From 12 to 14 August, Lima hosts the XIV Ibero-American Congress on Acoustics (FIA2026), organised by the Ibero-American Federation of Acoustics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Acústica Austral is taking part with two research papers, both presented by our Director of Engineering, Nicolás Andrés Bastián-Monarca — our third consecutive edition with new work, following FIA2024 in Santiago (Chile) and FIA2020-22 in Florianópolis (Brazil).
Wind farm noise: measurement criteria for D.S. No. 14/2024
The first paper proposes measurement and data-processing criteria to characterise the noise emission of operating wind farms under D.S. No. 14/2024. The new standard requires correlating measured noise with hub-height wind speed at an R² of 0.6 or higher, but does not specify how to measure or how to process the data. To provide that groundwork, two-week continuous monitoring campaigns were carried out at two operating wind farms, with measurements at six points. Applying criteria such as identifying periods with the least ambient-noise influence, excluding anomalous data by checking audio recordings and accounting for wind direction, R² ≥ 0.6 was achieved at all six points, for both daytime and night-time periods — direct input for the measurement protocols that Chile’s environmental enforcement agency (SMA) must issue under the new standard. In fact, the «Technical Proposal for the Measurement and Prediction Protocols of the New Stationary-Source Noise Emission Standard D.S. No. 14/2024», published by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) on 27 April, explicitly set out all of the post-processing criteria proposed.
Active noise control at an electrical substation
The second paper, developed with ZeroSound (Canada), presents the results of deploying an outdoor active noise control system at an operating electrical substation in Chile. The system targets the transformers’ fundamental frequency (100 Hz) and its harmonics along the propagation path to nearby receptors. Comparing measurements with the system on and off — following the D.S. No. 38/11 MMA methodology — attenuations of up to 10 dB at 100 Hz and up to 7 dBA in the overall level were observed: a real alternative for continuous low-frequency sources, where passive measures often fall short.
Applied research in the service of projects
Presenting at scientific congresses is not window dressing: it is the same technical capability we apply in our wind farm noise studies and SEIA projects (renewable energy). Our R+D+i line, with scientific publications and a standing agreement with Universidad Austral de Chile, is part of how we understand consultancy: methods that withstand review by peers and by the authority. To dig deeper into wind farm noise measurement under the new standard, see our note on wind farm noise and shadow flicker.
How we help
If you are developing a project with noise challenges — a wind farm facing the new standard, a substation with nearby receptors, or any stationary source in the SEIA — book a 20-minute call and let’s discuss how to approach it. And if you are at FIA2026, see you in Lima.
He leads Acústica Austral’s environmental noise and vibration studies for the SEIA across energy, port and infrastructure projects, and has contributed to reference work for Chile’s Ministry of the Environment.
Meet the team →Free resources for your project
Guide to the D.S. N°14/2024 and the acoustic checklist for entering the SEIA, in PDF. We email them to you.