Reducing Subjectivity When Attempting Auditory Scene Recreation in Accident Reconstruction

Abstract

It is well-established that acoustic, psychoacoustic, and cognitive parameters can affect sound perception and response. Over the last several decades, there has been an increase in the amount of research on auditory stimuli and their effect on human perception and response. Objective techniques to evaluate acoustic signals have become an essential part of several industries and their application in accident reconstruction can also prove beneficial. Specifically, objective techniques that employ the appropriate technology to record and play back accurate representations of an auditory scene would allow for researchers and triers of fact to experience the auditory stimuli that could otherwise only be quantified or described through technical measurements. These efforts will significantly improve evidentiary value, analyses, and conclusions. The purpose of this paper is to present a case for the use of this technology within the accident reconstruction field in order to accurately represent a receiver's perception of a sound. This proposition is partially based on the authors' experience in using this technology to capture sound scene information in previous litigation work.