Noise and air pollution
BAC addresses environmental noise and air pollution as connected exposure challenges across aircraft, cities, transport and buildings. We combine wind-tunnel experiments, CFD, AI-based modelling and acoustic sensing to monitor pollutants, model dispersion, predict exposure and support cleaner, quieter environments.
Why it matters
Noise and air pollution affect health, wellbeing and quality of life.
BAC helps partners understand exposure earlier, design quieter and cleaner technologies, and make better planning, design and operational decisions.
By linking acoustics, air quality and environmental flow physics, BAC supports cleaner air, quieter transport, healthier buildings and more liveable cities.
What this theme focuses on
Sound and airborne pollutants are shaped by wind, buildings, terrain, transport activity and ventilation. BAC studies these pathways from source to exposure:
- Aircraft and propulsion noise, including aerofoils, propellers and propulsion–airframe integration.
- Low-noise future-flight technologies and noise-reduction concepts.
- Environmental noise from aircraft, drones, wind energy and transport.
- Outdoor and indoor air quality, including dispersion, ventilation and urban flow.
- Wind-tunnel experiments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), acoustic sensing and AI-based exposure prediction.
Example projects
SilentProp
SilentProp advances low-noise distributed electric propulsion for future aircraft. The project investigates propeller noise, shielding, acoustic liners, serrated wing geometries and mitigation concepts to support quieter aircraft designs.
HARMONIE
HARMONIE is a Horizon Europe project on healthier, quieter and cleaner cities. BAC contributes to research linking air pollution, environmental noise, monitoring, modelling and forecasting to support evidence-based urban decision-making.
Experts working in this area
- Dr Claudia Nicolai
- Professor Mahdi Azarpeyvand
- Dr Mohammad Jadidi
- Professor Dorian Jones
- Dr Esmaeel Masoudi
- Dr Daniel Poole
- Dr Djamel Rezgui
- Dr Sen Wang
- Dr Daniele Zagaglia
Frequently asked questions
How are noise and air pollution connected?
Both are shaped by sources, flow, buildings, terrain, weather and human activity. BAC studies them together as connected exposure challenges.
What methods does BAC use?
We combine wind-tunnel experiments, aeroacoustic testing, CFD, acoustic sensing, pollutant measurements and AI-based modelling.
Can BAC work with external partners?
Yes. We collaborate with industry, government and academic partners on monitoring, modelling, testing, exposure assessment and policy-relevant prediction.