SheltAir. Co-created airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for shelter design.
SheltAir is the first tool co-created with aid workers to model natural ventilation in shelters for displaced populations. Developed by Anna Conzatti during her PhD research at the University of Bath, SheltAir addresses the critical issue of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and the spread of airborne diseases in shelters.
SheltAir is an Excel-based tool that employs simplified airflow equations to model natural ventilation and IAQ. The tool also implements a COVID-19 transmission model. SheltAir requires only 20 inputs and provides results in less than 30 minutes, making it accessible even to non-experts. Key features include:
• Simplified Airflow Models: Utilizes simplified equations8 to calculate ventilation rates based on CO2 levels.
• Occupant Behavior: Incorporates behavioural data to enhance accuracy in predicting IAQ.
• COVID-19 Transmission Risk: Includes a model9 to assess the risk of airborne disease transmission in shelters.
SheltAir can simulate five ventilation strategies using different schedules for single-room shelters in 3000 locations worldwide, making it versatile for various scenarios. It offers outputs into indoor CO2 levels for different seasons and evaluates COVID-19 transmission risks, helping designers make informed decisions to improve living conditions in shelters.
SheltAir addresses poor IAQ in shelters, reducing health risks associated with inadequate ventilation and indoor activities. It aims to improve the living conditions for displaced populations, especially vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. Its user-friendly design empowers human- itarian workers and shelter designers to implement effective ventilation strategies without specialised expertise, leading to global improvements in shelter conditions and significantly benefiting displaced communities.
- Architecture History, Theory and Practice
- Design Engineering
- Design History, Theory and Practice
- Design Processes
- Product Design
Cite this dataset as:
Conzatti, A.,
Fosas, D.,
Kuchai, N.,
Keser, E.,
Albadra, D.,
Coley, D.,
Prof. Hom Bahadur Rijal,
2026.
SheltAir. Co-created airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for shelter design.
Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01439.
Export
Data
SheltAir_V3.xlsx
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (14MB)
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
This is the SheltAir. The tool can be used to assess the indoor air quality, natural ventilation and airborne disease transmission risk of any shelter design in a given context.
Creators
Anna Conzatti
University of Bath; Cardiff Metropolitan University
Daniel Fosas
Supervisor
University of Bath
Noorullah Kuchai
Contributor
University of Bath
Elif Keser
University of Bath
Dima Albadra
University of Bath
David Coley
Supervisor
University of Bath
Prof. Hom Bahadur Rijal
Contributors
Tristan Kershaw
Supervisor
University of Bath
Alexander Copping
Supervisor
University of Bath
Hom Bahadur Rijal
Contributor
Tokyo City University
University of Bath
Rights Holder
Documentation
Data collection method:
SheltAir was developed through a co-creative methodology. This method included a detailed examination of mathematical models for natural ventilation, a monitoring campaign in Japan, and extensive collaboration with shelter designers, aid workers, and NGOs. This co-creative approach ensures that SheltAir is based on sound scientific principles and practical insights. This tool has been developed using Python coding and Excel.
Technical details and requirements:
For best results, the tool should be opened in MS Excel 2016+ on Windows.
Additional information:
For information on how to use the tool, please consult the README sheet it contains.
Funders
Unfunded
McIntyre Scholarship in Healthy Housing
Publication details
Publication date: 1 February 2026
by: University of Bath
Version: 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01439
URL for this record: https://researchdata.bath.ac.uk/1439
Related papers and books
Conzatti, A., Kuchai, N., Keser, E., Albadra, D., Fosas, D., and Coley, D., 2026. Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for humanitarian shelter design. Indoor Environments, 3(1), 100154. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indenv.2026.100154.
Related datasets and code
Conzatti, A., Kuchai, N., Keser, E., Albadra, D., and Coley, D., 2026. Dataset for "Co-creation of an airflow and COVID-19 transmission risk model for shelter design". Version 1. Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01434.
Contact information
Please contact the Research Data Service in the first instance for all matters concerning this item.
Contact person: Anna Conzatti
Faculty of Engineering & Design
Architecture & Civil Engineering
Research Centres & Institutes
Centre for Regenerative Design & Engineering for a Net Positive World (RENEW)
