Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 21
The Decision Support System RODOS
Abstract
The chapter begins with an outline of the historical development from
the first UNIX-based RODOS system until the most recent Java-based version
JRodos. This is followed by an overview of the models contained in RODOS,
and a description of the RODOS Center in Germany, where RODOS operates since
2005 at a central location for use by the federal government and the federal states.
21.1 History
The Chernobyl reactor accident on April 26, 1986, showed how badly European
countries were prepared for an emergency like this. Assessments of the radiological
situation and decision-making about actions for protecting the public were partly
determined by actionism or inadequate, often simply due to a lack of standardized
and reliable information. Furthermore, there was no cross-border coordination of
emergency measures. These reasons finally led to the development of the decision
support system RODOS
1
that combines all relevant data, produces diagnoses and
prognoses, and compares the efficiencies of various measures. In addition to the
objective of assisting decision makers and consultants in case of an emergency with
often tremendous time pressure and great psychological stress, the system also was
to be used for training and education in radiological and emergency-related issues.
In 1988, the development started at the former Institute of Neutron Physics and
Reactor Engineering of the Karlsruhe Research Center, which is now the Institute
of Nuclear Technology and Energy Technology of the Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology. Until late 1998, the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety funded the RODOS/RESY subsystem, whose
functionality was restricted to emergency measures in the vicinity of nuclear
1
RODOS:
R
eal-time
O
n-line
D
ecisi
o
n Support.
