Introduction
According to the conclusion of Lu's study [1], there's an existing risk of COVID-19 infection in relation with indoor air flow. With this web page, our main goal is to create awareness among society and prevent new transmissions of coronavirus, by showing the dangers of enclosed activities.
Due to the rise in air temperatures of summer heat, local restaurants and shops rely on air conditioning to cool down indoor environments. As they begin to reopen, society members must learn the risks of the fresh and infected indoor airflow.
Motivation
Identify indoor designs that decrease the risk of contagion according to ventilation mass flows
- Air-Flow increases COVID-19 spread in close proximity.
- Social distancing strategies often disrupt human activities.
- Can fine-tuned changes to built environments reduce infection risk more efficiently?
Challenges
- Lack of data for a valid assessment.
- Inherent uncertainty in human behavior.
- Mathematical constraints in estimating model parameters.
- Developing a user-friendly UI to obtain this risks.
Ethical constraints
The simulations do not give certain results, they are only a helpful guide to reduce COVID-19 spread inside enclosed spaces.
Methodology
Navier-Stokes equation, in fluid mechanics, a partial differential equation that describes the flow of incompressible fluids.
Figure 1.1.- Simulation
Figure 1.2.- Diffusion step
Simulation
Figure 2.1.- Floor layout of a generic Starbucks design
Figure 2.2.- Air flow simulation of a generic Starbucks design
Figure 2.3.- Floor layout of a generic classroom design
Figure 2.4.- Air flow simulation of a generic classroom design
Recommendations
- Do not position yourself inside the main airflow of the AC system.
- Reduce your stay on the installation, + time = + risk.
- Installing Biological filters in the AC system.
- Try different table arrangements in order to not keep many people on the same airflow and if possible avoid it.
Next steps
- Enable consumers to scan their indoors to proceed with a personalised simulation.
- Offer standard structures for a quicker simulation.
- Recognising the establishments that checked their flow.
- Adding specified data of COVID-19 spread in a room.
Resources
Stam, J. (2003). Real-Time Fluid Dynamics for Games.
- [1] Lu, J., Gu, J., Li, K., Xu, C., Su, W., Lai, Z....Yang, Z. (2020). COVID19 Outbreak Associated with Air Conditioning in Restaurant, Guangzhou, China, 2020. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(7), 1628-1631. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2607.200764.
- Córdova, A., Latasa, I. (2020, May 19). Respiratory flows as a method for safely preventing the coronavirus transmission (COVID-19). Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666506920300195?fbclid=IwAR3UEAOAHLOHUswKTmXZsL0POP7JASYgsNJEItmL_YZ06vZBXQ3lA-70ico
The team
Bioengineering Major UABC
Renewable energy engineering Major UABC
Mechanical engineering Major UABC
Physics MajorUNAM
Double major in Mathematics and Chemistry U of O