “Mater Domini” University Hospital of Catanzaro, 01/2021 – today. Author of 30 scientific publications in indexed journals, scientific reviewer for numerous international scientific journals. Speaker and member of the scientific secretariat in numerous national congresses. Currently engaged in the search for new biological markers for audiovestibular pathologies.

Davide Pisani, specialization in Audiology and Phoniatrics, University of Naples “Federico II”, December 2019, experimental thesis entitled “Curricular skills in a sample of school-age children with hearing loss”. Degree in Medicine and Surgery, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, October 2012, experimental thesis entitled “Expression of the BMI-1 oncoprotein in laryngeal tumors”. Registered in the Register of Surgeons of the province of Cosenza, number 7786, since March 2013. Research Fellow MED/32 at U.O. of Audiology and Phoniatrics, “Mater Domini” University Hospital of Catanzaro, 12/2020 – 12/2022. Specialist Doctor appointed Subject Expert for the discipline of Audiology and Phoniatrics, “Mater Domini” University Hospital of Catanzaro, 01/2021 – today. Author of 30 scientific publications in indexed journals, scientific reviewer for numerous international scientific journals. Speaker and member of the scientific secretariat in numerous national congresses. Currently engaged in the search for new biological markers for audiovestibular pathologies.

Friday 14 April 2023 1.30-2.30 pm
Webinar AIA AIDII – “Workplace acoustics”
Greetings: Mariella Carrieri (ADII President) and Francesco Asdrubali (AIA President)
Chairman: Sergio Luzzi (AIA General Secretary)
New research and experimentation topics concerning acoustics in the workplace are emerging. From the simple assessment of the risk from exposure to noise and consequent prevention and control indications, we are moving to a more complex assessment of the combined effects of exposure to noise and other risk factors: physical, chemical and contextual. To this is added a greater sensitivity towards the problems concerning the assessment of noise risk for the most sensitive subjects and towards a correct design of workplaces that also takes into account the aspects of perceived comfort and building and functional quality. As part of the enhancing factors, the contributions of vibrations and ototoxic substances will be treated and the risk assessment for sensitive subjects will be considered, to be carried out on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind that the reference values set by the legislation may not be sufficiently protective for such subjects. In fact, some individuals may be more susceptible than others due to individual or family predisposition or due to the presence of synergistic exposure factors. During the webinar, the main factors that can increase the individual risk of hearing damage or the risk of the onset of extra-auditory effects will be discussed. The correct design of working environments (industrial and non-industrial) will also be treated with reference to the recent INAIL guidelines produced by a BRIC project which involved various Italian universities and an emblematic case of designing open plan environments will be illustrated, from the basic principles , to acoustic modeling techniques, to the critical analysis of the results.
Speakers

Andrea Bogi, after graduating in physics from the University of Pisa in 2001, continued his research activity at the Universities of Pisa, Montpellier and Siena. In 2008 he began his collaboration with the Physical Agents Laboratory of the USL Toscana Sud Est, initially dealing with the development of the Optical Radiation and Electromagnetic Fields sections of the Physical Agents Portal.
Since 2021 he has been in charge of the Physical Agents Laboratory of the USL Toscana Sud Est and is one of the scientific managers of the Physical Agents Portal.

Francesco Borchi, graduated in Environmental and Land Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Florence, in the academic year 1997-98, with a thesis on environmental noise. He has been a PhD since 2002 with a doctoral thesis entitled “Development of an acoustic climate management system in an urban environment”. From 2002 he continued his university career resulting in the winner of numerous scholarships and research grants activated by the University of Florence on issues relating to environmental and industrial acoustics, monitoring systems and the study of techniques and systems for control noise active. He is the author of numerous scientific publications in the field of acoustics. Since 2011 he has held the role of Technical Director within the company Vie en.ro.se. Engineering S.r.l. coordinating a group of designers and carrying out acoustic design assignments directly.

Renata Sisto, Inail Research Manager. Graduated in Physics. Statistics expert for Biomedical Sciences. Coordinator of the Synergistic Interactions between Risks Laboratory of the INAIL Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Hygiene (DiMEILA). National Scientific Responsible of various projects of the Ministry of Health concerning otoacoustic emissions in the monitoring of hearing disorders from exposure to noise, experimental methodologies for evaluating the synergistic interactions of noise with other harmful agents and the synergistic interaction between chemical-physical risks with particular regard to ototoxicity and neurotoxicity. He is a member of the Editorial Board of numerous journals and of the science team of the ASI (Italian Space Agency) “Acoustic Diagnostics” experiment for the evaluation of the hearing function of astronauts in flight. Thanks to the proven experience of Dr. Sisto’s team in the field of space research, INAIL has been accredited as ASI supplier body and the HESIOD project is being evaluated for which Dr. Sisto is PI and INAIL is Institutional recipient body.

Andrea Tombolato, graduated in Physics, freelance consultant in acoustics and vibrations with studio in Padua. He is included, representing AIA, in UNI Working Groups (National Technical Standardization Body) operating in the field of acoustics. In 2015 he was called to be part of the ISPRA/Ministry of the Environment working group aimed at adapting the national legislation on acoustics to the European provisions of the sector.
He is the author and co-author of scientific papers on acoustics.