2018 | Radiation Disaster Response Exercise

Undergraduate
Graduate

2018　Radiation Disaster Response Exercise

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Academic unit or major: Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering

Instructor(s): Katabuchi Tatsuya Chiba Satoshi Sagara Hiroshi Han Chi Young Ebata Shuichiro

Class Format: Lecture / Exercise

Media-enhanced courses

Day/Period(Room No.): Intensive (原講ほか , (講義室未定), (To Be Determind))

Group: -

Course number: NCL.O605

Credits: 2

Academic year: 2018

Offered quarter: 4Q

Syllabus updated: 2018/6/12

Lecture notes updated: -

Language used: English

Access Index

Syllabus

Course description and aims

This course gives an intense immersive experience that includes planning and implementing detection, verification, and retrieval of unknown nuclear or radioactive materials as radiological emergency responders assuming hypothetical radiation disasters caused by nuclear security events, developed in cooperation with TAMU (Texas A & M University) and TEEX (Texas A & M Engineering Extension Service). Firstly, at Tokyo Tech, students will practice "Radiation Detectors and Measurement” to learn the principles of radiation detectors and how to measure radiation using gamma-ray spectrometers, neutron detectors, and radioisotope and neutron sources. In the U.S., the students will perform "Uranium Enrichment Verification", "Radioactive Material Locating in Building", and "Radiological Emergency Response" exercises, using TAMU’s nuclear security and safeguards facilities and the TEEX Disaster City training compound (real rubble piles, structural collapse, railroads and cars, etc.).
This course aims to provide students with the emergency response and crisis management capability needed to adequately respond to radiation disasters caused by nuclear security events (sabotage, theft of nuclear material and RI, use of RDD, etc.). In addition, students will acquire skills such as teamwork and communication that are important for disaster response.

Student learning outcomes

By taking this course, students will learn;
1) Comprehensive and systematic thinking and responding capability to radiation disasters caused by nuclear security events
2) Principles of radiation detectors and proper handling methods of radiation detectors used for radiation disaster response
3) Technological capability necessary for quick radiation disaster response (detection, verification, identification of radioactive materials)
4) Teamwork and communication skills for radiation disaster response

Keywords

Radiation Disaster Response, Radiological Emergency Response, Nuclear Security, Crisis Management, Radiation Measurment

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills

Intercultural skills

✔ Communication skills

✔ Critical thinking skills

✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

In the Tokyo Tech's exercise, students are properly grouped so that they can practice with three gamma-ray spectrometers and a neutron detector. In TAMU, students practice in two groups "Uranium Enrichment Verification" and "Radioactive Material Locating in Building". In TEEX Disaster City, teams of two students perform missions. Prior to conducting each exercise, relevant lectures are given and after the exercise, students will present or report, and discuss.

Course schedule/Required learning

	Course schedule	Required learning
Class 1	Outline of Radiation Disaster Response	Understand the course objectives and outline.
Class 2	Protocol of Radiation Disaster Response (1)	Understand the protocol of radiation disaster response.
Class 3	Protocol of Radiation Disaster Response (2)	Understand the protocol of radiation disaster response.
Class 4	Exercise 1 : Radiation Detectors and Measurement - Gamma Spectrometer	Learn the principles and methods of the gamma-ray spectrometer, and measure gamma-ray sources.
Class 5	Exercise 1 : Radiation Detectors and Measurement - Neutron Detector	Learn the principles and methods of the neutron detector, and measure neutron sources.
Class 6	Exercise 2 : Uranium Enrichment Verification - Safeguards Instrumentation in Practice (Lecture)	Learn types and functions of safeguards instrumentation in practice.
Class 7	Exercise 2 : Uranium Enrichment Verification - U Enrichment Verification Using a Portable HPGe Detector	Learn how to handle the portable HPGe detector and verify U enrichment of samples.
Class 8	Exercise 3 : Radioactive Material Locating in Building - National Nuclear Security Detection System (Lecture)	Learn knowledge about detection systems used for U.S. national nuclear security
Class 9	Exercise 3 : Radioactive Material Locating in Building - Building Search Using a Radiation Detection Backpack System	Learn how to handle the radiation detection backpack system and search unknown radioactive materials in building.
Class 10	Exercise 3 : Radioactive Material Locating in Building - Radiation Source Locating outside the Target Room	Figure out the exact location of the radioactive material (source-in-a room) outside the room.
Class 11	Exercise 4 : Radiological Emergency Response - Consequence Management (Lecture) - Emergency Response Radiation Detection Instrumentation (Lecture)	Understand consequence management. Learn how to handle the detectors used for exercise.
Class 12	Exercise 4 : Radiological Emergency Response - Mission Brief - Finding an Elevated Radiation Area by a GPS Vehicle Search System	Grasp the missions. Find an elevated radiation area by monitoring a GPS vehicle search system.
Class 13	Exercise 4 : Radiological Emergency Response - Radiation Field Mapping of the Target Area	Measure and map radiation levels around the target area. Plan a deep search route.
Class 14	Exercise 4 : Radiological Emergency Response - Deep Search for the Target Area - Radiation Source Retrieval	Perform a deep search for the target area according to instructions and map out. Locate, identify, and retrieve radiation sources.
Class 15	Exercise 4 : Radiological Emergency Response - Mission Debrief and Discussion	Compile, report, and discuss the mission results.
Class 16	Presentation and Discussion on Exercise Results and Achievements (1)	Present and discuss the results and achievements of the three exercises.
Class 17	Presentation and Discussion on Exercise Results and Achievements (2)	Present and discuss the results and achievements of the three exercises.

Textbook(s)

Not specified

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course Materials:
Handouts will be distributed before or at the beginning of classes when necessary.

Assessment criteria and methods

Activities in Class (30%), Achievements and Teamwork in Exercise Missions (30%), Presentation and Discussion on Exercise Results (20%), and Homework Assignments (20%)

Related courses

NCL.O401 ： Nuclear Non-proliferation and Security
NCL.O511 ： Nuclear Non-proliferation and Security Exercise
NCL.U604 ： Nuclear Security Training

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

There is a limit on the number of students who can take this course.

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from "[at]" to "@"(half-width character).

buchi[at]lane.iir.titech.ac.jp
chiba.satoshi[at]lane.iir.titech.ac.jp
sagara[at]lane.iir.titech.ac.jp
cyhan[at]nr.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

E-mail for an appointment

TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY