Application of GIS for the Control of Major Accident Hazards

Abstract

The presented study discusses the importance of GIS in assessing the fire and explosion modelling involved in major accident hazards. The simulation of toxic dispersions in the atmosphere is especially dangerous for densely inhabited areas, or close to the sensitive environment, which are called the target systems. Therefore, mathematical-physical predictions from hazard modelling programs such as Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA) have to be combined with a Geographic Information System (GIS) such as ArcGIS. This multidisciplinary approach allows experts to couple the consequences and the target systems in one representation of major accident hazards. This unique combination of the two programs allows us to calculate the consequences to human life for a real accident scenario case study. Description of methodical approach and four accident scenarios are investigated based on ALOHAs models for carbon monoxide release combined with ArcGIS for Liberty Ostrava a.s. as a case study.

Keywords: ALOHA; ArcGIS; Carbon monoxide; Major accident hazards; Modelling of release and dispersion.