Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

Chemical and biological agents have been viewed as a preferred means to generate terror because of their ease and low cost of production or acquisition. The criminal terrorist attacks on USA, in 2001, on the World Trade Center followed by the anthrax mailings emphasized the vulnerability of individuals in buildings. Building targets can encompass not just government or military structures but also high profile commercial, healthcare institutions, as well structures with high density of people such as shopping malls. In addition to terrorist events unintentional chemical spills or certain infectious agents can impact individuals in buildings as well. The major route for dissemination of chemical or biological agents within a building is the HVAC system. Common to different threat scenarios direct instillation of these agents at the air intake site, dispersal in the environment (or atmosphere) followed by entry through the same air intakesite or a spill within the building itself is the capacity of the HVAC system to disseminate the agents to all inhabitants of the structure.Our proposal will set the foundation in the development of an immune building to chemical or biological agents. In order to minimize, if not eliminate, the impact of the disseminating a chemical agent via the HVAC system we propose to study the operational characteristics of an Early Warning And Response (eWAR) approach. The eWAR is intended to detect, identify and initiate a response to chemical and biological agents. The proposed studies will be undertaken within a model that will permit a better understanding of the effects of varying conditions on agent dispersal in the HVAC system, optimize detection strategies and assess different responses. The work done in a model will be followed by additional studies on an actual building. This work is essential to developing realistic strategies for the protection of life in existing structures as well as planning for new construction.