Modeling disease transmission in a train carriage using a simple 1D-model

Rick J B de Kreij; Megan S Davies Wykes; Huw Woodward; Paul F Linden

doi:10.1111/ina.13066

Modeling disease transmission in a train carriage using a simple 1D-model

Indoor Air. 2022 Jun;32(6):e13066. doi: 10.1111/ina.13066.

Authors

Rick J B de Kreij¹, Megan S Davies Wykes², Huw Woodward³, Paul F Linden¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
² Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
³ Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, UK.

PMID: 35762236
DOI: 10.1111/ina.13066

Abstract

Understanding airborne infectious disease transmission on public transport is essential to reducing the risk of infection of passengers and crew members. We propose a new one-dimensional (1D) model that predicts the longitudinal dispersion of airborne contaminants and the risk of disease transmission inside a railway carriage. We compare the results of this 1D-model to the predictions of a model that assumes the carriage is fully mixed. The 1D-model is validated using measurements of controlled carbon-dioxide experiments conducted in a full-scale railway carriage. We use our results to provide novel insights into the impact of various strategies to reduce the risk of airborne transmission on public transport.

Keywords: airborne transmission; contaminant transport; mitigation strategies; one-dimensional model; public transport; ventilation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Carbon Dioxide

Substances

Carbon Dioxide