Innovative integrated tools and platforms for radioecological emergency preparedness and post-accident response in Europe

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The management of the Fukushima event in Europe was far from optimal, and identified a number of areas needing improvement in emergency preparedness management. The Fukushima accident clearly demonstrated the importance of a source term estimation that is not only based on information from the plant operators. The existing requirements (Codex Alimentarius and Euratom regulations) for contaminated goods were difficult to implement, and information strategies lacking. The PREPARE project will develop a scie ntific and operational basis to improve information collection, information exchange and the evaluation for such types of accidents. This will be achieved through a collaboration of 42 industry, research and governmental organisations in Europe. The proje ct has 7 Work Packages covering different areas of research and development. UMB is involved in 4 Research Areas (RA). RA1: Platform for information collection and exchange will develop scientific methods and tools for the collection and analysis of infor mation from any nuclear or radiological event, including analysis of uncertainties. RA2 Consumer Goods will through a series of stakeholder workshops, provide an analysis and recommendations on management of contaminated goods. RA3 Improvement to terrestr ial aspects of decision support systems will address deficits in the representation of the physico-chemical properties of radionuclides emitted in the atmospheric dispersion models of ARGOS and RODOS. Dispersion calculations will be combined with monitori ng information around a power plant, and physico-chemical properties of the radionuclides. RA4 Communication with the public will cover both the nuclear emergency as well as post-emergency phases. Work will include an analysis of the various media routes (including social media) used in Europe in the aftermath of the accident, as well as interactive, case-based analysis through workshops and a cross cutting task force meeting.