Working above the noise as an RSK acoustic consultant

Kartik Subramaniam’s love of problem-solving and mathematics led him to pursue a career in acoustics and ultimately to work on national and international projects that would challenge and inspire him.

During his studies at the University of Southampton, Kartik had to choose a specialisation within the field that fell under the umbrella of mechanical engineering. After considering his options, the nature of the work that acoustical engineering involved appealed to him.

Kartik said: “Acoustics is quite a niche field, and as a result I feel that those who work in it are genuinely invested in engineering.

“Before joining RSK Acoustics, I worked at a consultancy for about two years. Comparatively, the scope of work I was involved in tended to be on the smaller scale, and mostly in the commercial and residential sectors. However, it gave me a solid foundation and a valuable introduction to consultancy, as well as a desire to develop my technical knowledge and gain experience in other sectors.”

“I wanted to join RSK Acoustics because of how big the team was and to have the opportunity to work on a bigger range of significant projects.”

Kartik explained how noise and vibration are relevant to all aspects of life, whether that be at home, work, the gym, restaurants or even public spaces. Everyone from planners, architects, construction contractors, planning authorities and private property owners engages the services of RSK Acoustics.

He said: “When acoustics are ‘good’, they aren’t noticeable; it’s only when they are having an adverse impact and causing a disturbance that people become aware of them. To ensure problems don’t arise in the future, acoustics must be taken into consideration at the very start and throughout a project.”

A typical day for Kartik involves lots of spreadsheets, number crunching, computer modelling and reporting. In the office, he works on a range of projects across the United Kingdom and, on occasion, internationally.

Karik said: “After noise or vibration monitors are set up on-site to establish existing background levels, we process the data through spreadsheets to determine baseline values based on industry standards.
“We then carry out spreadsheet calculations or computer modelling (typically for more complex sites) to predict the potential noise/vibration levels of the proposed machinery and/or noise sources at the sensitive receptors identified.

“The predicted levels of noise and vibration are then compared against the existing levels established from the baseline surveys and assessed against the relevant standards. If necessary, we can assist with mitigation strategies to satisfy the relevant standards, as well as the client’s and local authority’s (if applicable) requirements.

“Every project is different and every noise source is different. What varies project to project is the standards used, the assessment and survey methodology and scope.”

Kartik explained how, thanks to acoustics being present in almost every sector, there is always something new to learn, whether it is new standards for certain assessments (construction, machinery or activity noise) or using different software to aid the assessments.

He added: “My week often involves fieldwork, which can include attending surveys, acoustic testing or installing monitoring equipment.

“RSK Acoustics has offices across the country, but my site work tends to be focused in and around Manchester and the North West.

“The most rewarding projects I work on are often the ones I’ve been involved in since a site suitability stage, right through to them being fully fitted out and then commissioned. It’s rewarding to have the results of your predictions validated.”

Kartik said that adapting to the various assessment types required for different projects, especially with constantly evolving standards and assessment methodologies, is one of the more challenging aspects of his job.

He added: “Each project presents unique requirements, which means there’s often a learning curve when picking up new projects, even if it is similar to ones done before. However, having a big team with diverse experience that I know I can rely on for support and guidance makes it much easier to tackle new projects with confidence.”

RSK Acoustics is supporting Kartik with his continuous professional development, ensuring that he is always moving forward in the business. Every fortnight, members of the team present findings from their projects, and senior colleagues encourage the team to join external continuous professional development events, which Kartik has found very useful.

At this stage in his career, Kartik said his goal is to become an accredited member of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), something he hopes he is not too far off achieving. To do this, he will need to track and show continuous growth and learning, such as by showcasing the projects he has worked on and the lessons learned at the end of them. Requirements can vary, but typically people progress to this stage of membership once they have achieved three to five years of experience in the field.