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Decision support systems RODOS
Decision support: Calculation and mapping of radiological impacts
- The prognosis and decision support model RODOS ("Realtime Online Decision Support System") calculates the future environmental contamination and the expected doses to the affected population in a radiological emergency.
- RODOS is a part of the Integrated Measurement and Information System (IMIS) of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).
In the event of an emergency, it is vital to immediately make reproducible predictions on the radiological situation. The decision support model RODOS ("Realtime Online Decision Support System") within the Integrated Measurement and Information System (IMIS) is available for this purpose.
The future environmental contamination and the expected doses can be estimated with the help of RODOS. These predictions form the basis for specific emergency response measures, such as evacuating the population which may be imposed by the competent authorities.
RODOS results are used in the Federal Radiological Situation Center to assess the situation and recommend protective measures.
What does RODOS calculate?
Human radiation exposure following a release of radioactive material into the environment is composed of the following constituents:
the external exposure of humans to
as well as of the internal exposure
- due to the intake of radionuclides through breathing (inhalation) and
- through food (ingestion).
RODOS calculations are based on forecasts of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Meteorological Service) and on information on the composition and amounts of released radioactive substances, which are supplied to the BfS in case of emergency, for instance, by the operators of the affected nuclear power plant in Germany or abroad. On this basis, RODOS calculates the radiation exposure of humans after a release of radioactive material into the environment due to external exposure and inhalation.
In order to evaluate possible dose contributions from the intake of radionuclides with food, RODOS also calculates possible contaminations in food- and feedstuff, which are directly compared with applicable EU limits.
Presentation of results and derived measures
The predictions of the environmental contamination and of the expected radiation exposure of humans calculated by RODOS are visualised in result maps. The expected radiation exposure levels are displayed with different colours. Red and orange means particulary high and high exposure rates and dark blue means slight exposure rates.
The following figures show examples of RODOS predictions. They were modelled as part of an exercise.
Example 1
RODOS calculation decision support for the civil protection measures sheltering and evacuation. The map also shows the disaster control circles with twelve sectors for each nuclear power plant.
Areas requiring measures for the protection of the population due to the anticipated time of release and the amount of radioactive material released are shaded red and orange in the map example. Specific measures, which may be imposed by the competent authorities, can be allocated to the colour values.
The colour red in this example means that the people living in that area will have to be evacuated because of the expected high radiation levels.
People living in the orange shaded areas should temporarily stay in closed rooms for their own safety.
No direct measures are required in the areas shown in yellow, green and blue.
Example 2
Contamination of leafy vegetables with radioiodine.
RODOS also calculates the potential contamination of food and feed. The second map example illustrates a map showing the contamination of leafy vegetables with iodine-131. The colours are chosen based on the limit value of 2,000 becquerel of radioactive iodine per kilogram of leafy vegetables set by the European Union (EU).
The map shows the affected areas and the anticipated contamination levels.
In the areas coloured from dark blue to yellow, the potential contamination of the vegetable is below the EU limit value.
The limit value is exceeded in the areas shown in orange and red. Measures such as closing greenhouses, covering fruits if possible, or harvesting almost ripe products might perhaps help to keep contamination as low as possible.
If a release of radioactive material actually occurs and the measured values exceed the EU limits, the vegetables grown in those areas must not be marketed. The authorities impose a "marketing ban" as a measure taken in this case.
State of 2024.04.19
