Complex Environmental Acoustics (CEA) Modeling

Created by Frank McQuarrie Jr., Spring 2025 contact@frankmcq.com

Purpose

This project models acoustic propagation in noisy environments. It supports both manual and automatic simulation modes, enabling users to investigate sound transmission in complex underwater settings.

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Setup

• Acoustic Toolbox Dependency:
  This project uses the Acoustic Toolbox (Bellhop).
  Before running any scripts, you must build the Bellhop executable:
  1. Download the Acoustic Toolbox from the link above.
  2. Follow the provided instructions to compile it (running make in the toolbox directory).
  3. Ensure the Bellhop executable is accessible from your environment, add to path.

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Included Scripts

Script	Purpose
CEA_automate.py	Automatically runs X iterations of the model, using semi-randomized environment parameters.
CEA_singleExperiment.py	Manually runs a single model simulation.
CEA_createEnv.py	Creates and configures the environment for acoustic propagation.
CEA_ssp.py	Generates or selects a sound speed profile (SSP) for modeling.
CEA_rayTracing.py	Traces and optionally plots acoustic rays through the defined environment.
CEA_arrivals.py	Analyzes acoustic arrivals at the receiver, outputs signal strengths, and checks detectability against a defined threshold.

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Usage Notes

• Scenario Customization:
  The provided scripts are configured for example scenarios in a 20 meter water column.
  To adapt for new scenarios, edit CAE_createEnv.py:

  • Manually define instrument depths and ranges as needed.
  • The structure is designed for easy modification by the user.

• Running Simulations:

  • Use CEA_singleExperiment.py for a single, manually defined run.
  • Use CEA_automate.py to batch-run multiple simulations with varied parameters.

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Citation

If you use or adapt this project, please credit:

McQuarrie, F.: Complex Environmental Acoustics Modeling package. https://github.com/frankMcQuarrie/complexEnvAcoustics.git. Version 1.0 (2025)

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Contact

For questions or contributions, please contact Frank McQuarrie Jr. {contact@frankmcq.com}