Rapid identification of single constant contaminant source by considering characteristics of real sensors

For the release of hazardous contaminant indoors, source identification is critical for developing effective response measures. A method which can quickly and accurately identify the position, emission rate, and release time of a single constant contaminant source by using real sensors was presented. The method was numerically demonstrated and validated by a case study of contaminant release in a three-dimensional office. The effects of the measurement errors and total sampling period of sensor on the performance of source identification were thoroughly studied. The results indicate that the adverse effects of the measurement errors can be mitigated by extending the total sampling period. For reaching a desirable accuracy of source identification, the total sampling period should exceed a certain threshold, which can be determined by repeatedly running the identification method until the results tend to be stable. The method presented can contribute to develop an onsite source identification system for protecting occupants from indoor releases.