The Finnish processing pipeline during nuclear or radiological emergency preparedness and response

STUK, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Laippatie 4, 00881 Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

During nuclear or radiological emergency preparedness and response a processing pipeline is put in place at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority to produce assessment reports of the current situation, its likely evolution with time, and recommendations on protective actions. Within the processing pipeline raw data is more and more refined towards these end products as experts, advisors, and decision makers collect, analyze, portray, annotate, filter, arrange and rearrange, share, approve or dismiss, and publish content. Emergency procedures and guidelines assist and guide them through the process, as do information and communication technologies. The inner working of the processing pipeline is in constant flux as information and communication technologies develop and allow better facilitation of the process, and as social and political demands change. The present article describes the overall working of the pipeline, and how it has recently been improved by the KETALE collaborative software. The focus then shifts to the new ICRP recommendations and how the new national emergency guidelines are planned to be implemented within the KETALE software. The KETALE software has greatly increased the throughput of our emergency processing pipeline and improved product quality.