WPI students research fire simulation models
Computer fire simulation models are beneficial to support an opinion but should not form the sole basis of the opinion, say professionals, including attorneys, who participated in a Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) student research project. The study, which attempted to assess the efficacy of such models in courtrooms, was part of the students` Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP).
The students surveyed 200 modern fire protection firms to measure their experience with fire simulation models and questioned lawyers about disability cases, model accuracy, and the possible uses of models in court. "Professional interviews revealed a general distrust of the use of current models, coupled with a respect for the integrity of the actual algorithms and code used to make the models," explains Benjamin Fichera of Newburyport, Massachusetts, one of the student researchers. "There are many engineers out there who believe the problems that arise as a result of improper use and interpretation outweigh the advantages of using the models," adds Nathan Wittasek of Woodstock, Vermont, another student researcher.
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