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Topic

Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Methane Emissions from Simulated Plumes: A Hybrid Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Image-Based Approach

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Date & location

• Thursday, October 23, 2025

• 1:00 P.M.

• Engineering Office Wing

• Room 430

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Levi Smith, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ӣ��Ӱ�� (Co-Supervisor)

• Dr. Thomas Darcie, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UVic (Co-Supervisor) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Laura Minet, Department of Civil Engineering, ӣ��Ӱ�� 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Astrid Perez Pinan, School of Public Administration, UVic

Abstract

Given methane’s role as a potent greenhouse gas with a significantly higher short term global warming potential than carbon dioxide, its accurate quantification is critical for early detection and mitigation. This thesis presents a simulation-driven framework for quantifying greenhouse gas methane leak rates using image-based projections derived from computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Methane emissions with field-representative leak rates were modeled in open-air environments using three dimensional (3D) simulations under varying wind and leak source conditions. The resulting volumetric data were transformed to mimic the output of remote optical sensing systems, enabling leak rate estimation via a MATLAB-based algorithm grounded in the principles of mass conservation. This approach offers a practical foundation for remote methane quantification, with potential applications in sensor validation, environmental monitoring, and climate action strategies focused on emission reductions.