Impact/Purpose:

Note: The following paragraph contains the original language, since that time the name of the program has been changed from WISP to Visual Plumes.

The purpose of this project is to jointly finish the development of the Windows Interface for Plume Simulation (WISP) and to provide a manual for it's use. This program has already been partially developed by EPA staff using Object Oriented Programming for Windows use. The WISP program allows users to enter data in matrix form for a wide number of cases for environmental discharges and run selected accepted existing EPA plume prediction models. This can be done on a case by case basis, cases in sequence, or a combination of all possible combinations by simply selecting an option. In addition, the program will allow for a time-series-analysis of selected cases.

Description:

The Clean Water Act mandates that water quality standards must be met everywhere except in limited permitted areas surrounding wastewater discharges. Mixing zone models, such as Visual Plumes, the modeling platform being developed under this CRADA, are used to establish permit limitations. EPA's DOS-based plume modeling guidance has aged. Visual Plumes is intended to supersede EPA's PLUMES modeling capability. Visual Plumes is Windows and object based. In addition, Visual Plumes considerably enhances EPA's modeling capability. For example, it includes the multi-stressor Mancini pathogen model, it can link in time-series files to analyze outfall performance statistically and over long periods of time, and, compute pollutant buildup in tidal channels and simple estuaries. Also, the Visual Plumes model as a platform for several plume models approaches the idea of modeling consistency based on model inclusion. EPA will best assure model quality by encouraging continued model development and improvement. Visual Plumes lays the foundation for assuring consistency by other methods, like specifying model usage in certain flow categories for limited periods of time, giving competing modelers a chance improve their product the next time around.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:05/01/1999

Completion Date:05/01/2001

OMB Category:Other

Record ID: 58492

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Project Information:

Progress :Incorporated DKHW and PDS (surface plume) models into Visual Plumes. Derivation and implementation of peak-to-mean relationships. Radical revision of Visual Plumes capability. Quality Assurance. Implementation of peer-review comments. Development of tutorials.

Relevance :Plume models or mixing zone models are an integral part of EPA permitting and enforcement activities, they are also used in design and planning. In the broad picture, Visual Plumes is at the small-scale end of the TMDL process, i.e., they are used to evaluate "hot spots."

Clients :EPA Regions, Office of Water, States, consultants, industry, environmental groups

Project IDs:

ID Code :6357

Project type :OMIS