|
|
|
|
Modeling Home Runs
09/05/2002
Listen in RealAudio 
Knowledge of how a baseball travels within a ballpark once required several seasons
of astute observations. But thanks to innovative research by an Ontario consulting firm
major league teams can now know what to expect at a new ballpark even before
ground is broken. Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton for The Weather Notebook. The Chicago
Whitesox began baseball's wind engineering movement over a decade ago. When
they drew up plans for the new Comiskey Park, they hired Rowan, Williams, Davies,
and Irwin Inc., RWDI of Guelph Ontario, which specializes in wind
engineering.
In addition to addressing structural and fan comfort concerns, RWDI used climate
records and wind tunnel models for the proposed park to determine the effects of field
orientation and ballpark architecture on wind currents affecting ball flight. Since then,
nearly every team pondering a new ball park has hired the firm. Baltimore's Camden
Yards and San Fransisco's Pack Bell Park are examples on RWDI influence.
The wind tunnel has now been replaced by the computer to study the flight of
baseballs. RWDI engineers use sophisticated mathematical models that combine
flight physics with a three dimensional representation of the stadium and local winds
to calculate the baseballs flight under a variety of conditions. Says RWDI
vice-president, Michael J. Soligo, basically, you can know the characteristics of the ball
park before a shovel is put into the ground.
Most recently the Philadelphia Phillies have commisioned RWDI to study their new
ballpark using the results to determine outfield dimensions and fence heights. The
study indicates that Philadelphia should be a pretty good hitters park, particularly for
left-handed power hitters. WInd mostly blow toward right and right center field during
the day and more towards center during night games.
The Weather Notebook is a production of the Mount Washington Observatory and is
sponsored generously by Subaru of America and The National Science Foundation.
|
|
