The risk of potential volcanic eruptions and associated mass flows is a problem that public safety authorities throughout the world face several times a year. We have developed an integrated set of information management tools comprising of computer modeling of the physical phenomena, visualization of the models and different levels of fidelity and communications to assist a range of stakeholders -- public safety planners to scientists interested in the physics of such events. The toolkit is freely available in open source form for both Linux and Windows platforms.

Computer simulations of volcanic phenomena permit analysis of loss of life and disruption of infrastructure. Flow models are useful to forecast the movement of volcanic materials on or above the surface. Applications of such models include pre-crisis understanding of hazards and developing risk maps, real-time crisis assistance and management, and post-crisis reconstruction and distribution of aid. Visualization of volcanic phenomena is useful for analysis of various types of flows that range from slow-moving lavas and debris flows saturated with water to high speed hot pyroclastic flows and blasts.

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University at Buffalo

Virtual Reality Laboratory

Center for Computational Research

New York State Center for Engineering Design and Industrial Innovation (NYSCEDII)

Department of Geology

Department of Mathematics

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences