FSEG NEWS

(A) Research News
(B) Software News
(C) News Archive

(A) Research News: back

This section lists all news concerning FSEG staff and their research activities.

The results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008) confirm that the Fire Safety Engineering Group (FSEG) of the University of Greenwich is one of the top research groups in the UK in the area of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering (UoA 28).   FSEG was part of the Centre for Numerical Modelling and Process Analysis (CNMPA) submission to UoA 28.  RAE2008 rated 70% of the submission in the highest two research quality categories, with 30% rated as ‘world leading’ and 40% rated as ‘internationally excellent’.

In the most respected RAE 2008 league table compiled by the Times Higher Education (18th December 2008), the CNMPA submission produced a grade point average of 2.95, placing CNMPA 4th out of the 33 submissions from 32 institutions.  Its 4th place meant that the group was placed higher than 12 of the research intensive Russell Group Universities.   With 30% of its submission rated at the highest quality rating of ‘world leading’, the quality of the CNMPA work was equal to that of Imperial and Sheffield, the top two rated universities.  The average volume of work classified as ‘world leading’ for the area of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering by the assessment panel was only 17%.

CNMPA SCORE PROFILE:
The work of CNMPA was judged as:

Category 4* - World Leading – 30%
Category 3* - Internationally Excellent – 40%
Category 2* - Recognised Internationally – 25%
Category 1* - Recognised Nationally – 5%
Unclassified – Quality that falls short of National Recognised – 0%

See Press Release for further details.

[14/10/2008] FSEG STAFF AWARDED SFPE BONO AWARD FOR 2008

Hui Xie, Lazaros Filippidis, Dr Steven Gwynne, Prof Ed Galea, Darren Blackshields and Dr Peter Lawrence from FSEG  have won the 2008 Jack Bono Engineering Communication Award from the US based Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). The award was made for their recent research paper entitled:

"Signage Legibility Distances as a Function of Observation Angle"

The paper was published in the SFPE Journal of Fire Protection Engineering in 2007 (Vol 17, No.1, pages 41-64). See SFPE Press Release and the FSEG Press Release for further details.

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(B) Software News: back

This section lists latest news concerning FSEG software products.

•  Defining Evacuation Routes From Assembly Stations to LSAs: The assembly procedure has been expanded to enable the definition of specific routes from assembly station to designated LSA.
• Assembly Station Zones: Now possible to define the area represented by assembly stations as a user defined region.
• SAFEGUARD Heel and Trim Model: The existing heel and trim models expanded to include the proposed IMO heel and trim mobility reduction factors developed as part of the EU FP7 SAFEGUARD project.
• Integrated IMO Populations: The IMO MSC 1238 night and day passenger and crew populations have been directly integrated into the maritimeEXODUS population editor.
• Continue with Abandonment: This function allows the abandonment phase to commence once the assembly phase has been completed.
• Stair Transit Node: Stairs can now be defined using transit nodes.
• Enhanced Itineraries: A number of new tasks have been introduced to expand the flexibility of the itinerary system.
• Enhanced Signage: Agent’s understanding of the routes available can now be influenced by the signs available within the geometry.
• EXODUS Script File: Enable the user to manage the use of maritimeEXODUS via command line functionality.
• 64 Bit Implementation: Both 32 and 64 bit implementations are available enabling very large simulations to be run using the 64 bit implementation.
  
  A list of these new features and modifications found in version 5.0 is provided below:

Functionality

•  Stair Transit Nodes
  • Stairs can now be defined using transit nodes. This allows the user to manage the use and representation of the components locally, and also manage the manner in which these components are selected by arriving agents.
• Enhanced Itineraries
  • A number of new tasks have been introduced to expand the flexibility of the itinerary system, including: waiting, enhanced delay, agent removal, signage interaction, etc.
• Enhanced Signage
  • Agent’s understanding of the routes available can now be influenced by signage. Agent interaction with the signs is simulated to represent whether the agent sees the sign and then whether they use the information available. Recovery behaviours are also provided, should agents fail to find the next sign in the chain to the target.
• Defining Evacuation Routes From Assembly Stations to LSAs
  • Now possible to define specific routes from assembly station to designated LSA.
• Assembly Station Zones
  • The assembly procedure has been expanded to enable the definition of the area represented by assembly stations. This enables greater control over the definition of assembly stations.
• SAFEGUARD Heel and Trim Model
  • The existing heel and trim models (i.e. SHEBA and TNO) have been expanded to further include the proposed IMO heel and trim mobility reduction factors developed as part of the EU FP7 SAFEGUARD project.
• Integrated IMO Populations
  • The IMO MSC 1238 night and day passenger and crew populations have been directly integrated into the maritimeEXODUS population editor.
• Continue with Abandonment
  • The simulation can continue after the assembly phase has been completed. This enables these the abandonment phase to modelled separately from the assembly phase. The enables the time to complete each phase to be determined.

Data and Statistics Collection

•  Census Lines
  Allow the number of agents moving between user defined regions in a given direction to be output throughout the simulation.

User Interface

•  Tabbed dialogue boxes
  • Simplify presentation of certain dialogue boxes and simplify user access; e.g. Behavioural Options.
• EXODUS Script File
  • Enables the user to manage the use of maritimeEXODUS via command line functionality.
• Potential Assignment
  • Allows the potential values of both internal exits and LSAs to be modified from a single dialogue box, enabling potentials to be more easily managed.
• Expansion of Analysis Control functionality
  • Now allows different conditions to be represented, including the interaction between agents and signage.
• Auto Find Compartments
  • Enables Compartment Zones to be automatically generated for data collection.

Output

• Signage related
  • Enables the impact of the signage system to be assessed. Provides information relating to sign usage including the number of agents that used a particular sign, the signs that an agent used, the evacuation performance of those who saw and those who used the signs, etc.
• Transit Nodes
  • Allows the dimensions and performance of transit node devices used during the simulation to be output.
• maritimeEXODUS Output to vrEXODUS
  • Ability to view sign catchment areas in vrEXODUS.

maritimeEXODUS software architecture

• 64 bit implementation
  • Both 32 and 64 bit implementations are available enabling very large simulations to be run using the 64 bit implementation.

• Escalators/Travelator: New device types that can be specified within a buildingEXODUS simulation.
• Metered Gate: New device allowing turnstiles to be modelled more accurately.
• Transit Nodes: This new node type enables stair/escalator/travelator/corridor/metered_gate components to be represented as single nodes. This allows the user to manage the use and representation of the components locally, and also manage the manner in which these components are selected by arriving agents.
• Occupant Queues: Enables the specification of service time delays associated with specific queues. Also allows the shape of the queue to be specified and allows other agents to pass through queues.
• Enhanced Itineraries: A number of new tasks have been introduced to expand the flexibility of the itinerary system, including: group formation/disbanding, waiting, enhanced delay, agent removal, signage interaction, etc. This enables the user to develop more complex emergency and circulation procedures.
• Social Movement: Group communication and interaction has been expanded to allow itineraries to be exchanged in the communication process, along with the ability for group members to adapt their speeds to maintain proximity.
• Enhanced Signage: Agent’s understanding of the routes available can now be influenced by the signs available within the geometry and the information provided by them. This can occur on a planned or emergent basis. Agent interaction with the signs is simulated to represent whether the agent sees the sign and then uses the information available. Recovery behaviours are also provided, should agents fail to find the desired sign.
• EXODUS Script File: Enable the user to manage the use of buildingEXODUS via command line functionality.
• Response Time Distribution Curves: Allows the specification of a user defined probability distribution for response times or other agent attributes.
• Obstacle Zones: Enables the grouping together of sets of nodes into zones in order to dynamically alter the Obstacle values of their connecting arcs.
• 64 Bit Implementation: Both 32 and 64 bit implementations are available enabling very large simulations to be run using the 64 bit implementation.

• Escalators/Travelators
New device types using the new transit node functionality that can be specified within a buildingEXODUS simulation.
Example Application: Representation of escalator in a rail station or shopping centre.
• Metered Gate
New device that uses the new transit node functionality, allowing turnstiles to be modelled more accurately.
Example Application: Representation of turnstile in a rail station or library.
• Transit Nodes
This new node type enables stair / escalator / travelator / corridor / metered gate components to be represented as single nodes. This allows the user to manage the use and representation of the components locally, and also manage the manner in which these components are selected by arriving agents.
Example Application: Representation of movement between floors of a shopping mall, where shoppers can choose between escalators and stairs. Also the representation of people negotiating ticket gates within a train station concourse.
• Occupant Queues
Enables the specification of service time delays associated with specific queues. Also allows the shape of the queue to be specified and allows other agents to pass through queues.
Example Application: Shoppers moving between checkout lines, collecting tickets at an airport, etc.
• Enhanced Itineraries
A number of new tasks have been introduced to expand the flexibility of the itinerary system, including: group formation/disbanding, waiting, enhanced delay, agent removal, signage interaction, etc. This enables the user to develop more complex emergency and circulation procedures.
Example Application: Circulatory movement around an exhibition; emergency phased procedure including warden activities.
• Social Movement
Group communication and interaction has been expanded to allow itineraries to be exchanged in the communication process, along with the ability for group members to adapt their speeds to maintain proximity.
Example Application: Families arriving at a sporting event as part of a larger crowd.
• Enhanced Signage
Agent’s understanding of the routes available can now be influenced by the signs available within the geometry and the information provided by them. This can occur on a planned or emergent basis. Agent interaction with the signs is simulated to represent whether the agent sees the sign and then uses the information available. Recovery behaviours are also provided, should agents fail to find the desired sign.
Example Application: Interaction between visitors to an exhibition and the guidance provided by the organisers. Assessment of the coverage of a space given location of signs.
• Response Time Distribution Curves
Allows the specification of a user defined probability distribution for response times or other agent attributes.
Example Application: Inclusion of data-sets collected from trial evacuations within the assessment of structural changes to the building.
• Obstacle Zones
Enables the grouping together of sets of nodes into zones in order to dynamically alter the Obstacle values of their connecting arcs.
Example Application: Representation of the appearance of debris, part way through an evacuation, upon performance.
• Randomise on Seats/Swap Locations on Seats
Randomise on Seats/ Swap Locations on Seats randomises the starting locations of individuals initially on seat nodes, or swaps the location of those on seat nodes.
Example Application: Examining the evacuation of a theatre assuming that the audience is seated, but that the exact distribution of the audience is not known.

• Trace Control
Allows the evolving experiences of one or more agents to be output throughout the simulation.

• Tabbed dialogue boxes
Simplify presentation of certain dialogue boxes and simplify user access; e.g. Behavioural Options.
• EXODUS Script File
Enables the user to manage the use of buildingEXODUS via command line functionality.
• Potential Assignment
Allows exit attributes to be modified from a single dialogue box, enabling exit potentials to be more easily managed.
• Expansion of Analysis Control functionality
Now allows different conditions to be represented, including the interaction between agents and signage.
• View Navigator
Allows the user to easily move about within the currently selected geometry window.
• Locate Person / Time
Enables the members of the population who managed to evacuate before a given time to be identified.
• Auto Find Compartments
Enables Compartment Zones to be auto generated for data collection.

• Signage related
Enables the user to assess the impact of the signage system. Provides information relating to sign usage including the number of people that used a particular sign, the signs that a person used, the evacuation performance of those who saw and those who used the signs, etc.
• Itinerary Summary
Enables the complete list of tasks performed by the population as part of their itineraries to be displayed within the Data Window Output tab.
• Transit Nodes
Allows the dimensions and performance of transit node devices used during the simulation to be output.

• Transit nodes
Enables the new transit nodes types of Escalators and Travelators to be depicted within the 3D virtual environment (i.e. vrEXODUS).
• Ability to view the catchment area of signs
Enables the signs and their corresponding Visibility Catchment Areas (VCA’s) to be depicted within the 3D virtual environment (i.e. vrEXODUS)
• Ability to define the floor heights
Enables the height of each floor as defined within buildingEXODUS to be accurately depicted within the 3D virtual environment (i.e. vrEXODUS)

• 64 Bit Implementation:
Both 32 and 64 bit implementations are available enabling very large simulations to be run using the 64 bit implementation.

• Fully integrated screen capture and video output using the wmv file format.
• Support for multi-core CPUs.
• vrEXODUS is now dongle locked to the EXODUS dongle.

• Ability to import, display and animate very large data sets involving very large geometries and hundreds of thousands of agents.
• Faster loading times for simulations with the ability to drag and drop files into the software.
• Advanced display controls allowing the visibility of various graphic representations to be toggled on or off.
• Split screen control, allowing multiple views simultaneously.
• Improved navigation and playback performance with support for the family of 3D Navigation Devices from 3Dconnexions (http://www.3dconnexion.com/).

[01/06/2008] SMARTFIRE VERSION 4.1 IS NOW AVAILABLE.
SMARTFIRE V4.1is a major new release of the SMARTFIRE software incorporating a numner of new and improved features.

The major new developments include:

• Update to SMARTFIRE Scenario Designer including support for monochrome Bitmaps as an alternative to the CAD .dxf files, improved search algorithms for rooms and doors, and automated zone creation for "room block" export of data to EXODUS.
• Update to SMARTFIRE Parallel CFD Engine including improved access to solution controls in the parallel MPI version of SMARTFIRE and an improved parallel CFD launch utility.
• Update to the SMARTFIRE Case Specification Environment, including support for delayed triggering of events, critical change handling to provide managed time step size control through potentially unstable events, improved control of solution results output, and support for user defined materials. The software also now has a TOXICITY model to control the production and dispersal of the toxic combustion products (e.g. CO, CO2) and other toxic species. The software also has a new HCL release and absorption model.
• Improved SMARTFIRE Automated Meshing System has user access to fine tune the meshing rules before meshing commences with new support for iterative mesh refinement based on mesh quality metrics for the aspect ratio of cells and the ratio of lengths of adjacent cells.
• The SMARTFIRE suite of tools has a new research tool for Mesh Morphing. This allows users to manipulate the mesh nodes to create some body fitted mesh morphs. This tool features node selection using logical points range, simple configuration of pitched roofs, sub-region mesh smoothing, and a “Move Object” functionality, which allows a chosen object (e.g. a fire) to be “moved” to a new location – although the exact size and position will depend on the mesh in the target area.
• Improvements to the SMARTFIRE CFD Engine include new models for Toxicity (CO and CO2) and HCL. A new sprinkler / water mist model allows some of the effects of sprinkler systems to be modelled. Combustion modelling has been improved so that it is much less sensitive to mesh quality. A new 2D slice visualization shows an interactive ray traced visibility distance (through smoke) from a chosen view point. The software also now supports radiation monitor points which allow accurate computation of the thermal radiation flux summation at selected points.
• Improvements to the SMARTFIRE Data Viewer include the addition of an interactive scalar probe point to report the current value of the scalar field. The software also has a newly developed prototype walk-through/exploration mode to allow movement within a data set/geometry. Support for CSV data export of scalar probes and monitor graphs, has also been added.

There are also a number of minor SMARTFIRE improvements and additions, including:

• The flow handling algorithm has been improved to give better solution stability.
• Residual calculation has a normalized version which reduces the detrimental effect of having large numbers of cells.
• Default settings for solver configuration have been improved to give more balanced (and hence more effective) processing performance.
• CFD Engine now uses total simulated time (instead of numbers of time steps) to configure the duration of a simulation.
• Inlets can now support time dependent boundary condition data files.
• A special form of Inlets can now be placed internally.
• Improved and clearer interface for wall selection, wall properties and 2D object definition.
  Improved workflow with better tool integration with options for launching most of the other tools of the SMARTFIRE suite, launching data/script file editors and also launching a file browser (Windows Explorer) showing the appropriate working case directory.
• New objects added to give greater flexibility when creating scenarios: FIXED PRESSURE SURFACE - provides a constant over-pressure, SIMPLE FAN - provides a simple fixed speed fan-like behaviour and a NOZZLE – which supplies droplets of water to the sprinkler model.
• New logic for monitors and controlled changes so that multiple discrete monitors can combine to give a single triggered event and to allow controlled events to re-occur so that on/off repetitions can occur (currently activated only in script commands).
• Greater tool integration (e.g. Windows Explorer and SMARTFIRE Data Viewer) under the File menu.
• New higher order differencing schemes reduce false diffusion.
• The CFD Engine of SMARTFIRE now supports the output of surface data such as temperatures and radiative fluxes which can be loaded into DataView.
• Added a clip box to DataView allow visualization within a selected rectangular sub-region.
• Added a parallel (i.e."cabinet projection") view mode to DataView.
• Added 3D viewing mode for red/green glasses in DataView.

With the release of maritimeEXODUS V4.0, maritimeEXODUS maintains its full compliance with the IMO requirements as set out in MSC circular 1033 and in addition, maritimeEXODUS incorporates several new  features. 

NEW FEATURES:

New Behavioural and Geometrical Features:
The release of version 4.0 of maritimeEXODUS incorporates a number of significant fundamental new capabilities.  These concern the representation of:
-    Water Tight Doors,
-    Hatches,
-    60 Degree Stairs and
-    Vertical Ladders. 

These additions not only allow the geometrical representation of these features but also include performance and behavioural additions associated with “trained” crew and “naïve” passengers under conditions of heel and trim. Associated with these new capabilities are data-sets derived from experimental trials commissioned by the UK MoD specifically for the development of these features.  These new capabilities allow maritimeEXODUS to more accurately address scenarios associated with naval vessels and off-shore facilities.   Finally, the vrEXODUS software has also been enhanced to better represent these new capabilities.

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