CFD modelling of indoor aerosol transport based on experimental Lagrangian particle tracking measurements to infer airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk

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There is compelling evidence that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs predominantly indoors, that airborne transmission via aerosols is one significant route of infection, and that smaller aerosols can directly infect the lungs, thereby triggering the most sever courses of COVID-19. Thus, understanding aerosol transport in indoor environments is indispensable for controlling the ongoing pandemic and to help preventing future ones involving airborne transmission. However, bio-aerosol transport dynamics in indoor environments is notoriously complex and therefore not straightforward to model and asses. In this proposal, we aim at testing and validating computationally affordable, generally accessible CFD-approaches for indoor aerosol transport. First, we will identify key aspects of aerosol transport and accumulation in such environments by analysing our unique, highly-resolved experimental data. Second, we will model aerosol transport in using unsteady simulations to assess whether the most significant aerosol transport and accumulation processes can be acceptably reproduced. We will combine both approaches to provide validation and parametrisation guidelines for future design and modelling efforts. This will help the global research community to quickly tailor ventilation and room-air-hygiene concepts.