Integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models with GIS: an evaluation on data conversion formats

David W. Wong; Fernando Camelli; Mukul Sonwalkar

doi:10.1117/12.761763

26 July 2007 Integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models with GIS: an evaluation on data conversion formats

David W. Wong, Fernando Camelli, Mukul Sonwalkar

Proceedings Volume 6753, Geoinformatics 2007: Geospatial Information Science; 675312 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.761763
Event: Geoinformatics 2007, 2007, Nanjing, China

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are powerful computational tools to simulate urban-landscape scale atmospheric dispersion events. They are proven to be very useful for security management and emergency response. Essential inputs to CFD models include landscape characteristics, which are often captured by various GIS data layers. While it is logical to couple GIS and CFD models to take advantage of available GIS data and the visualization and cartographic rendering capabilities of GIS, the integration of the two tools have been minimal. In this paper, we took the first step to evaluate the use of GIS data in CFD modeling. Specifically, we explore how efficient is to use GIS data in CFD models and how sensitive the CFD results are to different GIS data formats. Using campus topography and building data, and the FEFLO-URBAN CFD model, we performed atmospheric release simulations using topographic data in contour and raster formats. We found that using raster format was quite efficient and contour data required significant effort. Though the simulation outputs from the two data formats were not identical, their overall outcomes were similar and did not post alarming discrepancies. We concluded that using GIS data have tremendous potential for CFD modeling.

Citation Download Citation

David W. Wong, Fernando Camelli, and Mukul Sonwalkar "Integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models with GIS: an evaluation on data conversion formats", Proc. SPIE 6753, Geoinformatics 2007: Geospatial Information Science, 675312 (26 July 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.761763

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