Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design

Anna Conzatti; Noorullah Kuchai; Elif Keser; Dima Albadra; Daniel Fosas; David Coley

Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design

Anna Conzatti^*, Noorullah Kuchai, Elif Keser, Dima Albadra, Daniel Fosas, David Coley

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Overcrowded humanitarian shelters often suffer from poor ventilation, leading to condensation, respiratory illnesses, and the spread of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. This study introduces SheltAir, the first co-created digital tool designed to help aid workers estimate natural ventilation rates, indoor CO₂ levels, and airborne disease transmission risks in shelters. The tool, developed in collaboration with 42 NGOs, utilizes approximately 20 input variables to model indoor air quality in over 3,100 global locations. SheltAir was validated against advanced network airflow models (EnergyPlus Airflow Network and Contam) using real shelter data from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Nepal. Results indicate that SheltAir provides accurate CO₂ predictions while requiring no prior expertise in airflow modelling. Usability trials with 12 humanitarian workers showed that first-time users could simulate shelter ventilation within 30 minutes, improving efficiency in the field. The tool is currently being adopted for emergency response planning in Afghanistan.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Healthy Buildings Europe 2025
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of an ISIAQ International conference, 8th - 11th June 2025 Reykjavík University, Iceland
Editors	Olafur H. Wallevik, Vincent Elijiah Merida, Sylgja Dogg Sigurjonsdottir
Publisher	International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
Pages	573-579
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	9789935539762
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 9 Jul 2025
Event	ISIAQ International Conference Healthy Buildings Europe 2025 - Reykjavik, Iceland Duration: 8 Jun 2025 → 11 Jun 2025

Conference

Conference	ISIAQ International Conference Healthy Buildings Europe 2025
Country/Territory	Iceland
City	Reykjavik
Period	8/06/25 → 11/06/25

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Airborne disease
Building modelling
Humanitarian response
Indoor air quality
Natural ventilation

Access to Document

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393495376_Co-creation_of_an_airflow_and_COVID-19_transmission_risk_model_for_humanitarian_shelter_design

Cite this

Conzatti, A., Kuchai, N., Keser, E., Albadra, D., Fosas, D., & Coley, D. (2025). Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design. In O. H. Wallevik, V. E. Merida, & S. D. Sigurjonsdottir (Eds.), Healthy Buildings Europe 2025: Proceedings of an ISIAQ International conference, 8th - 11th June 2025 Reykjavík University, Iceland (pp. 573-579). International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. Advance online publication. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393495376_Co-creation_of_an_airflow_and_COVID-19_transmission_risk_model_for_humanitarian_shelter_design

Conzatti, Anna ; Kuchai, Noorullah ; Keser, Elif et al. / Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design. Healthy Buildings Europe 2025: Proceedings of an ISIAQ International conference, 8th - 11th June 2025 Reykjavík University, Iceland. editor / Olafur H. Wallevik ; Vincent Elijiah Merida ; Sylgja Dogg Sigurjonsdottir. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2025. pp. 573-579

@inproceedings{d4a9c180aed845878a4a62641b25b240,

title = "Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design",

abstract = "Overcrowded humanitarian shelters often suffer from poor ventilation, leading to condensation, respiratory illnesses, and the spread of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. This study introduces SheltAir, the first co-created digital tool designed to help aid workers estimate natural ventilation rates, indoor CO2 levels, and airborne disease transmission risks in shelters. The tool, developed in collaboration with 42 NGOs, utilizes approximately 20 input variables to model indoor air quality in over 3,100 global locations. SheltAir was validated against advanced network airflow models (EnergyPlus Airflow Network and Contam) using real shelter data from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Nepal. Results indicate that SheltAir provides accurate CO2 predictions while requiring no prior expertise in airflow modelling. Usability trials with 12 humanitarian workers showed that first-time users could simulate shelter ventilation within 30 minutes, improving efficiency in the field. The tool is currently being adopted for emergency response planning in Afghanistan.",

keywords = "Airborne disease, Building modelling, Humanitarian response, Indoor air quality, Natural ventilation",

author = "Anna Conzatti and Noorullah Kuchai and Elif Keser and Dima Albadra and Daniel Fosas and David Coley",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Healthy Buildings Europe 2025 - Proceedings of an ISIAQ International Conference. All rights reserved.; ISIAQ International Conference Healthy Buildings Europe 2025 ; Conference date: 08-06-2025 Through 11-06-2025",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

day = "9",

language = "English",

pages = "573--579",

editor = "Wallevik, \{Olafur H.\} and Merida, \{Vincent Elijiah\} and Sigurjonsdottir, \{Sylgja Dogg\}",

booktitle = "Healthy Buildings Europe 2025",

publisher = "International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate",

}

Conzatti, A, Kuchai, N, Keser, E, Albadra, D, Fosas, D & Coley, D 2025, Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design. in OH Wallevik, VE Merida & SD Sigurjonsdottir (eds), Healthy Buildings Europe 2025: Proceedings of an ISIAQ International conference, 8th - 11th June 2025 Reykjavík University, Iceland. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, pp. 573-579, ISIAQ International Conference Healthy Buildings Europe 2025, Reykjavik, Iceland, 8/06/25. <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393495376_Co-creation_of_an_airflow_and_COVID-19_transmission_risk_model_for_humanitarian_shelter_design>

Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design. / Conzatti, Anna; Kuchai, Noorullah; Keser, Elif et al.
Healthy Buildings Europe 2025: Proceedings of an ISIAQ International conference, 8th - 11th June 2025 Reykjavík University, Iceland. ed. / Olafur H. Wallevik; Vincent Elijiah Merida; Sylgja Dogg Sigurjonsdottir. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2025. p. 573-579.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design

AU - Conzatti, Anna

AU - Kuchai, Noorullah

AU - Keser, Elif

AU - Albadra, Dima

AU - Fosas, Daniel

AU - Coley, David

PY - 2025/7/9

Y1 - 2025/7/9

N2 - Overcrowded humanitarian shelters often suffer from poor ventilation, leading to condensation, respiratory illnesses, and the spread of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. This study introduces SheltAir, the first co-created digital tool designed to help aid workers estimate natural ventilation rates, indoor CO2 levels, and airborne disease transmission risks in shelters. The tool, developed in collaboration with 42 NGOs, utilizes approximately 20 input variables to model indoor air quality in over 3,100 global locations. SheltAir was validated against advanced network airflow models (EnergyPlus Airflow Network and Contam) using real shelter data from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Nepal. Results indicate that SheltAir provides accurate CO2 predictions while requiring no prior expertise in airflow modelling. Usability trials with 12 humanitarian workers showed that first-time users could simulate shelter ventilation within 30 minutes, improving efficiency in the field. The tool is currently being adopted for emergency response planning in Afghanistan.

AB - Overcrowded humanitarian shelters often suffer from poor ventilation, leading to condensation, respiratory illnesses, and the spread of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. This study introduces SheltAir, the first co-created digital tool designed to help aid workers estimate natural ventilation rates, indoor CO2 levels, and airborne disease transmission risks in shelters. The tool, developed in collaboration with 42 NGOs, utilizes approximately 20 input variables to model indoor air quality in over 3,100 global locations. SheltAir was validated against advanced network airflow models (EnergyPlus Airflow Network and Contam) using real shelter data from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Nepal. Results indicate that SheltAir provides accurate CO2 predictions while requiring no prior expertise in airflow modelling. Usability trials with 12 humanitarian workers showed that first-time users could simulate shelter ventilation within 30 minutes, improving efficiency in the field. The tool is currently being adopted for emergency response planning in Afghanistan.

KW - Airborne disease

KW - Building modelling

KW - Humanitarian response

KW - Indoor air quality

KW - Natural ventilation

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105023414074

UR - https://www.isiaq.org/conference_proceedings.php

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105023414074

SP - 573

EP - 579

BT - Healthy Buildings Europe 2025

A2 - Wallevik, Olafur H.

A2 - Merida, Vincent Elijiah

A2 - Sigurjonsdottir, Sylgja Dogg

PB - International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate

T2 - ISIAQ International Conference Healthy Buildings Europe 2025

Y2 - 8 June 2025 through 11 June 2025

ER -

Conzatti A, Kuchai N, Keser E, Albadra D, Fosas D, Coley D. Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design. In Wallevik OH, Merida VE, Sigurjonsdottir SD, editors, Healthy Buildings Europe 2025: Proceedings of an ISIAQ International conference, 8th - 11th June 2025 Reykjavík University, Iceland. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. 2025. p. 573-579 Epub 2025 Jul 9.

Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design

Abstract

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

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Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design

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