Computer modeling of room acoustics is limited due to approximations regarding wavelength to surface size ratios and diffraction. In fact, it is suggested that a model with high geometrical fidelity may actually lead to less accurate predictions.

This research seeks to clarify how the level of model detail affects the accuracy of these simulations. Three models of the University of Nebraska's Strauss Recital Hall have been generated at varying levels of detail: low (a rough model of the essential architectural dimensions), medium (a more accurate representation of the space), and high (a complete rendering of the surfaces within the space).

The room acoustics modeling program ODEON is used to calculate objective measures (e.g. reverberation time and clarity) and create auralizations for each model. Meanwhile, the actual acoustical properties of Strauss Hall have been measured. The objective measure results are compared between the models and against measured data.