About
Professor Paul White is Professor of Statistical Signal Processing within Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton.
"Sound plays a vital role in the lives of marine mammals; understanding how they use acoustics provides inspiration for man-made systems, whilst monitoring the impact of man-made noise is important for their conservation."
Paul is Professor of Statistical Signal Processing in the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR).
Having obtained a BSc in Mathematics in 1985, Paul moved along the south coast to Southampton to undertake his PhD at the University of Southampton, becoming a lecturer in ISVR in 1988 and was awarded his Chair in 2004.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Signal processing
- Underwater acoustics and bioacoustics (the way animals, especially marine mammals, use sound)
- The processing of calls of marine mammals
- Underwater noise
- Fish acoustics
Current research
Paul is primarily concerned with developing tools to assist in the computer-aided analysis of underwater sounds and understanding the role of those sounds in the marine environment.
Acoustics, in the form of sonar, is an important tool for the exploration of the marine environment. It is used by the seismic industry to locate oil and gas reserves, by the military to detect objects, by oceanographers to make measurements and by marine mammals to survive.
Man-made underwater acoustic systems rely upon computers to process the data coming from sensors to interpret the environment. The processing methods within the computer systems are a critical component often defining the overall success of the instrument.
Zero Leakage 2050
UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), working in partnership with others, has taken a lead in the development of the water research agenda in the UK and Ireland by defining a strategic research programme to address the key challenges facing the industry, now and in the future. In the ISVR at Southampton University, we are working on one of the 12 Big Research Questions, ‘How will we achieve zero leakage in a sustainable way by 2050?’. In particular, in ISVR, we are looking at the fundamental research required to take Acoustic Leak Detection to a whole new level.
Detecting leaks from undersea gas pipelines, seabed methane reserves, and carbon capture and storage facilities
Do dolphins think nonlinearly?
The sounds of voices and waterfalls on other planets
Whales hunt with wall of sound
Dolphin-inspired radar for finding bombs, bugs and catastrophe victims
World's first experiment tests for leaks from carbon capture and storage seabed facilities
Are some people suffering as a result of increasing mass exposure of the public to ultrasound in air?
Man-made underwater sound may have wider ecosystem effects than previously thought
Signal Processing for Whale and Dolphin Vocalisations
This page describes the research project on signal processing for whale and dolphin vocalisations.
Humpback whale song analysis
Combining Steady state and Transient Methods for Acoustic Leak Detection
The effects of sound on fish
A number of studies have determined how fish respond to various sounds, to provide the basic knowledge needed to protect fish, and design ‘acoustic scarecrows’. This work is led by the International Centre for Ecohydraulics Research (ICER) (Prof Kemp), with Prof White and Prof Leighton from ISVR providing the acoustics input.