scholarly journals Clarifying the meaning of mantras in wildland fire behaviour modelling: reply to Cruz et al. (2017)

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 770 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Mell ◽  
Albert Simeoni ◽  
Dominique Morvan ◽  
J. Kevin Hiers ◽  
Nicholas Skowronski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Fire Behaviour ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Current Research Activity ◽  
Worthy Goal ◽  
Behaviour Models ◽  
Empirical Approaches ◽  
Potential Use

In a recent communication, Cruz et al. (2017) called attention to several recurring statements (mantras) in the wildland fire literature regarding empirical and physical fire behaviour models. Motivated by concern that these mantras have not been fully vetted and are repeated blindly, Cruz et al. (2017) sought to verify five mantras they identify. This is a worthy goal and here we seek to extend the discussion and provide clarification to several confusing aspects of the Cruz et al. (2017) communication. In particular, their treatment of what they call physical models is inconsistent, neglects to reference current research activity focussed on combined experimentation and model development, and misses an opportunity to discuss the potential use of physical models to fire behaviour outside the scope of empirical approaches.

Mantras of wildland fire behaviour modelling: facts or fallacies?

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel G. Cruz ◽  
Martin E. Alexander ◽  
Andrew L. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Fire Behaviour ◽  
Fire Science ◽  
Current State ◽  
Valid Data ◽  
Insight Into

Generalised statements about the state of fire science are often used to provide a simplified context for new work. This paper explores the validity of five frequently repeated statements regarding empirical and physical models for predicting wildland fire behaviour. For empirical models, these include statements that they: (1) work well over the range of their original data; and (2) are not appropriate for and should not be applied to conditions outside the range of the original data. For physical models, common statements include that they: (3) provide insight into the mechanisms that drive wildland fire spread and other aspects of fire behaviour; (4) give a better understanding of how fuel treatments modify fire behaviour; and (5) can be used to derive simplified models to predict fire behaviour operationally. The first statement was judged to be true only under certain conditions, whereas the second was shown not to be necessarily correct if valid data and appropriate modelling forms are used. Statements three through five, although theoretically valid, were considered not to be true given the current state of knowledge regarding fundamental wildland fire processes.

Limitations on the accuracy of model predictions of wildland fire behaviour: A state-of-the-knowledge overview

2013 ◽  
Vol 89 (03) ◽  
pp. 372-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin E. Alexander ◽  
Miguel G. Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Fire Behaviour ◽  
Error Sources ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Variability ◽  
Fire Environment ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Present Understanding

The degree of accuracy in model predictions of wildland fire behaviour characteristics are dependent on the model's applicability to a given situation, the validity of the model's relationships, and the reliability of the model input data. While much progress has been made by fire behaviour research in the past 35 years or so in addressing these three sources of model error, the accuracy in model predictions are still very much at the mercy of our present understanding of the natural phenomena exhibited by free-burning wildland fires and the inherent temporal and spatial variability in the fire environment. This paper will serve as a state-of-the-art primer on the subject of error sources in model predictions of wildland fire behaviour and includes a short historical overview of wildland fire behaviour research as it relates to model development.

Applied Mechanics Problems in the Oil and Gas Industry

1986 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 1687-1696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Roegiers
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Production Equipment ◽  
Paper Briefly ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Well Production ◽  
Current Research Activity

The petroleum industry offers a broad spectrum of problems that falls within the domain of expertise of mechanical engineers. These problems range from the design of well production equipment to the evaluation of formation responses to production and stimulation. This paper briefly describes various aspects and related difficulties with which the oil industry has to deal, from the time the well is spudded until the field is abandoned. It attempts to delineate the problems, to outline the approaches presently used, and to discuss areas where additional research is needed. Areas of current research activity also are described; whenever appropriate, typical or pertinent case histories are used to illustrate a point.

scholarly journals ABWiSE v1.0: Toward and Agent-Based Approach to Simulating Wildfire Spread

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Katan ◽  
Liliana Perez
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Fire Behaviour ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Based Modelling ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Wildfire Simulation ◽  
Behaviour Simulation

Abstract. Wildfires are a complex phenomenon emerging from interactions between air, heat, and vegetation, and while they are an important component of many ecosystems’ dynamics, they pose great danger to those ecosystems, and human life and property. Wildfire simulation models are an important research tool that help further our understanding of fire behaviour and can allow experimentation without recourse to live fires. Current fire simulation models fit into two general categories: empirical models and physical models. We present a new modelling approach that uses agent-based modelling to combine the complexity found in physical models with the ease of computation of empirical models. Our model represents the fire front as a set of moving agents that respond to, and interact with, vegetation, wind, and terrain. We calibrate the model using two simulated fires and one real fire, and validate the model against another real fire and the interim behaviour of the real calibration fire. Our model successfully replicates these fires, with a Figure of Merit on par with simulations by the Prometheus simulation model. Our model is a stepping-stone in using agent-based modelling for fire behaviour simulation, as we demonstrate the ability of agent-based modelling to replicate fire behaviour through emergence alone.

A Dynamic-Programming-Styled Algorithm for a Class of Multi-Agent Optimal Task Assignment

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Yang ◽  
Vikram Kapila ◽  
Ravi Vaidyanathan
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Programming ◽  
Task Assignment ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Spacecraft Formation ◽  
Assignment Algorithm ◽  
Decentralized Decision Making ◽  
Current Research Activity ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Global Optimal ◽  
Multiple Spacecraft

Abstract In this paper, we use a dynamic programming formulation to address a class of multi-agent task assignment problems that arise in the study of fuel optimal control of multiple agents. The fuel optimal multi-agent control is highly relevant to multiple spacecraft formation reconfiguration, an area of intense current research activity. Based on the recurrence relation derived from the celebrated principle of optimality, we develop an algorithm with a distributed computational architecture for the global optimal task assignment. In addition, we propose a communication protocol to facilitate decentralized decision making among agents. Illustrative studies are included to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed multi-agent optimal task assignment algorithm.

Software Agent Technology

2008 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrysanthi E. Georgakarakou ◽  
Anastasios A. Economides
Keyword(s):  
Reference Point ◽  
Software Agents ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Software Agent ◽  
Agent Technology ◽  
Virtual Enterprises ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Current Research Activity ◽  
Key Issues

This chapter provides an overview of the rapidly evolving area of software agents and presents the basic aspects of applying the agent technology to virtual enterprises (VE). As the field of software agents can appear chaotic, this chapter briefly introduces the key issues rather than present an in-depth analysis and critique of the field. In addition to, this chapter investigates the application of agent technology to virtual enterprises and presents current research activity that focuses on this field serving as an introductory step. Furthermore, this chapter makes a list of the most important themes concerning software agents and the application of agent technology to virtual enterprises apposing some order and consistency and serve as a reference point to a large body of literature.

A Methodology for the Analysis of Physical Model Scale Effects on the Simulation of Wave Propagation up to Wave Breaking: Preliminary Physical Model Results

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conceic¸a˜o Fortes ◽  
Maria da Grac¸a Neves ◽  
Joa˜o Alfredo Santos ◽  
Rui Capita˜o ◽  
Artur Palha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Physical Model ◽  
Scale Effects ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Type Model ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Common Structure ◽  
Constant Slope

This paper describes the experiments performed at the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC) aiming at simulating, in a flume, the wave propagation along a constant slope bottom that ends on a sea wall coastal defence structure, a common structure employed in the Portuguese coast. The objective of these tests is to calibrate the parameters of FUNWAVE, a Boussinesq type model, for wave propagation in coastal regions. This is the first step in the validation of a methodology to combine numerical and physical models in the study of the interactions between beaches and structures. This work is performed in the framework of the Composite Modelling of the Interactions between Beaches and Structures (CoMIBBs) project, a joint research activity of the HYDRALAB III European project.

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