Software developed to model ice buildup on airplanes is finding application predicting the impacts of designs on nearby surroundings.

"Virtual Wind Tunnel" from Newmerical Technologies International, Montreal, produces visualizations of wind patterns, surface pressures, pedestrian level winds and snowdrift formation from CAD documents and site plans.

Dennis Torok, NTI's business development manager for U.S. operations, says the technology can be used to analyze the effects of wind, rain and snow on clusters of buildings or other structures to guide placement of features such as ramps, entrances and exhaust stacks.

Vaidy Vaidyanathan, manager of the Digital Simulation Laboratories of Canada's Dept. of Public Works and Government Services, recently hired NTI to model the effects of adding two structures to a 21-building complex in Ottawa, where typical winters bring 4 to 6 ft of snow.

No unintended environmental consequences were predicted and Vaidyanathan says he is pleased that the product helps DSL meet its mandate to help all stakeholders visualize real property issues through simulation. "A digital picture is worth a million words," he says.

Information on the modeling service is available at www.newmerical.com.