POTSDAM -- Clarkson University dean Goodarz Ahmadi recently co-authored a book on particles in airflow.

According to Ahmadi, dean of the Clarkson school of engineering, computer modeling can be used to remove germs and pollutants from indoor air.

Ahmadi’s book, “Computational Fluid and Particle Dynamics in the Human Respiratory System,” explains the science behind tracking particles in airflow through a room and into the respiratory tract.

The book also contains best-practice guidelines students and scientists can use to establish high-quality computer models and simulations, as well as an introduction to the physics of the respiratory system.

“The final goal is to try to understand how to remove those particles so fewer pollutants get into the human body,” Ahmadi said. “You want to have a healthy building. You want to have it be healthy so that germs are not spread and people don’t get sick or catch colds.”

He completed much of the book on nights, weekends and during a research trip he took to Australia two years ago.

Ahmadi examined CT scans of nasal cavities, as well as a cast of a lung donated to science, in order to study the journey of an air particle once it enters the body.

Ahmadi has authored more than 520 papers in archival journals, in addition to two earlier books and more than 1,000 papers in national and international conference proceedings. He has also given more than 150 keynote lectures and invited seminars worldwide.

He is on the editorial advisory board of seven technical journals and is a fellow of ASME, ISME and ISCE.

He was also a Senior Research Associate at National Energy Technology Laboratory.

More information on his research can be found at clarkson.edu/projects/fluidflow.