Accelerated Time and High-Resolution 3D Modeling of the Flow and Dispersion of Noxious Substances over a Gigantic Urban Area—The EMERGENCIES Project

Abstract

Accidental or malicious releases in the atmosphere are more likely to occur in built-up areas, where flow and dispersion are complex. The EMERGENCIES project aims to demonstrate the operational feasibility of three-dimensional simulation as a support tool for emergency teams and first responders. The simulation domain covers a gigantic urban area around Paris, France, and uses high-resolution metric grids. It relies on the PMSS modeling system to model the flow and dispersion over this gigantic domain and on the Code_Saturne model to simulate both the close vicinity and the inside of several buildings of interest. The accelerated time is achieved through the parallel algorithms of the models. Calculations rely on a two-step approach: the flow is computed in advance using meteorological forecasts, and then on-demand release scenarios are performed. Results obtained with actual meteorological mesoscale data and realistic releases occurring both inside and outside of buildings are presented and discussed. They prove the feasibility of operational use by emergency teams in cases of atmospheric release of hazardous materials.