Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 19
Introduction
Abstract
The introduction outlines the field of application and the historical
evolution of decision support systems for use in nuclear or
radiological
emergencies.
When in the course of some nuclear or radiological emergency or threat radioactive
material is being released, or a release can be expected or has already occurred,
radiation protection measures can become necessary or at least seem indicated.
These measures aim at preventing deterministic radiation effects and minimizing
stochastic effects to a reasonably achievable extent. In this context, decision
support systems shall offer a sound knowledge and facts base on which rational,
reasonable and verifiable decisions can be taken in a given situation. A further field
of application lies in assisting in the preparedness for such situations by allowing
the identification and elaboration of appropriate countermeasure strategies in
advance, and by providing research and training scenarios.
Assessing the radiological situation in a real emergency requires firstly a diag-
nosis of the prevailing radiological conditions, and secondly, a forecast of their
potential future development, both as fast and reliable as possible under the given
circumstances. Formerly, only manual methods were available in terms of blank
forms, data tables, diagrams, and computation rules, allowing relevant radiological
quantities to be estimated by manual calculations. The necessary material was
compiled in textbooks, in Germany for example in a “Compendium for Radiation
Protection Consultants” [
1
] and a “Catalog of Measures” [
2
]. With the emerging era
of computing, the manual calculations were supplemented or replaced by computer
codes; however, the latter represented mainly a computer-suited transformation of
the manual methods and not a new methodology.
