Sonel mapping: acoustic modeling utilizing an acoustic version of photon mapping

Acoustic modeling of even small simple environments is a complex, computationally expensive task. Sound, just as light, is itself a wave phenomenon. Although there are several key differences between light and sound there are also several similarities. Given the similarities which exist between sound and light, this work investigates the application of photon mapping (suitably modified), to model environmental acoustics. The resulting acoustic sonel mapping technique can be used to model acoustic environments while accounting for diffuse and specular acoustic reflections as well as refraction and diffraction effects.