Demonstration of CBR Modeling and Simulation Tool (CBRSim) Capabilities. Installation Technology Transfer Program

Abstract : The release of an airborne hazardous substance nearby or within a military facility can threaten the life or safety of government personnel and the general public. Vulnerability assessments using simulants and sensors are expensive and may interfere with normal facility operations. Simulation modeling technology offers a possible method for understanding how airborne hazardous substances may circulate inside and around any specific facility affected by an attack or accidental release. Improved understanding of airborne threats could shorten emergency response time and minimize casualties at the site. A computerized simulation tool called CBRSim, developed under an earlier U.S. Army research program, provides an environment for creating and testing models of release patterns for airborne weaponized agents within or nearby a targeted facility. This report describes the CBRSim tool and explains how it could be used to assess chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) weapons effects for specific facilities. The discussion includes the results of case studies and simulations run during a workshop for military installation stakeholders presented at Fort Carson, CO. Demonstration results indicate that CBRSim is not sufficiently developed to provide reliable situation data in real time, but offers benefits as a training and education aid for facility managers and first responders.