About The Acoustic Group
The Acoustic Group provides specialised services and research in acoustics and vibration, drawing on the experience of its director, Steven E. Cooper, across more than four decades of consulting.
Draft for Steven’s approval: Add Steven’s current headshot below (replace this note with an Image block). Check that the memberships, committee roles and qualifications listed are current.
Steven E. Cooper — Director
Steven Cooper was Principal and Partner of James Madden Cooper Atkins from 1982 to 1995, and Principal of Steven Cooper Acoustics from 1995 to 2003, before forming The Acoustic Group. His particular areas of expertise include machine and vibration monitoring, acoustical design of auditoria, studios and entertainment venues, traffic and helicopter noise, laboratory instrumentation, precision analysis systems, wind farm assessment, legal assignments and expert evidence.
He has considerable experience in vibration measurement and assessment in industry, for both machinery operating condition and occupational exposure levels. His work on noise emission from industry and licensed premises is extensive, with numerous assessment reports and noise control designs prepared for clients, statutory bodies and courts.
He is the acknowledged leader in the measurement, assessment and design of helipad and heliport operations and military aircraft noise assessments, and a major contributor to Australian Standards. In 1997 he received an Engineering Excellence Award in the Environment category from the Institution of Engineers for the TRW No. 2 Forge project.
Areas of expertise
- Aircraft and helicopter noise, NPD curves and INM modelling
- Wind farm infrasound and low-frequency noise
- Industrial noise control and sound power assessment
- Machinery and occupational vibration
- Licensed premises, entertainment venues and music festivals
- Auditoria, theatre and studio acoustics
- Road and rail traffic noise
- Expert evidence and joint expert reports
Standards, committees and recognition
- Member of Standards Australia aircraft noise committee AV/52 from 1985 (later AV11/EV11) and major contributor to AS 2363 and AS 2021
- Convener for the preparation of Appendix C (compliance testing) in AS 2021-2000
- Member of the Acoustics and Fly Neighborly Committees of Helicopter Association International; co-reviewer of the US Helicopter Fly Neighborly Guide
- Invited member of the Acoustical Society of America wind turbine working group
- Appointed in 2018 to the European Acoustics Association Technical Committee Noise as group leader on wind turbine noise
- Engineering Excellence Award, Environment category, Institution of Engineers Australia, 1997
Teaching and lecturing
Steven has been an invited guest lecturer on noise assessment to the NSW Police Academy Noise Familiarisation Course and various NSW Police Licensing Commands, the Faculty of Architecture at the University of NSW, and seminars and workshops run by the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Environment Business Network and NEERG Seminars.
Selected projects
- ICI Botany complex — noise and vibration, and a 20-year noise reduction program
- APM Matraville paper mill — site noise control
- Manildra flour mill and Shoalhaven Starches, Bomaderry
- Sydney CBD, Granville and Gosford heliports
- ANEF validation and NPD testing for F-111, FA-18, JSF, Iroquois, Squirrel, Sea King, Seahawk, Black Hawk, Super Seasprite, Tiger and MRH90
- Cape Bridgewater wind farm noise study, 2014
- Acoustic assessments for licensed premises, studios and auditoria