DAVID A. NELSON
PRINCIPAL EDUCATOR

David A. Nelson, INCE Fellow, INCE Bd. Cert., P.E., is a retired acoustical consultant with over 40 years of experience in acoustics and noise control.  His expertise includes low-noise product design, noise and vibration control for buildings and industrial plants, sound quality analysis and design, integrated laboratory data acquisition systems, acoustical test facility design.  He continues to provide training and instruction in acoustics, noise control, and related topics through the Noise Control Master Class series.

EDUCATION

  • M.S.E., Engineering Acoustics, UT Austin, 1984
  • B.S., Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 1981, with special emphasis in Acoustics

TYPICAL TOPICS

  • Instruction in Acoustics and Noise Control: Customize training courses in acoustics, noise control, and vibration control, using plain terms and audio demonstrations suitable to the technical capabilities of the audience.  Topics have included basics of acoustics and noise control, industrial noise control, cooling fan noise, low-noise design, sound quality, and architectural sound-absorbing materials.

  • Low-Noise Design: Support product- or equipment design to achieve stringent noise emission criteria.  Includes work on spaceflight hardware, theatrical lighting, medical devices, computer and telecommunications equipment, and industrial equipment.

  • Noise and Vibration Control: Identify and evaluate noise sources, paths and receptors.  Assess impact, rank-order noise sources, and evaluate potential mitigation methods.  Includes work on industrial facilities (both for hearing conservation and environmental noise) and commercial buildings (e.g., HVAC, exterior noise intrusion).

  • Environmental Noise: Record, measure and analyze environmental noise from a gas-compressor stations, power plants, data centers, water-treatment plants, highway traffic, and outdoor music venues.  Compare measured levels to criteria and assess likely community response.  Prepare audio demonstrations of existing and mitigated conditions.

  • Sound Quality: Assess characteristics of sound from a human perspective through calibrated recordings, computing sound quality metrics, identifying appropriate jury evaluation methods, modeling listener preferences, performing digital signal processing to create “virtual” versions of a device, and develop recommendations to achieve desired spectral balance. Includes work on consumer products, computers, commercial and HVAC equipment, and medical devices.

  • Architectural Acoustics: Identify appropriate acoustical characteristics for interior spaces.  Consider competing requirements of speech intelligibility and musical support, reverberation time and background noise level.  Recommend room size, shape, surface treatment and furnishings.  Recommend mechanical equipment location and design and noise-control elements to isolate intrusive noises from both exterior and interior sources.

  • Test Facility Design: Design test facility sound field properties and noise and vibration isolation requirements to meet appropriate test standards, perform chamber qualification, and assist with laboratory accreditation and quality program issues.  Includes work on acoustic and vibration test facilities for spaceflight hardware, computers, architectural components, and telecommunications equipment.

  • Integrated Data Acquisition Systems: Design, develop, and provide customized data acquisition and analysis systems that measure and/or analyze noise emission (sound pressure, sound quality, sound power and sound intensity), noise reduction, transmission loss, hearing protector insertion loss, sound absorption, impulse response, and vibrations.

EXPERIENCE IN ACOUSTICS

  • Principal Educator, Nelson Acoustics LLC, 2026 to present
  • Principal Consultant, Nelson Acoustical Eng’g, Inc., 1998 to 2026
  • Lecturer in Noise Control, UT Austin, ME Dept., 1998 Fall Semester
  • Senior Consultant, Hoover & Keith Inc., 1994 to 1998
  • Laboratory Technical Director, Acoustic Systems, 1985 to 1994
  • Graduate Research Assistant, ARL:UT, 1981 to 1985
  • Research Assistant, Research Laboratory of Electronics, MIT, 1979-1980

SOCIETIES

  • National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC)
  • Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE)
  • Acoustical Society of America (ASA)

FORMAL CREDENTIALS

  • Fellow, Institute of Noise Control Engineering
  • Board Certified, Institute of Noise Control Engineering
  • Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Oregon
  • Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Texas
  • Licensed Professional Engineer, State of Arkansas
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