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| "Where there's smoke
there's fire" is the adage. But for NIST that's just part of the story. Smoke,
itself, can obscure visibility and be a concern to populations downwind of a large fire.
NIST fire researchers have created a computer-based model to predict the downwind
distribution of smoke particulate and combustion products from large outdoor fires. The program, called ALOFT-FT (A Large Outdoor Fire plume Trajectory model-Flat Terrain), also enables users to estimate smoke concentrations anywhere from ground level to the top of the plume. ALOFT-FT, which can be run on a Windows-based personal computer, requires as input data wind speed and vari ability, atmospheric temperature, and the size and number of fires. Results can be displayed as downwind, crosswind, and vertical smoke concentration contours. NIST developed ALOFT-FT to aid in the planning process for intentional burning of crude oil spills on water. The program also can be used in predicting the smoke plume trajectories from other large outdoor fires such as those caused by burning structures. ALOFT-FT is available on the World Wide Web at http://fire.nist.gov/aloft/aloft-ftdownload.htm. The PC model is for smoke plumes blowing over flat terrain. Contact: Doug Walton, (301) 975-6872. |
| Large Fire Research Group |
| Fire Safety Engineering Division |
| Building and Fire Research Laboratory |
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