Title: The SMEDIS database and validation exercise

Authors: B. Carissimo, S.F. Jagger, N.C. Daish, A. Halford, S. Selmer-Olsen, K. Riikonen, J.M. Perroux, J. Wurtz, J.G. Bartzis, N.J. Duijm, K. Ham, M. Schatzmann, D.-R. Hall

Addresses: Electricite de France, Direction des Etudes et Recherches, 6 Quai Watier, 78401 Chatou Cedex, France. Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK. Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd., 3 King's Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, UK. BG Technology, Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3GR, UK. Det Norske Veritas, Department of Environment, Process and Reliability, PO Box 300, Veritasveien 1, Hoevik N-1322, Norway. Finnish Meteorological Institute, Schaajankatu 20E, FIN-00810 Helsinki, Finland. Gaz de France, Service Etude Cryogeniques, BP1140, 44024 Nantes Cedex, France. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for System Informatics and Safety, TP-650, I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy. National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Environmental Research Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, 15310 Aghia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece. Riso National Laboratory, PO Box 49, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. TNO Institute of Environmental Affairs, Laan van Westenenk 501, PO Box 342, 7300 AH Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Meteorologisches Institut, University of Hamburg, Bundesstrabe 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany. W. S. Atkins Safety and Reliability, Woodcote Grove, Ashley Road, Epson, Surrey, KT18 5BW, UK

Abstract: SMEDIS is an ongoing research project funded by the European Union under the Environment and Climate Research Programme for the period 1996-1999. The project is coordinated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE, UK) with two other main partners Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC, UK) and Electricite de France (EDF, France). Ten additional partners from across Europe are also participants in the project. The main objective of the project is to develop a methodology for the evaluation of dense gas atmospheric dispersion models used in the study of accidental releases of explosive or toxic materials. This evaluation is composed of a scientific assessment of each model, together with a validation by comparison with available experimental data. This paper describes more specifically the database constructed, and the validation performed by the participants involved in the project. Preliminary results indicate that the restriction for arcwise concentrations leads to an optimistic view of model performance when complex effects are present and that, in general, statistical performance is better for more sophisticated models.

Keywords: atmospheric dispersion; hazardous material; model evaluation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2001.000654

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2001 Vol.16 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.614-629

Published online: 09 Jul 2003 *

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