Cyber Warfare Integration Network (CWIN), San Diego, CA
- Client: The Austin Company, Irvine, California
- Project Owner/Operator: Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems
The Cyber Warfare Integration Network (CWIN) is a virtual, geographically distributed battlefield environment that enables the analysis of operational scenarios in real time using a customized mix of virtual intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors, command and control elements, and simulations of precision strike platforms. CWIN's modeling and simulation computer assets are distributed among nodes at Northrop Grumman sites including El Segundo and San Diego, California; Bethpage, New York and Washington, D.C. Wieland Acoustics provided acoustical consulting services for the San Diego node.
Analysis was conducted for several spaces within the facility, the largest of which was the Theater Battle Arena and Viewing Area; with an average ceiling height about 35 feet, the Theater Battle Arena included state-of-the-art presentation systems and numerous operator workstations. Wieland Acoustics developed acoustical design guidelines for each of the spaces based on factors such as room size and the nature of use (amplified vs. non-amplified sound, etc.). Octave-band reverberation times for each space were then calculated based on proposed building plans.
The calculated reverberation times were then compared to design guidelines. This comparison indicated that overall reverberation times were excessive, particularly within larger spaces and at low frequencies. However, the octave-band analysis also indicated that, in some of the smaller rooms, the higher frequencies had reverberation times that were notably shorter than those recommended in the design guidelines. This was an important observation as these frequencies are most important to speech intelligibility.
In order to rectify the problems identified and provide suitable reverberation times for each space, recommendations were provided for adjusting the reverberant environment. Recommendations included substitution of planned construction materials, the addition of acoustical treatment to the finished surfaces, and the addition of a partition to ensure the acoustical separation of spaces.