1st International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software - Lugano, Switzerland - June 2002
Keywords
industrial accidents, on line simulation, atmospheric dispersion
Start Date
1-7-2002 12:00 AM
Abstract
Mathematical models are important tools to evaluate the consequences of possible industrialaccidents. These models are often difficult to apply because they require trained users, and graphical userinterfaces can be of great help. An on line simulation system has been developed and is installed as a serversideapplication on the internet at www.enviroware.it. The system currently contains two models, EXPSYSis suitable to carry out consequence analysis and allows the user to evaluate the area impacted by industrialaccidents such as explosions, fires and releases of toxic or flammable gases. TOXFLAM is an analytic modelsuitable for simulating the atmospheric dispersion of gases lighter than air. Other simulation models will beadded to the system in the future. The modelling system allows each user to upload her/his own topographyfiles and to georeferentiate them. The topography files are then used both during the input phases, forexample for positioning the source by means of the mouse pointer, and during the output phase for plottingthe concentration fields or the area at risk. Each simulation, composed of input and output data, can be savedin the personal folder of the user. The simulation data can then be reloaded to view the results, can be used tostart new simulations and can be removed when they are no longer useful. A simulation system based on theinternet has some advantages with respect to single simulation models used off-line. For example all theusers share a unique simulation tool, they can suggest modifications and improvements are readily availableto all. The graphical user interface created with HTML makes the models more friendly and easy to use, andavailable on any platform, independently from the operating system. Moreover output data can be available,as usual, both as ASCII data and directly processed to give a graphical result.
On Line Simulation System for Industrial Accidents
Mathematical models are important tools to evaluate the consequences of possible industrialaccidents. These models are often difficult to apply because they require trained users, and graphical userinterfaces can be of great help. An on line simulation system has been developed and is installed as a serversideapplication on the internet at www.enviroware.it. The system currently contains two models, EXPSYSis suitable to carry out consequence analysis and allows the user to evaluate the area impacted by industrialaccidents such as explosions, fires and releases of toxic or flammable gases. TOXFLAM is an analytic modelsuitable for simulating the atmospheric dispersion of gases lighter than air. Other simulation models will beadded to the system in the future. The modelling system allows each user to upload her/his own topographyfiles and to georeferentiate them. The topography files are then used both during the input phases, forexample for positioning the source by means of the mouse pointer, and during the output phase for plottingthe concentration fields or the area at risk. Each simulation, composed of input and output data, can be savedin the personal folder of the user. The simulation data can then be reloaded to view the results, can be used tostart new simulations and can be removed when they are no longer useful. A simulation system based on theinternet has some advantages with respect to single simulation models used off-line. For example all theusers share a unique simulation tool, they can suggest modifications and improvements are readily availableto all. The graphical user interface created with HTML makes the models more friendly and easy to use, andavailable on any platform, independently from the operating system. Moreover output data can be available,as usual, both as ASCII data and directly processed to give a graphical result.
