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:
(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.