A Method for the Application of Numerical Simulations during Firefighting Operations Using Pre-Simulated, Model-Based Fire Scenarios

Puyan Abolghasem Zadeh, Uwe Rüppel

Institute for Numerical Methods and Informatics in Civil Engineering, Technische Universit?t Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.

DOI: 10.4236/ojce.2013.32A002                

Abstract

The spread of fire and smoke during a fire incident plays a crucial role in rescuing people from the burning building. So it is important for the decision makers (the head of rescue staff) to get a prediction about the spread of fire inside the building through computational techniques like numerical fire simulations. But these techniques require advanced mathematical knowledge and are very time consuming. This paper presents a new method which employs a set of pre-simulated and model-based scenarios to find the closest one to the real fire and present its results to the decision makers. For this purpose, we shift the performance consuming numerical fire simulations into a former phase by integration of these simulations into the planning process of the building. This is realized by enhancing the methods of Building Information Modeling (BIM). To provide the fire simulation results during a real case, our new concept includes a scenario database where all simulated fire scenarios will be collected. In a real case, a special search algorithm will go through this database to find the closest pre-simulated fire scenario to the real fire on the basis of reported information from the burning building.

Keywords

Fire Simulation; Model-based Fire Scenario; Firefighting; Decision Making Support; Building Information Modeling

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	D. Brein and T. F. Hegger, “Gefahrenpotentiale Summieren Sich,” Technical Report, 2002.
[2]	P. Wibera, “ORBIT-Studie,” Technical Report, 1978.
[3]	G. H. Yeoh and K. K. Yuen, “Computational Fluid Dynamics in Fire Engineering: Theory, Modelling and Practice,” Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2009.
[4]	H. Czichos, M. Hennecke and Hütte “Das Ingenieurwissen,” 33rd Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 2008.
[5]	P. Abolghasemzadeh and U. Rüppel, “Pseudo Real-Time Fire Simulations with Building Information Models Using a Pre-Simulated Fire Scenario Database,” Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Computational Engineering, Darmstadt, 2011, pp. 140-141.
[6]	B. Ernstrom, D. Hanson, D. Hill, J. J. Clark, M. K. Holder, D. N. Turner, D. R. Sundt, L. S. I. Barton and T. W. Barton, “The Contractor’s Guide To BIM,” The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), 2006. http://www.agcnebuilders.com/documents/BIMGuide.pdf
[7]	G. Lee, R. Sacks and C. M. Eastman, “Specifying Para metric Building Object Behavior (BOB) for a Building Information Modeling System,” Automation in Construction, Vol. 15, No. 6, 2006, pp. 758-776. doi:10.1016/j.autcon.2005.09.009
[8]	G. V. Holness, “Building Information Modeling: Gaining Momentum,” ASHRAE Journal, Vol. 50, No. 6, 2008, pp. 28-41.
[9]	U. Rüppel and P. Abolghasemzadeh, “BIM-Based Immersive Evacuation Simulations,” Digital Proceedings of the 18. International Conference on the Application of Computer Science and Mathematics in Architecture and Civil Engineering (IKM 2009), Weimar, 2009.
[10]	T. Jin, “Studies of Emotional Instability in Smoke from Fires,” Journal of Fire and Flammability, Vol. 12, 1981, pp. 131-142.
[11]	V. Babrauskas, “Heat Release Rates,” In: SFPE Hand book of Fire Protection Engineering, 3rd Edition, National Fire Protection Association Quincy, 2002, pp. 1-3.
[12]	D. Hosser, “Leitfaden Ingenieurmethoden des Brand schutzes,” Verein zur Forderung des Deutschen Brandschutzes eV (vfdb), 2009.
[13]	U. Rüppel, P. Abolghasemzadeh and K. Stübbe, “BIM Based Immersive Indoor Graph Networks for Emergency Situations in Buildings,” Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, 2010, pp. 65-71.
[14]	K. Stuebbe, “Kontextsensitive Indoor-Navigation für Einsatzkrafte-Ortung, Wegberechnung, Zielführung und Einsatzkoordination,” Ph.D. Thesis, Shaker Verlag, Aachen, 2010.
[15]	P. Abolghasemzadeh, “Ganzheitliche, Modellbasierte In genieurmethoden zu Hochperformanten Sicherheitsana lysen in Gebauden,” Ph.D. Thesis, Shaker Verlag, Aachen, 2012.
[16]	teXXmo Mobile Solution GmbH & Co. KG, “KALEO Tablet PC Family,” 2012. http://www.texxmo.de/index.php?cat=KALEO