With the nation’s recent emphasis on defense against terrorist attack and chemical warfare, the United States Department of Defense is looking at new ways to improve urban disaster control and protect its citizens. Supercomputers have placed Mississippi State University’s Engineering Research Center, as well as the highly respected engineering research team working on the project, in the spotlight.
“I think that this is a very interesting and worthwhile project,” junior Anna Knutsson said. “Taking into account recent events, urban disaster relief has really come to the nation’s attention in a big way.
“I think it is great that engineers at the ERC are working toward finding real solutions for this intricate problem during this time.”
One of the 15 largest computer clusters in the nation’s universities, MSU’s Engineering Research Center is well known for its ability to use high-tech computers to simulate real-world problems and find potential solutions to form preventive strategies. This information can then be used by both private and governmental agencies to help them safeguard both the livelihood and lives of people placed under their protection.
Currently, engineers at MSU are providing leadership in the development of technologies that provide disaster relief personnel with critical information that approximates real-time scenarios regarding chemical spills and the release of toxic contaminants-whether accidentally or intentional.
Bharat K. Soni, leader of the research team, said, “Many different factors must be taken into account when one tries to run a test of this sort. For instance, in the case of a chemical spill or some type of air pollutant, one would want to incorporate the point of origin (of the contaminant), the direction of the wind, the geographical layout of the city and whether there are any hazardous areas nearby that may intensify potential damage to the site in the model.”
Soni asserts that this information can be used by many different interest groups.
“Not only can rescue personnel such as the fire and police departments use this information, but insurance companies will also find these simulations useful,” Soni said.
Recently, MSU researchers focused on the city of New Orleans as a likely candidate for research in this area.
According to Soni, the team made a geographical model of the city within the computer and then overlaid this diagram with a mesh, or grid-like pattern.
By introducing different criteria, such as chemical density, flow rate and point of origin, the computer was able to simulate different disaster scenarios based on physical equations aligned at the points of the grid. These simulations will help personnel develop quick and efficient relief plans for the Crescent City.
Soni said there is one drawback within the system they have created-the time it takes to generate a computer simulation of this sort.
“It takes a long time to generate one computer simulation. For instance, the simulation that we just did for New Orleans took us a couple of days to complete.
“Simulation times like that will not be very beneficial to city officials who need the data immediately. Right now we are looking at ways to speed up the process,” Soni said.
Although engineers are making vast strides toward the creation of programs that will generate immediate data for disaster relief teams in cases of man-made disasters, none are currently available.
However, the importance of reports made in advance, with their emphasis on clear, objective and detailed information based on predetermined data such as building elevation, wind directions and potential escape routes can not be stressed enough.
“A project of this sort can’t help but benefit city officials and rescue personnel,” senior Bill Howard said. This is a great example of how MSU engineers are using the technology here to provide real solutions to everyday problems.