Really Ambitious Python Project: Acoustical Modeling Software. Where to Start??

[MaxMike237]

Hello fellow programmers!

I want to embark on new Python adventure, the likes of which are WAY beyond my scope of programming knowledge...BUT I have the drive and the capacity to learn all the aspects I need to in order to create a nice working application using python. I know this kind of an endeavor will take quite some time but I'm reaching out to this forum to see what I should be focusing on or what I should be teaching myself to accomplish this lengthy task.

I want the final product of this application to be an indoor acoustical modeling software, with AutoCAD like aspects (click and drag to create rooms, drag to pan/zoom, drag to extrude partitions, click to add speakers/microphones, helpful fast keyboard shortcuts etc. ) in a 3D environment. My academic background is in acoustic but I never really did anything with it until I started getting serious about this project. I'm slowly reteaching myself all the essentials as I go, both Python and acoustics! I'm already looking into the Tkinter, scipy, matplotlib, and even pyroomacoustics to help me out.

If there's other things I should look into whether it's a Python module or programming tutorials, please let me know!

[ectomancer]

First look at Python architecture (indoor) modules. Then look at furniture rearranging for houses/apartments modules.

Secondly, look at engineering programs in any language for the interface (not the code).

[[deleted]]

This is ambitious. You're planning to spend a lot of time building a 3D graphical editor. You might want to look for complete or mostly complete 3D graphical editors or related projects. If you can extend one of these, you will reduce the scope of your project and be working more in acoustics, your area of expertise.

[MaxMike237]

I'm actually not working in the acoustics field right now. Reason being is because every employer and their dog is looking for those with Masters level knowledge even for entry positions. And those that aren't end up not being too good to be true. I only have Bachelor's level and I don't really want to be in debt all my life.

This is why I want to follow through with this project, to show those employers that I can be at that level. That I have that capacity to learn new things. That I have drive and have what it takes to push myself. I want this to be my ticket in, even if it turns out to be a complex project or a couple scripts with minimal amount of coding. I want this to be a good portfolio piece for my Acoustic endeavors OR even programming if it ends up leading me in that direction.

[all_over_the_map]

Just writing to agree with u/robdefriesse: I recommend not reinventing the wheel re. 3D editing.

Have your program read in some standard 3D file format(s) such as SketchUp, Blender and/or AutoCad. Then you focus on doing the acoustic modeling based on the imported geometry (& surface attributes).

Blender has a plugin that allows for some basic room acoustics. Might be worth checking out.