A Tool to Model the Fate and Transport of Indoor Microbiological Aerosols

The web-based tool Fate and Transport of Indoor Microbiological Aerosols (FaTIMA) allows the determination of the fate of indoor microbiological aerosols associated with ventilation, filtration, deposition, and inactivation mechanisms. FaTIMA provides a representation of a single, well-mixed zone that is served by a mechanical ventilation system and incorporates source and removal mechanisms for an aerosol with a single, user-defined representative particle size. The simple mechanical ventilation system model allows specification of supply, return, and outdoor air intake rates to represent either a positive, negative or balanced ventilation system. Aerosol sources are provided to enable any combination of continuous, e.g., breathing-related emissions, or intermittent, e.g., coughing-related emissions. Aerosol removal mechanisms include filters within the ventilation system, room air cleaners, and deposition onto floors, walls, and ceilings. Simulations can be run for a 24-h period, with the results including the time history of the airborne concentration and surface loading, as well as integrated exposure of an occupant. Exposure is based on a uniform aerosol concentration within the zone and does not account for spatial differences in aerosol concentrations such as those due to momentum effects of respiratory emissions.

[
  "006:55"
]

{
  "fn": "William Stuart Dols",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:william.dols@nist.gov"
}

[
  {
    "title": "DOI Access for A Tool to Model the Fate and Transport of Indoor Microbiological Aerosols",
    "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.18434/M32252"
  }
]

[
  "exposure",
  "indoor air quality",
  "modeling",
  "pathogens",
  "viruses"
]

[
  "en"
]

[
  "006:045"
]

{
  "name": "National Institute of Standards and Technology",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}

[
  "https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2095"
]

[
  "Buildings and Construction:Indoor air quality"
]