Contaminant Transport by Bob the Builders

Inspiration

We chose to build a contaminant modeling app due to the lack of existing tools for environmental engineers. In lieu of further civil engineering tools already available, for example the arrays of beam and frame analyzers, we addressed the lack of accessible resources for environmental engineering students and professionals.

What it does

Our project uses MecSimCalc to simulate the transport of a contaminant between two geographical points inputted by a user. The idea is that if a biological or chemical contamination leak occurs, for example at Edmonton’s Gold Bar Wastewater treatment plant, and the app’s user wants to know the extent of the contamination’s movement and concentration across distance and time, they can use known data about the environment and the contaminant to simulate and visualize it. Despite current simplicity given the app’s modeling of only one dimensional transport, the concept behind the app is the basis for modeling more complex flow behaviors, in 2 or 3 dimensions, on an international standard.

How we built it

We built this app using MecSimCalc. This app demonstrates that engineering fields with lesser programming knowledge can utilize MecSimCalc to simplify complex problems into visual and numerical solutions applicable to engineering challenges in their given fields.

Challenges we ran into

As Environmental Engineering Students with zero experience in coding, we ran into many problems with learning, writing and debugging python. This caused many problems in implementing our equations and visuals.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of learning how to use Python on the MecSimCalc platform, as well as implementing the new maps feature!

What we learned

We learned a new coding language, and gained deeper understanding of environmental contaminant transport.

What's next for bob-the-builders

We are looking forward to expanding the app, with adding new simulations, such as the activated sludge process in wastewater treatment plants.

Built With

• mecsimcalc
• python