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2020　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 
Class Format
Lecture / Exercise     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Intensive (学外)  
Group
-
Course number
NCL.O605
Credits
2
Academic year
2020
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2020/11/4
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course gives an intense immersive experience that includes planning and implementing detection, verification, and retrieval of unknown nuclear and radioactive materials as a radiological emergency response assuming hypothetical radiation disasters caused by nuclear security events where a general disaster response is difficult. In "Exercise 1: Gamma Ray Source Identification", students learn the principles of gamma ray measurement and usage of gamma ray spectrometers, and practice to detect, identify, and recover unknown gamma ray sources indoors. In "Exercise 2: Neutron Source Detection", students learn the principles and usage of neutron detectors, and practice to detect and recover unknown neutron sources indoors. In "Exercise 3: Uranium Enrichment Measurement", students learn how to measure uranium enrichment, and practice to measure gamma ray spectra of low- and high-enriched uranium samples and determine the uranium enrichment. In "Exercise 4: Radiological Emergency Response", assuming a radiological emergency due to a virtual nuclear terrorism, as a first responder, students are missioned to locate, verify, and retrieve unknown virtual radiation sources outdoors.
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 or radioactive materials, use of RDD (Radiological Dispersal Device), etc.), and skills such as teamwork and communication that are important for disaster response.

Student learning outcomes

By taking this course, students will learn and acquire;
1) Comprehensive and systematic thinking and responding ability 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 nuclear and radioactive materials, etc.)
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

Prior to performing each exercise, a related lecture is given to learn the objectives and necessary knowledge of the exercise. Each exercise is conducted by organizing students into appropriate groups according to the characteristics and objectives of the exercise. After each exercise, the exercise results are summarized by group and discussed comprehensively.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Outline of Radiation Disaster Response To understand the course objectives and contents
Class 2 Exercise 1: Gamma Ray Source Identification (1) Measurement of Gamma Rays (Lecture) To understand the principles of gamma ray measurement and the objectives of exercise
Class 3 Exercise 1: Gamma Ray Source Identification (2) Usage of Gamma Ray Spectrometers To learn how to use gamma ray spectrometers
Class 4 Exercise 1: Gamma Ray Source Identification (3) Detection and Identification of Indoor Unknown Gramma Ray Sources To acquire the technological capability to detect and identify unknown gamma ray sources
Class 5 Exercise 2: Neutron Source Detection (1) Measurement of Neutrons (Lecture) To understand the principles of neutron measurement and the objectives of exercise
Class 6 Exercise 2: Neutron Source Detection (2) Usage of Neuron Detectors To learn how to use neutron detectors
Class 7 Exercise 2: Neutron Source Detection (3) Detection of Indoor Unknown Neutron Sources To acquire the technological capability to detect unknown neutron sources
Class 8 Discussion on Results of Exercises 1 and 2 To acquire a comprehensive thinking ability to detect and identify radioactive materials
Class 9 Exercise 3: Uranium Enrichment Measurement (1) Techniques of Uranium Enrichment Measurement (Lecture) To understand the techniques of uranium enrichment measurement and the objectives of exercise
Class 10 Exercise 3: Uranium Enrichment Measurement (2) Measurement of Gamma Ray Spectra of Uranium Samples To learn how to effectively measure gamma ray spectra of small amounts of uranium samples, taking into account the effects of background, etc.
Class 11 Exercise 3: Uranium Enrichment Measurement (3) Determination of Uranium Enrichment of Samples To acquire the capability to calculate and analyze uranium enrichment
Class 12 Exercise 3: Uranium Enrichment Measurement (4) Discussion on Exercise Results To acquire a comprehensive thinking ability to determine uranium enrichment
Class 13 Exercise 4: Radiological Emergency Response (1) Mission Brief and Usage of a Virtual Radiation Detection System To understand the mission and learn how to use the virtual radiation detection system
Class 14 Exercise 4: Radiological Emergency Response (2) Locating, Identifying, Retrieving of Outdoor Unknown Radiation Sources To acquire a comprehensive and systematic thinking and responding ability, and teamwork and communication skills to the mission
Class 15 Exercise 4: Radiological Emergency Response (3) Summarizing of Exercise Results To acquire a comprehensive and systematic thinking and responding ability for radiological emergency response
Class 16 Exercise 4: Radiological Emergency Response (4) Mission Debrief and Discussion on Exercise Results To acquire a comprehensive and systematic thinking and responding ability for radiological emergency response

Textbook(s)

Not specified

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course Materials:
Handouts will be distributed before or at the beginning of classes if 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.O512 ： Environmental Dynamics of Radioactive Material

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

A limited number of students permitted

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