Module L-055

1
Radiological Data for Exercises
IAEA Training in Emergency Preparedness and
Response

• Module L-055

Lecture
2
Objectives

• Know what radiological data is needed
• Know how radiological data can be generated and
  the tools that can be used
• Know the limitation of those tools
• Understand the pros and cons of using real
  weather during an exercise

3
Why is Radiological Data Important?

• Because radiological data drives the exercise

4
Type of Radiological Data

• In-facility
• Ambient radiation
• Contamination
• Air concentrations
• Environmental
• Ambient radiation
• Contamination
• Air concentrations
• Isotopic data

5
Type of Radiological Data (Contd)

• At the off-site traffic control points
• Ambient radiation
• Contamination (vehicles and people)
• At the reception centre or hospital
• Contamination (vehicles and people)
• Casualties
• Contamination
• Dosimeter readings

6
Producing Radiological Data (1)

• In-facility data
• Simulator
• Safety analysis
• Shielding models

7
Producing Radiological Data (2)

• Environmental data
• Source term from safety analysis
• Customize the release fractions, rate of release
  and release profile in time to fit the emergency
  scenario
• Use dose projection software to generate doses
  vs. distance and time
• Some software has time-dependent source terms,
  variable winds, and provides measurable
  quantities such as dose rates and airborne
  concentration at any given time
• Most do not

8
Producing Radiological Data (3)

• Environmental data (contd)
• If the release profile is known, dose projections
  can be converted to dose rates, instantaneous
  airborne concentrations, ground shine and ground
  contamination
• Dose rates and airborne concentrations can be
  converted to instrument readings
• Using instrument specifications and sampling
  procedures as guides
• Random elements introduced in the software

9
Producing Radiological Data (4)

• People and vehicle contamination
• Use arbitrary values
• Requires some judgement
• Contamination level depends on location and
  duration of stay or travel

10
Producing Radiological Data (5)

• Dosimetry
• Most difficult values to simulate
• Depends on type location profile of each
  individual
• Can be simulated to cause key events
• e.g. Report of a dose greater than 5 mSv to force
  staff rotation
• For free play, integrate based on dose rate data
• If dose control is a major objective, have an
  individual or a team dedicated to the simulation
  of dose readings

11
How to Present Radiological Data (1)

• In-station radiological data
• Colour-coded layout of the station
• Discrete time intervals

12
How to Present Radiological Data (2)
13
How to Present Radiological Data (3)

• Environmental data
• There are several ways. Two are presented as
  examples
• Method 1 one map of relevant data for each time
  interval
• Method 2 single map of integrated plume
  trajectory coupled with time-dependent tables
• Colour codes can be used but may be difficult to
  reproduce

14
Map (1)
15
Table (2)
0.1
0.1
0.1
Pole 103
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
Pole 104
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.1
Pole 105
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
Pole 106
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
Pole 107
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Pole 108
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
South Musquash
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
16
Real-time software

• Some programs allow real-time simulation of dose
  rate and contamination data

17
How to Present Radiological Data (4)

• Contamination data
• At fixed points table of values vs. time
• Large areas maps or layouts for each major time
  interval
• Persons and vehicles pictures

18
Contamination Data
19
Contamination Data (Contd)
20 - 25 cps
15 - 20 cps
10 - 15 cps
5 - 10 cps
20
Contamination Data (Contd)
21
How to Present Radiological Data (5)

• Isotopic data
• Reverse-engineered to fit the dispersion and dose
  projection results
• Provide isotopic concentration tables or spectrum

22
How To Read The Data

• Provide the data when requested and when deserved
• Avoid showing time dependent graphs all at once
• If you make a mistake, admit it and provide the
  right number
• All field controllers who are responsible for
  supplying radiological data must be well trained
  on how to provide that data

23
Limitations of Tools

• Not always realistic
• Some judgment and interpretation by the
  controllers necessary
• Difficult to account for wind variability
• However, these limitations are not significant
  given that the aim is to exercise the
  relationship between surveys and decision-making

24
Real or Simulated Weather?

• Simulated weather
• Easier to produce the radiological data
• Easier to control the exercise
• Introduces artificiality
• Real weather
• Better test of the coordination between weather
  and survey teams
• More realistic
• Cannot pre-set the radiological survey injects
• Requires calculations on the fly
• Requires an extremely good coordination within
  the control team

25
Summary

• Radiological data is the core of the exercise
  data
• Several parameters required, although not all of
  them may be necessary for a single exercise
• The development of radiological data requires
  extensive analysis work
• The provision of radiological data requires
  experienced and trained controllers
• Real weather is better than simulated, but much
  more difficult to manage