Underwater noise appointment

Matt is the first non-biologist to join Baker Consultants’ Marine team and the company feels that his experience will further strengthen their bioacoustics capabilities and complement the existing highly specialised marine ecology knowledge within the company.

Baker Consultants’ expanding Marine team carries out marine mammal monitoring and underwater noise mitigation work for a range of projects, including offshore wind farms such as Borkum Riffgrund 1 and Gode Wind 1 and 2.

Matt brings substantial acoustics knowledge to Baker Consultants from his past roles, most recently as owner and principal consultant of his own company providing noise and vibration consultancy to the building, industrial and environmental sectors. Previous to this, Matt was a post-graduate researcher in underwater acoustics and ultrasonics at the University of Southampton, where he had studied acoustics with oceanography as a student.

Baker Consultants says that Matt is passionate about underwater acoustics and its use in describing our marine ecosystem and contributes regularly to the Institute of Acoustics through regional committee work. He has co-authored a number of academic papers, posters, abstracts and contract reports on topics ranging from the effect of ultrasound on the solidification of fats to the use of acoustics in sizing oceanic bubble populations.

Matt will be applying his underwater acoustic experience to a range of Baker Consultants Marine projects, starting with Gode Wind offshore wind farm in the North Sea.

Speaking recently of his initial experiences at Gode Wind, Matt said, “The work is exciting and fulfilling, not least because we are relating anthropogenic activities to real-time noise levels in the water. Also, after all the modelling and calculations, it is pleasing to be able to provide the client with the field information they need to more efficiently conduct their activities”.

To read the Borkum Riffgrund 1 case study please visit www.bakerconsultants.co.uk/case-studies

By Jake Frith