Browsing by Author "Moradi, Ali"

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    Fire spreading in South African low-cost settlements "A physics-based model"
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Moradi, Ali; Wium, J. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: risk of fire is increasing due to urbanization, industrialization and development of cities with dense buildings. Since low cost settlements are poorly serviced and are densely built urban areas with poor service delivery, they are the most vulnerable areas to fire. In recent years, urban fire-spread simulator models have commonly been used amongst more developed countries. However, in the case of South Africa, no fire-spread model has been developed/calibrated for low cost settlements in. Therefore, this study aimed to develop, validate and verify the first physics-based fire spread model, which is specifically calibrated for low-cost settlements in South Africa. The objective of this thesis was to apply the new model in a real life case study to illustrate the results of the model and prioritising the influential fire spread factors. In order to provide a theoretical base for the development, the verification and validation of a new fire-spread model, a selected group of existing notable fire simulation models were reviewed in literature. To develop a new model, first the scope, input and output of the model was defined and described. Next, the process of the fire simulation was divided into modules, their functionality were explained and thereafter an appropriate sequence of the modules were described. Finally, the entire fire spread process was programmed in C#.net. A geographical information system (GIS) was employed to pre-process the input data as well as to provide graphical output. Verification and validation method were carried out in two hypothetical case studies. The new model was then applied to a low-cost settlement call? Imizamo Yethu which is a Metropolitan township of the city of Cape Town, South Africa, where fire is one of two top risks of the area. An area of this township was selected and input data for the new model were prepared through field measurement, information from Google earth and by determining parameters based on the environment of the area. The results were presented quantifiably and visually by a map series that showed fire spread progression across the area over time. The findings of the analysis determined that in the area of Imizamo Yethu, wind speed and the separation distance between buildings were the first and the second most influential fire spread factors. In the building factor category, fire load has the highest impact while window orientation has the lowest impact on the total burnt area?? as well as the speed of fire spread.