So, what’s making school so daunting right now for an otherwise school-loving, keener-nerd like me? Why am I having trouble staying focused and falling into a state of anarchic angst?
Last term (Sept 2013-Dec 2013), my project focus was on field studies and field measurements. I went out into the city’s neighborhoods, went into private laneway homes and collected data in a scientific manner (read more about my work last term here). Being diligent and persistent was doable, even through difficult moments and failures (just repeat!). Working hard = sweating, running about, laboring carefully. Everything was real. I was in the field dealing with practicalities and logistics, listening for noises, metering sound levels, handling heavy equipment.
This term, the goal is quite different: my project focus is modeling. How Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.I wish “modeling” means glamorously strutting down catwalks, flaunting expensive garb. Or that modeling means hand-crafting whimsical architectural designs out of balsa wood, plastic, glue, foamcore boards, steel wires, and cardboard.
I loved doing that in architecture school! But no. Modeling in engineering means specifically mathematical modeling and software modeling. In engineering we use lines of math as “simplified models” to attempt to describe natural phenomenon, to find solutions to problems, to give numerical answers to unknowns.
Mathematical modeling in acoustics looks like this:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
(book excerpts from “Lecture Notes on the Mathematics of Acoustics,” MCM Wright.)
Time to trade in those balsa wood sticks for some math symbols. In order to model, I need a deeper understanding of the theories at work behind building and environmental acoustic, which are built upon a foundation of advanced mathematics. To even begin scratching the surface of this ginormous mission, I must rebuild my calculus proficiency to its former competence (Grade 12 IB or Berkeley Engineering year 1), and then aggressively move it forward by leaps and bounds for the battles ahead… ASAP:
- all relevant acoustic theory, including wave theory and the mathematical models used to describe acoustical phenomena under study. All these are based in vector calculus, eigenfunctions, and full of orphic characters
- the boundary element method
- design and construct mathematical models for industry application
In all honesty, I have long forgotten every ounce of calculus I’ve learned, so I am currently trying to self-study my way back into the game by old college calculus textbooks and videos from the Khan Academy (Youtube). So far it’s been a stop-and-go, spotty, and very frustrating process… if you guys have any study tips or favorite reference books in advanced calculus, let me know!