Modelling and simulation of wildland fire in the framework of the level set method

Abstract

Among the modelling approaches that have been proposed for the simulation of wildfire propagation, two have gained considerable attention in recent years: the one based on a reaction-diffusion equation, and the one based on the level set method. These two approaches, traditionally seen in competition, do actually lead to similar equation models when the level set method is modified taking into account random effects as those due to turbulent hot air transport and fire spotting phenomena. The connection between these two approaches is here discussed and the application of the modified level set method to test cases of practical interest is shown.