What is a footprint definition

In RISKCURVES, a "footprint definition" describes the impact area of an event, specifying how far and wide the effects spread from the origin of the event. This concept is crucial for understanding and evaluating the potential hazards and consequences of incidents involving hazardous materials.

A footprint is defined using the following parameters in EFFECTS and RISKCURVES:

• Max. Distance: The farthest point from the release source where the impact can be experienced.

• Min. Distance (Offset): The closest point to the release source where the impact starts.

• Distance to Max. Width: The distance from the release source to the point where the impact area is at its widest.

• Max. Width: The widest part of the impact area.

In EFFECTS and RISKCURVES software, footprint definitions are used to model and visualize the potential consequences of hazardous material releases. These models can predict the spread of impacts such as thermal radiation, overpressure, or toxic concentrations.

A distinction is made between consequence and lethality definitions: 

• Consequence definition: Contains a physical value (e.g., kW/m², mbar, mg/m³) representing the intensity of the impact.
• Lethality definition: Defines a value as a lethal fraction, indicating the potential lethality within the footprint.