Role of citizen measurements in radiation protection, emergency preparedness and response - its pros and cons

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F86652052%3A_____%2F17%3AN0000046" target="_blank" >RIV/86652052:_____/17:N0000046 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="http://www.icrp-erpw2017.com/upload/presentations/ERPW%20Communication/Session_02/Session%2002_5_KUCA_Presentation.pdf" target="_blank" >http://www.icrp-erpw2017.com/upload/presentations/ERPW%20Communication/Session_02/Session%2002_5_KUCA_Presentation.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Role of citizen measurements in radiation protection, emergency preparedness and response - its pros and cons

Original language description

An involvement of stakeholders and general public plays one of key roles in the process of effective solving problems in emergency preparedness, response and remediation on affected territories. To accomplish these tasks, it is necessary to gain the participants´ confidence to information on radiation situation provided by the authorities. The experiences gained from the Chernobyl and Fukushima NPP accidents have shown that especially in case of severe accident with significant consequences on large inhabited areas a lack of public confidence to officials was caused mostly by poor communication between the official authorities, the public and the stakeholders or by restricted access to the information for them. These may result into extremely negative impacts on the public and stakeholders´ understanding of actual situation, its possible risks, on their acceptance of necessary protective measures and participation in remediation of affected areas. An implementation of citizen radiation monitoring performed on a voluntary basis in this field may improve such a confidence. Making sure, the official results are compatible with the citizens self-measured ones, the public probably gains more confidence to them. In the Czech Republic the implementation of such an approach is investigated in the framework of security research founded by the Czech Ministry of the Interior. Especially RAMESIS Research Project solved by SURO is aimed at creating tools for supporting and establishment of a citizen monitoring network based both on the network of fixed monitoring points equipped with newly developed simple and cheap fixed monitoring stations and on mobile monitoring performed using the Safecast “bGeigie nano” portable devices. The next project task is preparation of methods and tools to utilize these citizen networks results by the National Radiation Monitoring Network operated by the state. This can also improve efficiency of obtaining information needful for a fast and effective evaluation of the radiation situation in case of accident. Analysis of possible capabilities of such citizen’s networks shows that monitoring of all roads on the whole CR territory may be carried out for one day using only about 300 mobile devices. In this manner both areas with higher levels, which need professional contamination monitoring, may be identified, and areas with no significant increase of dose can be confirmed. Our analysis shows that the citizens monitoring networks can provide useful information not only for evaluation of radiation situation during the first phase of a radiation accident, but also for the phase of territory remediation to assess a future development of radiation situation and to evaluate an effectiveness of remedial measures. The paper shows selected results of selected security research projects aimed at this field, supported by the Czech Ministry of Interior (RAMESIS, ID: VI20152019028) and by the Technology Agency of CR (CK RANUS, ID: TE01020445). The contribution was presented at ICRP 4th International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection & 2nd European Radiological Protection Week, October 10-12 2017, Paris, France.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

<a href="/en/project/VI20152019028" target="_blank" >VI20152019028: Radiation Monitoring Network for institutions and schools to assure early awareness and enhancing safety of citizens (RAMESIS)</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2017

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů