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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Lava Flow Modelling In Iceland

Author

Term

4. semester

Publication year

2013

Submitted on

Pages

96

Abstract

Lavastrømme er en trussel mod byer i mange lande, herunder Island. Planer for at begrænse skader ved vulkanudbrud tager ofte ikke højde for, hvor lavaen faktisk løber. Dette projekt undersøger derfor, hvordan lavastrømme kan modelleres. Først analyseres vulkantruslen og eksisterende tilgange til at modellere lava. På den baggrund udvikles en ny metode og et program til modellering. Programmet bygger på cellulære automater – et gitternet med enkle regler, der trin for trin simulerer, hvordan lava breder sig – og er implementeret i programmeringssproget Python. Derefter gennemføres et casestudie af Grindavík i det sydvestlige Island, hvor programmet afprøves for at vurdere, om byen Grindavík eller andre bebyggede områder i kommunen kan være truet af lava. Til sidst analyseres de fysiske plan- og kommuneplandokumenter for Grindavík for at vurdere, om der kan være behov for at justere kommuneplanen.

Lava flows threaten towns in many countries, including Iceland. Plans to reduce the damage from eruptions often do not consider where the lava will actually go. This project therefore examines how lava flows can be modeled. It first analyzes volcanic hazards and reviews existing approaches to lava modeling. Based on this, it develops a new method and a software program for modeling. The program uses cellular automata—a grid with simple rules that simulates how lava spreads step by step—and is implemented in the Python programming language. The program is then tested in a case study of Grindavík in southwest Iceland to examine whether the town of Grindavík or other built-up areas in the municipality could be threatened by lava. Finally, the study reviews Grindavík’s spatial planning documents to consider whether the municipal master plan may need adjustments.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]