puffmodeller

Puffmodeller is a software framework for creating and simulating puff-based phenomena. It treats emissions as a sequence of discrete puffs released from defined sources, and tracks their transport, dispersion, and decay over time. The tool is used in atmospheric dispersion studies as well as in visual effects to render smoke plumes.

Its architecture is modular and extensible. Users can define puff properties such as size, mass, and emission rate, set release schedules, and specify the surrounding flow field. The engine commonly employs a Lagrangian approach to track puffs in 2D or 3D, with optional coupling to external CFD solvers or simplified velocity fields. Features often include meteorological data integration, terrain handling, buoyancy effects, turbulence models, and various output formats for concentration maps, puff trajectories, and rendered visuals. The software typically supports scripting or configuration files for batch runs and provides visualization hooks for immediate inspection.

Applications span environmental risk assessment, air quality studies, and emergency response planning, where discrete puff models help estimate downwind concentrations and arrival times. In the entertainment industry, puffmodeller is used to generate believable smoke effects and cloud formations in film, television, and games. The project emphasizes reproducibility, openness, and interoperability with other modelling tools.

Development is commonly community-driven, with documentation, tutorials, and example datasets available in public repositories. Licensing and distribution vary, but many implementations are released under permissive open-source licenses to encourage collaboration and reuse.