Geo-environmental parametric 3D models of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in hospital ventilation systems

• Published in: Di xue qian yuan. Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 101279
• Main Authors: Zorzi, Carla Gabriela Carlot, Neckel, Alcindo, Maculan, Laércio Stolfo, Cardoso, Grace Tibério, Moro, Leila Dal, Savio, Alexandre Almeida Del, Carrasco, Leopoldo D.Z., Oliveira, Marcos L.S., Bodah, Eliane Thaines, Bodah, Brian William
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.11.2022; Elsevier Science Ltd; China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Appropriate technology; Building management systems; CAD; Computer aided design; Computer viruses; Contamination; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 global epidemic; Dimensional analysis; Environment models; Hospital environment; Hospitals; Patients; Research Paper; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Three dimensional models; Ventilation; Viral diseases; Wind speed; Wind velocity; COVID-19 global epidemic; Wind velocity; Hospital environment; Dimensional analysis; Contamination
• ISSN: 1674-9871; 2588-9192; 1674-9871
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gsf.2021.101279

[Display omitted] •Evaluation of natural ventilation in a modular hospital for COVID-19 patients.•Displacement and transport of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in indoor environments.•Geo-environmental aspects of SARS-CoV-2 for natural ventilation. The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has the potential to cause natural ventilation systems in hospital environments to be rendered inadequate, not only for workers but also for people who transit through these environments even for a limited duration. Studies in of the fields of geosciences and engineering, when combined with appropriate technologies, allow for the possibility of reducing the impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the environment, including those of hospitals which are critical centers for healthcare. In this work, we build parametric 3D models to assess the possible circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the natural ventilation system of a hospital built to care infected patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building Information Modeling (BIM) was performed, generating 3D models of hospital environments utilizing Revit software for Autodesk CFD 2021. The evaluation considered dimensional analyses of 0°, 45°, 90° and 180°. The analysis of natural ventilation patterns on both internal and external surfaces and the distribution of windows in relation to the displacement dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the air were considered. The results showed that in the external area of the hospital, the wind speed reached velocities up to 2.1 m/s when entering the building through open windows. In contact with the furniture, this value decreased to 0.78 m/s. In some internal isolation wards that house patients with COVID-19, areas that should be equipped with negative room pressure, air velocity was null. Our study provides insights into the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 contamination in internal hospital environments as well as external areas surrounding hospitals, both of which encounter high pedestrian traffic in cities worldwide.