Hamburg launches new software tool for hazardous materials

15 June 2016, by CEN Universität Hamburg

Photo: UHH/CEN

Inside the wind tunnel: Frank Harms, Eva Berbekar and Bernd Leitl (from left to right).

Today, a research team from the boundary layer wind tunnel at the University’s Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) and Hamburg’s Ministry...

Today, a research team from the boundary layer wind tunnel at the University’s Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) and Hamburg’s Ministry of the Interior and Sports will release a new piece of software for the protection against threats and hazards.

The tool called CT-Analyst was devised by researchers in technical meteorology at Universität Hamburg and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington D.C., USA with the aim to support fire departments and emergency management agencies. CT-Analyst will indicate danger areas without delay, for instance when clouds of pollution are released in Hamburg.

Thanks to financial backing from the Ministry, Bernd Leitl, Frank Harms, Eva Berbekar, and their colleagues from the NRL could further enhance the program’s pilot version. They have significantly improved predictions based on test results from the large boundary layer wind tunnel. The scientific expertise available at the CEN and its unique experimental options in urban meteorology were essential to this success.

Now, the software tool can provide particularly realistic predictions of the expansion of airborne hazards. This helps rescue task forces respond more efficiently to emergency situations and ensure better protection of people, environment, and rescue forces alike.

Simultaneously, the research team also managed to reduce the time required for adjusting the tool—that is dependent on complex flow calculations—to large operational areas. Rescue services thus receive the first program version which covers Hamburg’s entire metropolitan area.

Further information about the boundary layer wind tunnel