Use of sound for the interpretation of impact-echo signals

Presented at the 4th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD), Palo Alto, California, November 2-5, 1997.This paper describes the development and evaluation of techniques for using sound to aid in the interpretation of signals obtained from the nondestructive testing of concrete using the impact-echo method. The impact-echo method and the significance of using sound for the field engineer are introduced. The auditory representation scheme developed and the software used are described. Psychological experiments that evaluate the effectiveness of the representation scheme are discussed. Results indicate the success of using sound to enhance signal interpretation in real-time and also suggest ways of using sound to train field engineers in the proper use of the impact-echo method