• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Berkeley College of Engineering Logo

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF WILDFIRES

A National Academies of Sciences–US National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Workshop

  • Home
  • Abstracts
  • Workshop Schedule

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF WILDFIRES

A National Academies of Sciences–US National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Workshop

Organizers: Tarek Zohdi (UC Berkeley), Ilkay Altintas (UCSD)

Location: Sibley Auditorium, University of California, Berkeley, Bechtel Engineering Center, Berkeley, CA 94720

Date:   October 7, 2019

Sponsored By:

(1) The National Academies, the United States National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and AmeriMech

(2) The UC Berkeley College of Engineering

(3) The UC Berkeley Fire Research Group

ABSTRACT: Uncontrolled wildfires are a growing problem that will continue to vex countries around the globe and  drain their  resources. In the popular press, year  after year we read fire-horror stories such as: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/us/mendocino-complex-fire-california.html If this problem is ever to be managed effectively, harmonization of modeling, simulation, modern engineering technology and environmental science is going to be needed. This NAS/USNCTAM Symposium focuses on  the state of the art of modeling and simulation of fires, with the objective being to determine  the speed and direction of spreading,  utilizing  fuel models for the types of combustible materials and to ascertain ecological effects that result (smoke, etc.) incorporating  environmental factors: relative humidity, precipitation. There are four main classes of models:

(1)    Empirical (for quick estimation),

(2)    Semi-empirical (two-dimensional topographical growth)

(3)    Physically based (PDE-based solutions).

(4)    Data Assimilation Models which adjust the model based on statistical models.


The topics above form the “core” of the workshop, however, other  aspects, related to  fire-events are very welcome, for example touching on:

(1)    Modeling and simulation of UAVs, UGVs, etc.,

(2)    Modeling and simulation of panic, traffic systems, etc.

(3)    Modeling and simulation of model and data uncertainty quantification,  etc.,

(4)    Modeling and simulation of remote sensing, LiDar, optics, etc.,

(5)    Modeling and simulation of telecommunications, etc.,

(6)    Modeling and simulation of combustion, etc.,

(7)    Modeling and simulation of supply chains, etc.,

(8)    Modeling and simulation of air quality, particulate flows, etc.


Format: This workshop is by invitation only, and will be held at UC Berkeley.  We estimate that approximately 40-50 people will attend. There are no parallel sessions, no keynote and no plenary talks.  Everyone will be given equal time to speak, and we will also have ample time for deep roundtable discussions.

© 2016–2025 UC Regents  |  Log in

© 2016–2025 UC Regents  |  Log in