The Urban Threat Dispersion (UTD) project is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts to enhance the resiliency of urban areas and transit systems against chemical and biological agents.

This project is an airflow and dispersion study that will simulate the aerosol release of a biological agent in a densely populated urban environment. This study will be conducted in New York City and involve the release of safe gas and the collection of air samples and materials that settle on the ground and other surfaces afterward.

The results will directly benefit and inform outdoor, subway, and infrastructure modeling used by transit and emergency management officials as part of emergency response actions.

The study will take place from October 18 through October 29, during this time you might see personnel outside and in subways being escorted by New York City Police officers while they perform air flow tests.

Learn more about the Urban Threat Dispersion Project.