A rapid assessment method for airborne transmission risk distribution based on human behaviors

IF 7.6 1区工程技术 Q1 CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Building and Environment Pub Date : 2025-09-21 DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113752

Yuqing Ding , Caroline X. Gao , Nan Zhang , Dengyun Wang , Hua Qian

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Close-contact behaviors can substantially amplify the airborne transmission risk of respiratory diseases. However, most existing rapid risk assessment methods overlook the complex interplay between real-world human interactions and the spatial dispersion of exhaled pathogens. This study developed a rapid risk assessment framework that integrates real-world human close-contact behaviors with environmental factors. The framework couples a jet integral model with the Wells-Riley equation through a decision tree, enabling the quantification of both direct (proximal) and indirect (background) exposure risks. Monte Carlo simulations are employed to account for variability in human behavior and parametric uncertainty.

Validation with real-world data from Beijing's subway system, a representative urban transit environment, revealed that infection risks remained below 1% in 95% of scenarios under high ventilation, though localized 'hotspots' persisted, driven by proximity, face-to-face orientation, elevated respiratory activity (e.g., talking), and inadequate masking. These findings highlight the necessity of adaptive behavioral guidelines in public spaces. The framework offers policymakers a practical tool for optimizing ventilation strategies, crowd management, and personal protective measures in real time. Furthermore, the method shows strong potential for the rapid assessment of airborne transmission risks across various buildings types and urban environments.

Synopsis

This study assesses airborne transmission risks by integrating human behaviors with environmental factors, offering insights for public health and safety.

查看原文本刊更多论文

基于人类行为的空气传播风险分布快速评估方法

密切接触行为可大大增加呼吸道疾病的空气传播风险。然而，大多数现有的快速风险评估方法忽视了现实世界人类互动与呼出病原体空间分散之间的复杂相互作用。本研究开发了一个快速风险评估框架，将现实世界人类近距离接触行为与环境因素相结合。该框架通过决策树将射流积分模型与Wells-Riley方程相结合，实现了直接（近端）和间接（背景）暴露风险的量化。蒙特卡罗模拟被用来解释人类行为的可变性和参数的不确定性。通过对北京地铁系统（一个具有代表性的城市交通环境）的真实数据进行验证，发现在95%的高通风情况下，感染风险保持在1%以下，尽管局部“热点”仍然存在，这是由邻近、面对面定向、呼吸活动升高（例如交谈）和遮盖不足驱动的。这些发现强调了在公共场所制定适应性行为指南的必要性。该框架为决策者提供了实时优化通风策略、人群管理和个人防护措施的实用工具。此外，该方法在快速评估各种建筑类型和城市环境的空气传播风险方面显示出强大的潜力。本研究通过综合人类行为和环境因素来评估空气传播风险，为公众健康和安全提供见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Building and Environment 工程技术-工程：环境

CiteScore

12.50

自引率

23.00%

发文量

1130

审稿时长

27 days

期刊介绍： Building and Environment, an international journal, is dedicated to publishing original research papers, comprehensive review articles, editorials, and short communications in the fields of building science, urban physics, and human interaction with the indoor and outdoor built environment. The journal emphasizes innovative technologies and knowledge verified through measurement and analysis. It covers environmental performance across various spatial scales, from cities and communities to buildings and systems, fostering collaborative, multi-disciplinary research with broader significance.