Topic: Development of computational systems for support in response to emergencies related with atmospheric dispersion of hazardous substances in urban environments, with special emphasis in inverse modelling methods for the identification of unknown sources of the hazardous substances (location and strength of the source).

Results: An inverse modelling methodology for the identification of an unknown source emitting a hazardous substance inside an urban environment through data assimilation of pollutant concentration observations has been developed, validated and integrated in a computational fluid dynamics code (ADREA-HF). The method is also applicable in cases where the unknown source is located outside the urban area. A methodology for data assimilation of health effects observations in the inverse modelling algorithm has been developed in a first stage. A method has been developed for shortening the required computation time of the above systems to make them applicable operationally in cases of emergency response.

Partners:
• TAMUQ, Texas A&M University at Qatar
• NCSR-D, National Centre for Scientific Research-Demokritos
• SCH, Supreme Council of Health at Qatar
• UCEWP, Ukrainian Centre of Environmental and Water Projects

Publications
G.C. Efthimiou, I.V. Kovalets, A. Venetsanos, S. Andronopoulos, C.D. Argyropoulos, K. Kakosimos (2017) An optimized inverse modelling method for determining the location and strength of a point source releasing airborne material in urban environment. Atmospheric Environment 170 (2017) pp. 118–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.09.034
V. Kovalets, G. C. Efthimiou, S. Andronopoulos, A. G. Venetsanos, C. D. Argyropoulos, K. E. Kakosimos (2018) Inverse identification of unknown finite-duration air pollutant release from a point source in urban environment. Atmospheric Environment 181 (2018) pp. 82–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.03.028
Efthimiou, G.C., Kovalets, I.V., Argyropoulos, C.D., Venetsanos, A., Andronopoulos, S., Kakosimos, K.E. (2018) Evaluation of an inverse modelling methodology for the prediction of a stationary point pollutant source in complex urban environments. Building and Environment, 143, Pages 107-119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.07.003
Argyropoulos, C.D., Elkhalifa, S., Fthenou, E., Efthimiou, G.C., Andronopoulos, S., Venetsanos, A., Kovalets, I.V., Kakosimos, K.E. (2018) Source reconstruction of airborne toxics based on acute health effects information. Scientific Reports, 8:5596, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23767-8