Prof. Ing. Angelo Farina, born in Parma (Italy) on 25/09/1958, resident in Parma at Viale Duca Alessandro 8. Associated Professor of Environmental Technical Physics (ING-IND/11) at the Industrial Engineering Department of the University of Parma, Via delle Scienze 181/A - 43100 PARMA - tel. +39 0521 905854 - fax +39 0521 905705 E-MAIL: farina@unipr.it - WWW Home Page: HTTP://pcfarina.eng.unipr.it
See here for a list of the courses hold by Angelo Farina.
Angelo conducted wide and deep researches in almost all the fields of Acoustics, and particularly he worked on digital signal processing techniques for acustical measuremebts and audio effects, and on numerical models for the sound field estimation in closed and open spaces.
In more detail, he developed new measurement techniques, based on the employ of binary pseudo-random signals (MLS) and more recently on exponentially swept sinusoidal signals; these allow for the easy measurement of the sound propagation in working places, outdoors, and in concert halls and auditoriums. Furthermore, these new techniques made it possible to measure "in situ" the acoustical properties of materials, with main application in the evaluation of the sound absorption coefficient and sound reduction index of porous road surfaces and noise shields.
Angelo has coded a lot of software for the design of theatres and concert halls, sound diffusion systems, workplaces and for the dimensioning of sound reduction devices both indoors and outdoors. Some of these programs were released as commercial software, published both in Italy and in the other countries: at the beginning of 1993, RAMSETE was launched. It is a Pyramid Tracing program for the simulation of the sound propagation in closed spaces and outdoors. One year later, AURORA was released: it is a suite of software tools which makes it possible to measure impulse responses or to recover them from Ramsete simulations, and to use them as filters for making Virtual Acoustics Reality simulations (auralisations). The coupling of the two programs produces audible simulations (on headphones or a suitable set of loudspeaker) of the various design hypotheses, starting from anechoic speech, music or noise.
He took part to a number of Environmental Impact Evaluations of large infrastructure projects, co-operating particularly with experts of chemical pollution in the cases of Urban Wastes Discharges, Waste Incineration Plants, and roads or railways. In many cases, at the end of the impact evaluation procedure, he designed the sound reduction devices, which are typically noise screens for the shielding of fixed sources or vehicles.
Angelo was the acoustical designer of dozens of buildings and sound reduction plans, both in environmental and industrial cases. Some were along primary highways and railways: among these, three cases have to be outlined: noise screens along the "Autovie Venete" highway, near Siziana (TS, Italy), Ferrara-Suzzara railway between Poggiorusco and Ferrara and the high-speed train interconnection inside Parma.
In parallel with the design activity, he made a large number of qualification tests, in laboratory and in situ, of building elements for noise screens, releasing certifications according with UNI, AFNOR, ISO, DIN standards and with the acceptation procedures of the "Societ� Autostrade" (Italian Highway) and FF.S. (Italian State Railways).
He was acoustic consultant in more than 20 italian theatres, churches and sport arenas: he designed the acoustical correction of Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, of Roman Amphitheatre in Verona, of Nuovo Teatro Comunale in Cagliari, of Pala De' Andr� in Ravenna, of Teatro Farnese in Parma, of Sport Arena di Modena, of "Buero Vallejo" Theatre in Alcorcon (Madrid), of Teatro Comunale in Orvieto and in many other rooms. He developed an innovative approach to the use of ancient churches as multi-function auditoriums, with experience in nearly 10 cases, amond which the Aula Magna S.Lucia in Bologna and the S.Domenico basilica in Foligno. Recently he designed the acoustics of the new "PalaFiumara" in Genoa, the first Italian "sport arena" which was designed and built specifically for the usage as a large, multipurpose concert hall.
Angelo was deeply involved in the normative activity, taking part to the UNI Acoustical Commission and to some CEN, ISO and AES working groups. This activity was supported by a long experience in laboratory tests and certification.
He was consultant of the Italian Environment Ministry, SIAR (Air Noise Pollution Service) during a DISIA project for the acoustical recovery of urban areas. During this activity, he developed two innovative simulation programs for the acoustic mapping of urban areas (CITYMAP) and for the detail evaluation of the sound reduction devices (DISIAPYR).
In 1995, Angelo released the DISIA package, a suite of software tools for noise mapping in urban areas (wide-range and detail), including industrial sources, road noise and railway/tramway noise. This software was developed under contract with the Italian Minstry for the Environment, and has been for years the "reference" computer model employed freely by Italian public administrations, schools and universities. In August 2005, however, Italy adopted the European Council Directive on Noise Planning, and consequently now the "official" ad-interim noise prediction algorithms to be used in Italy are the French "Cetur" model (road noise), the Dutch railway model, and ISO 9613 for industrial sources.
Angelo is effective member of the Italian Acoustics Association (AIA) and of the Audio Engineering Society (AES).
At the University of Parma, he contributed to the development of the acoustics laboratories; he actually is responsible of them after the transfer of the founder, prof. Roberto Pompoli. These laboratories are equipped with high level instrumentation and facilities, making it possible to execute any kind of acoustical investigation and to release official certifications. In these laboratories, Angelo developed innovative measuring techniques and software "virtual instruments", which place the University of Parma in a position of absolute excellence in the world.
Angelo is author of more than 240 scientific papers; about 2/3 of them are in English, and were presented at international conferences and/or printed in peer-reviewed scientifc journals. The actual scientific activity is related principally with numerical modelling techniques, applied to the optimisation of sound systems on vehicles, and to the measurement of the acoustical impulse responses of theaters and concert halls, providing the filters to be employed in modern convolution software plugins, such as the new Waves IR-1 plugin.