People

Profile of Peter VanDelden, P.PHYS., INCE, COHC

Van Delden
Name
Peter VanDelden, P.PHYS., INCE, COHC
Position
Technical Director, Noise and Vibration
Email
Summary

Peter VanDelden is an internationally recognized noise specialist known for finding innovative solutions to difficult problems in environmental and occupational noise. Since joining RWDI in 2001, he has been regularly called upon for unusual and technically demanding projects.


For more than a decade, Peter has been in high demand for negotiating land use planning disputes. He has participated in hearings and mediation for several multi-stakeholder land use disputes and is qualified as an expert witness. Such experience also informs his role as a peer reviewer.


An expert in environmental noise assessment, Peter enjoys longstanding relationships with some of the largest industrial facilities in Ontario. He excels at bringing clients and suppliers together, particularly for projects involving extensive noise mitigation, to develop solutions that optimize results while minimizing costs. Peter has published several technical papers highlighting new developments in noise mitigation.


Peter’s expertise is complemented by his skills as a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC). He is uniquely able to understand industrial processes and equipment from the lens of a trained COHC and is one of the authors of the current CSA standard on Hearing Loss Prevention Program Management. Together, these skills enable Peter to help high end clients meet or exceed hearing conservation goals while also continuing to meet production goals.


Peter has been involved in the Canadian Acoustics Association (CAA) for most of his career, having produced eight technical presentations and papers. He chaired the extremely successful 2017 conference and currently sits as a board member. Through this involvement, Peter has built relationships with many industry stakeholders, including regulators, suppliers, and the academic community.


International standards development is an important part of Peter’s work. As chair of two Canadian committees on Acoustics and Noise with the Standards Council of Canada, he leads groups of experts who provide input into ISO standards in noise and acoustics. Peter’s expertise extends to the international arena where he has contributed to the development of three standards as a Canadian technical expert in two ISO working groups.

A technical specialist helping clients understand and mitigate noise in a range of sectors and industries

  • EDUCATION

    • Bachelor of Science, Honours (Physics), McMaster University, 1995
    • “Acoustics and Noise Control” course, University of Alberta, 2001
    • Noise Control Engineering I” course, PennState World Campus, 2003
    • Environmental Noise Assessment in Land Use Planning” course, Mohawk College, 2007
  • AFFILIATIONS

    • Certified as Professional Physicist (P.Phys.), Canadian Association of Physicists
    • Member (INCE), Institute of Noise Control Engineering
    • Certified as Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC), Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation
    • Member, American Industrial Hygiene Association
    • Board Member, Canadian Acoustical Association
    • Chair of technical committees in Acoustics TC43 and Noise TC43/SC1, Standards Council of Canada
    • Member of TC43/SC1 Working Groups 45 and 61, International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
    • Member Occupational Hearing Conservation technical committee, Canadian Standards Association
  • SPECIALTIES

    • Land use planning
    • Expert witness testimony
    • Peer reviews
    • Occupational assessment and training
    • Industrial and institutional noise
    • Environmental assessments
    • Road, rail and airport studies
    • Noise mitigation
    • Acoustic audits