Using 3D sound field information as an instrument to improve the accuracy of virtual acoustic models

When creating virtual acoustic models of existing spaces, a good practice requires a proper calibration procedure, through comparison with on-site acoustic measures. This process starts with a comparison of a reference acoustic parameter (usually reverberation time). However, matching reverberation times does not ensure a good matching of the other parameters. From this point of view comparison between measured and simulated impulse responses is necessary to identify which sound reflections are responsible of the inaccuracy. A significant help to improve the quality of the acoustic simulation, comes from the additional spatial information resulting from the use of 3D sound field measurements. The paper discusses how such innovative approach can be conveniently used with reference to the modelling of the Jubilee Church “Dives Misericordiae” in Rome, by architect Richard Meyer. The complex shape of the church, made of concave shells, represents an ideal case study to test how surface discretization and model simplification may influence final results.