Casella Nomad Weather System 4 Sensors in Two Carry Cases with Aloha, Cameo, Marplot

187116D Nomad Weather System 4 Sensors in Two Carry Cases with Aloha, Cameo, Marplot by Casella

This version of the Nomad Portable Weather system has been developed to provide a simple standalone unit for the characterization of the effect of gas and vapor releases to the atmosphere. A simple system is provided that provides quick assembly and logging of the most important weather parameters needed to predict possible outcomes of gas, fume or vapor spills in emergency situations. Data from the sensors is output in a format that will transfer directly into the popular ALOHA software and chemical data can be added from the CAMEO software.

Key Benefits

• Rapidly deployed on site
• Easily portable system
• Measures wind speed,direction, temperature and relative humidity
• Operates from solar panel or portable power source
• Outputs data to ALOHA software program
• Input chemical data from CAMEO software
• Display results in Marplot
• Calculates indoors and outdoors concentrations of chemicals
• Generation of local weather condition information
• Direct link from Nomad to pc via cable

Applications:

ALOHA
(Area Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) is a computer program that uses information, to predict how a hazardous gas cloud might disperse in the atmosphere after an accidental chemical release or other similar situations. The relevant weather data needed for these predictions comes from the Casella Nomad system that, along with physical property data from ALOHA’s extensive chemical library, enables a better understanding of the problem to be realized.

ALOHA can predict rates of chemical release from broken gas pipes, leaking tanks, and evaporating puddles, and can model the dispersion of both neutrally-buoyant and heavierthan-air gases.

The air dispersion model predicts the downwind dispersion of a chemical cloud. Graphical outputs from the software include estimates of the cloud footprint (representing the areas where hazardous gas concentrations may reach a potential level of concern), the rate and duration of release of the chemical to the atmosphere, and chemical concentration over time at locations of particular risk and concern to residents.

ALOHA can display a "footprint" plot of the area downwind of a release where concentrations may exceed a user-set threshold level. It also displays plots of source strength (release rate), concentration, and dose over time. ALOHA accepts weather data transmitted from the Nomad, and can plot footprints on electronic maps displayed in a companion mapping application, MARPLOT as in the example shown. It allows users to "see" their data (e.g., roads, facilities, schools, response assets), display this information on computer maps, and print the information on area maps. The areas contaminated by potential or actual chemical release scenarios also can be overlaid on the maps to determine potential impacts.

CAMEO
(Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations) CAMEO's chemical database contains response recommendations for about 6,000 chemicals. It also contains 80,000 chemical synonyms and identification numbers, which can be quickly searched to identify unknown substances during an incident. Each one is linked to chemical-specific information on fire and explosive hazards, health hazards, firefighting techniques, cleanup procedures, and protective clothing. CAMEO also contains basic information on facilities that store chemicals, on the inventory of chemicals at the facility (Tier II) and on emergency planning resources. Additionally, there are templates where users can store EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act) information. CAMEO connects the planner or emergency responder with critical information to identify unknown substances during an incident. Once a chemical is identified, CAMEO provides firefighting and spill response recommendations, physical properties, health hazards, and first aid guidance. Rapid action by firefighter, police, and other emergency response personnel often is severely hampered by lack of accurate information on the substance spilled and safe response actions.

Emergency planners lack a tool to store and easily use information that is essential for emergency planning. CAMEO was selected by the United Nations Environment Program as a tool for helping developing nations prepare for and respond to chemical accidents, and is part of the UNEP's Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local Level (APPELL) program. CAMEO software is available for both the PC and Mac operating systems and can be obtained from the US EPA web site free of charge at the following url address;-“http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/cameo/reqform.htm”