Cognitive Ergonomics and Psychoacoustics in the High-Performance Indoor Environment Lab

Are you developing a new product and want to know how (potential) it will be received by users and how it will affect their well-being? Our experts can help you find the answers in our innovative indoor environment laboratory for impact research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP.

Today, people spend most of their time both at work and during their spare time in rooms. Therefore, these should be designed to ensure or even improve people’s health, well-being, and performance. To achieve this, suitable targets must be defined and structural and technical solutions provided. As part of the research and development initiative “High-Performance Indoor Environment (HiPIE)”, our experts at Fraunhofer IBP have created a test environment in which environmental conditions can be adapted quickly and easily. This enables us to investigate how humans react and behave, e.g. what they perceive and experience.

In our HiPIE laboratory, cause-and-effect relationships can be scientifically evaluated quickly and affordably. In a customizable laboratory space of approx. 45 m², building physics conditions such as acoustics, lighting, room climate and air quality can be precisely adapted as required. For example, we can create a virtual acoustic environment in which a large number of sound sources generate almost any spatial noise scenario by means of wave field synthesis.

We also have a 3D audio loudspeaker setup and binaural recording and playback systems at our disposal for simulating acoustic environments. A unique, controllable daylight wall in front of the test room windows enables test persons to virtually look out of the window. This also allows our experts to carefully assess the balance between daylight and lighting systems. The air-conditioning system can be used to simulate summery heat as well as cold periods.

In our HiPIE laboratory, human health and well-being related to new developments and product solutions can be investigated from various aspects. We have already carried out numerous studies in working, living, school and hospital environments, as well as for the automotive industry. Through user tests, we help our customers evaluate the effects of new product solutions on human well-being and how these are perceived by users.

Overview of our services:

• Building physics simulation environment
• Trials with test persons and user studies
• Investigation of cause-and-effect relationships between humans and the physical environment
• Measurement, evaluation and technical development
• Acoustic investigations and sound design
• Lighting technology tests and optimization