Products, equipments and natural or artificial systems can undergo several environmental pressures caused by chemical, physical and biological factors, either natural or anthropogenic, thus reducing their quality or their functional ability. By using experimental or virtual assays (by numerical methods testing), environmental simulation aims to develop more reliable products and equipments or to increase the systems quality or capacity to withstand imposed loads, towards the minimisation of accidents and consequence mitigation.

Based on the results obtained from testing products, equipments or systems under the influence of environmental factors, environmental simulation contributes to perform a risk assessment in different areas at local, regional or global level. Risk assessment comprises all elements for the decision making process – characterisation, analysis, appreciation, communication – in an individual level or by public or private organizations, in a context of risk management.