EMRAS II

Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety

Background

The general aim of the EMRAS II Programme was to improve capabilities in the field of environmental radiation dose assessment by means of acquisition of improved data for model testing, comparison, reaching consensus on modelling philosophies, approaches and parameter values, development of improved methods and exchange of information.

EMRAS II continued some of the work of previous international exercises in the field of radioecological modelling and focused on areas where uncertainties remain in the predictive capability of environmental models. These previous international exercises include BIOMOVS (BIOspheric Model Validation Study) and BIOMOVS II, initiated by the Swedish Radiation Authority in 1985, and the programmes sponsored by the IAEA: VAMP (Validation of Model Predictions, 1988-1996) and BIOMASS (BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment, 1996-2001, and EMRAS which ran from 2003 to 2007.

The activities within the framework of the EMRAS II Programme concentrated on improvement of environmental transfer models for reducing associated uncertainties or development of new approaches to strengthen the evaluation of the radiological impact to man, as well as to flora and fauna, arising from radionuclides in the environment.

Objectives

The overarching objective of the IAEA’s activities in environmental modelling is to enhance the capabilities of Member States to simulate radionuclide transfer in the environment and, thereby, to assess exposure levels of the public and in the environment in order to ensure an appropriate level of protection from the effects of ionizing radiation, associated with radionuclide releases and from existing radionuclides in the environment. Specific objectives in the areas of radioactive release assessment, restoration of sites with radioactive residues, and environmental protection are:

• To test the performance of models developed for assessing the transfer of radionuclides in the environment and radiological impact to man and environment
• To develop and improve models for particular environments and, where appropriate, to agree on data sets that are generally applicable in environmental transfer models
• To provide an international forum for the exchange of experience, ideas and research information

Organization of the EMRAS II Programme

The EMRAS II Programme ran from 2009 to 2011 and was launched at its First Technical Meeting was held from 19 to 23 January 2009. Its work continued during the Second Technical Meeting, held from 25 to 29 January 2010, and the Third Technical Meeting, held from 24 to 28 January 2011. All three meetings convened at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna. The implementation of the EMRAS II Programme was led by a Steering Committee (SC) which generally met during the annual Technical Meeting.

Mr Gerhard Proehl was the overall Scientific Secretary of the EMRAS II Programme.

Structure of Meetings

Two types of meetings were organized annually as part of the EMRAS II Programme:

• The annual Technical Meetings, which were held at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna during the first quarter of each year for the duration of the programme
• The interim Working Group Meetings, which generally took place in the second or third quarter of each year

During the week long Technical Meetings, typically Plenary Sessions were held on the first and last days and the remaining three days were used for the Working Group Meetings.

 

For further programme-specific information please contact MODARIA or EMRAS II.