PREDICTOL: a computer program to determine the thermophysiological duration limited exposures in various climatic conditions.
PREDICTOL is a PC program used to determine the thermophysiological duration limited exposures (DLE) in humans, nude or clothed, submitted to various climatic conditions (hot and cold climates) at rest or during a physical exercise. DLE are determined following different standards of the International Standardization Organization (ISO), especially ISO 7933 for hot environment and ISO-TR 11079 for cold environment. The original aspect of this program is that it can be used whatever the climatic conditions. The program presents two modes: an educational interactive mode and a scenario mode. The educational interactive mode demonstrates the thermophysiological effects, expressed as DLE, of different parameter changes (temperature, humidity, wind speed, metabolic heat production by physical exercise, clothing insulation and water vapor permeability). The scenario mode determines DLE for given various linked sequences as encountered in occupational, military or even recreational activities, each sequence being characterized by its climatic conditions, physical activities performed and by physical clothing properties. DLE given by PREDICTOL are correlated to those obtained in various controlled climatic laboratory conditions (r = 0.86; P < 0.001). PREDICTOL is written in Visual Basic 6.0. A "help menu" is provided to explain the use of the program and give information concerning the equations used to calculate both the thermal balance and DLE.
Besnard
Yves
Y
Département des Facteurs humains, Pôle Tolérance Climatique et Vêtement, Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées, 24 Avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38702 La Tronche Cedex, France. ybesnard@crssa.net
Launay
Jean-Claude
JC
Guinet-Lebreton
Angélique
A
Savourey
Gustave
G
D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002980:Climate; D003081:Cold Climate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012984:Software; D020711:Threshold Limit Values; D013997:Time Factors