Premium
A module implemented in Excel® for predicting fluid requirements in complex thermal environments (707.7)
Author(s) -
Gonzalez Richard,
Kenefick Robert,
Charkoudian Nisha,
Cheuvront Samuel,
Muza Stephen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.707.7
Subject(s) - computer science , laptop , microsoft excel , environmental science , simulation , energy balance , microsoft office , database , operating system , biology , ecology
Military and public health reports have expressed a need for improved sweating rate prediction models (m sw,pred ) that calculate hourly and daily water needs . Using both meta‐analysis and experimental studies (150 volunteers and >1000 cases), we developed an energy balance module within the Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet package. The module incorporates previous legacy heat balance data and predicts m sw,pred . The core model inputs environmental parameters, metabolic (Pandolf equation), clothing coefficients, and calculates net effective radiation fluxes, sensible and latent heat fluxes, and outputs evaporative heat loss to estimate fluid requirements . The altitude elevation (<3000 m) can be specified in the model. An output file estimating hourly and daily water requirements and the energy fluxes is generated. The main advantages of the module are: (1) it requires only a laptop/smartphone computation running standard Microsoft Windows®, enabling it to be used at a desktop or in the field; and (2), it can be adapted quickly to different environmental scenarios and meteorological data formats. Model calculations of m sw,pred compared with measured data showed a predictive accuracy ranging from 95% for the best to 75% for the worst prediction in complex thermal environments with solar loads. The module is a useful tool allowing guidance in military, public health, occupational and sports medicine settings Grant Funding Source : Supported by:Knowledge Preservation Program, USAMRMC