A mathematical model to simulate physiological adjustments to extreme environments to analyse human responses to adverse environmental conditions

Humans are among the most adaptable species on Earth, yet extreme environmental conditions impose significant limits to human performance, wellbeing, and survival. The study of human physiology in extreme environments is challenging due to the ethical and practical constraints of conducting experiments on humans in such conditions. Investigating and understanding human physiology and the effects of extreme environments on humans is crucial for the safety and wellbeing of individuals. Information about the physiological responses to extreme environments can be transferred to study the effects of different interventions, the use of protective equipment, or the development of medical treatments. Computational models provide a tool for studying the physiological responses to extreme environments, and for predicting the effects of different interventions. This research aims to develop a computational biomedicine model with application to investigate the impact of underwater exposure on human physiology. Three contributions in this research comprise the development of the computational model, the model validation, and the development of a research infrastructure to facilitate research studies. The developed computational biomedicine model simulates the dynamic interactions between human physiology and extreme environmental conditions. It includes dynamic relationships of blood pressure, ow, and volume, and the effects of underwater exposure in the form of immersion and ambient pressure effects. The model was validated using a sensitivity and plausibility analysis to evaluate the model's predictive capabilities and accuracy to simulate the physiological responses to underwater exposure. The results demonstrated that the model is capable of predicting physiological dynamics for a general population allowing the model to be individualised. It was further demonstrated that the model predicted the physiological responses to underwater exposure in a reasonable physiological range, confirming the model's applicability to scuba diving scenarios. The work further developed an extreme underwater environment research laboratory to conduct underwater exposure experiments and research studies. An underwater exposure protocol was developed defining a recreational diving exposure profile and a list of biomedical measurements to be collected during the underwater exposure. The computational model and the research infrastructure are valuable contributions that invite further research to study the effects of extreme environments on human physiology.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (en cotutelle)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology / University of Technology Sydney

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Cibis, Tobias

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• McGregor, Carolyn
• Kennedy, Paul
• Bressan, Nadja
• Hawkins, Glen

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/2002

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/2002