See also:
Experimental data sets: Top-level page in hierarchy on data sets.
Data set repositories: Lists compilations of data sets.
List of individual data sets: Lists links to information on individual data sets.
Forum for individual data sets: Findings related to data sets can be reported in detail.
Basic information on the data set
In 1990 a comprehensive data set on dispersion behind rectangular buildings was assembled in the US EPA wind tunnel, through efforts led by R. Thompson. The data set systematically describes dispersion for a variety of building shapes, stack heights and stack locations. These data were originally used to estimate so-called Building Amplification Factor. However, the potential of the data set extends much beyond this application.
The main published reference to the data set is the paper: Thompson, R. S. (1993): Building Amplification Factors for Sources Near Buildings - A Wind-Tunnel Study. Atmospheric Environment Part A-General Topics 27, 2313-2325.
The experimental database of Thompson includes measurements of ground-level centreline concentration distributions for several different combinations of building shapes, stack heights, and stack location relative to the building. The data set includes around 250 scenarios, where the following parameters vary:
- Building shape: Four building geometries were considered, as well as a baseline scenario without building.
- Stack height: In terms of relative stack height (stack height divided by building height), emphasis was on five values ranging from 0.5 to 3. There are a few scenarios for additional stack height.
- Stack location: The location of the stack varied, so there are scenarios with the stack upwind of the building, on top of the building, and downwind of the building. Altogether 17 locations were considered, extending from 14 building heights upwind to 12 building heights downwind.
Not all combinations of the parameters were considered, but there are altogether around 250 scenarios. The wind was always perpendicular to the building face.
Essence of experiences with the data set
Thompson's data set is very comprehensive, and it deserves to be used much more than it has been in the past.
Availability of the data set
This page is set up by Helge Rørdam Olesen of the National Environmental Research Institute in Denmark. Our group has made a study where we used the data. We received the data from Steve Perry of the US EPA. The data were made available to us in the form of a large number of ASCII files and a data report by Thompson (1991). We have rearranged the data sets into a few Excel workbooks with embedded graphs, so that it is easy to vary parameters and inspect concentration results according to measurement and models. We intend to make our files available on the web, but before we do so we will in the first place ask permission from the US EPA, and in the second improve the documentation of our files.
For the time being this page acts as a placeholder .