Title: Inverse modelling methods for identifying unknown releases in emergency scenarios: an overview

Authors: Sarvesh Kumar Singh; Maithili Sharan; Jean-Pierre Issartel

Addresses: Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India ' Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India ' Centre d'Etudes du Bouchet, 5, rue Lavoisier, BP 3, 91710 Vert le Petit Cedex, France

Abstract: The fast and accurate identification of unknown releases helps in an effective implementation of emergency preparedness (including plume exposure assessment) and public safety programs. The identification is based on networking of several receptors, limited a priori information, remotely measured concentrations, use of dispersion model, site description, meteorology, etc. This is considered as an ill-posed inverse problem. An overview of recently proposed/utilised inversion techniques is discussed with their various applications ranging from local scale to regional scale, limitations and inter-comparisons. The studies addressing identification of multiple-point releases are also included. In addition, the current issues, limitations and future scope associated with the inverse modelling are mentioned.

Keywords: Bayesian; inverse modelling; source estimation; unknown releases; variational minimisation; emergency preparedness; plume exposure assessment; public safety; emergency management; receptor networks; a priori information; remotely measuring; dispersion modelling; site description; air pollution; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.072121

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.57 No.1/2, pp.68 - 91

Received: 25 Sep 2014
Accepted: 15 Jul 2015
Published online: 30 Sep 2015 *

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