Dr Paul Lepper is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Loughborough. He specialises in the general field of underwater acoustics, bioacoustics and underwater technologies, including acoustic and optical underwater systems, sound field measurement and modelling, marine species hearing and acoustic impact of noise on marine fauna.
Current research topics include measurement and characterization of underwater noise sources and the assessment of noise impact on marine fauna. These topics have included work to assess the construction noise from several offshore windfarm developments, various petroleum platforms, and projects looking at noise from small leisure craft. This research has included source characterization, sound field modelling and modelling marine species exposure. He is also involved in projects to assess hearing abilities of marine mammals and the use of acoustic deterrents. Dr Lepper is also involved in the development of various systems for long term noise field assessment and passive detection of marine species and the use of various propagation models for sound field assessment.
Dr Lepper is a Member of the Institute of Acoustics (UK) and the Acoustical Society of America and life member of the Acoustical Society of India and acts a member underwater acoustics committee and events committee for the Institute of Acoustics. Various projects have been conducted in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to assess sound fields and noise impacts for various offshore installations including windfarms and petroleum platforms.
These projects have including design and implementation of new procedures and technologies for acoustic measurements and detailed underwater acoustic field assessment during for example marine piling operations. As well the measurement in-situ radiated noise, state-of-the-art modelling techniques have been employed to assess potential acoustic zones of impact for various marine species. This includes detailed assessment of the potential noise field for a specific site (taking into account, sediment type, seabed topography etc.) and current known physiological and behavioural responses of various marine species to acoustic sources. Models were also developed to estimate cumulative sound field exposure to stationary or transiting marine species.
