Siting Samplers to Minimize Expected Time to Detection

Journal Article · Wed May 02 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Risk Analysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01820.x· OSTI ID:1167565

Walter, Travis; Lorenzetti, David M.; Sohn, Michael D.

We present a probabilistic approach to designing an indoor sampler network for detecting an accidental or intentional chemical or biological release, and demonstrate it for a real building. In an earlier paper, Sohn and Lorenzetti(1) developed a proof of concept algorithm that assumed samplers could return measurements only slowly (on the order of hours). This led to optimal detect to treat architectures, which maximize the probability of detecting a release. This paper develops a more general approach, and applies it to samplers that can return measurements relatively quickly (in minutes). This leads to optimal detect to warn architectures, which minimize the expected time to detection. Using a model of a real, large, commercial building, we demonstrate the approach by optimizing networks against uncertain release locations, source terms, and sampler characteristics. Finally, we speculate on rules of thumb for general sampler placement.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1167565
• Report Number(s): LBNL-6908E
• Journal Information: Risk Analysis, Journal Name: Risk Analysis Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 32; ISSN 0272-4332
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
sampler networks
indoor airflow
optimization
CONTAM