Environmental Issues
- Radiation Monitoring
Introduction
 In 1988, following review of the Chernobyl accident, the Government
published a National Response Plan to deal with the consequences
for the United Kingdon (UK) of overseas nuclear accidents.
The main component of the Plan is a national radiation monitoring
network and emergency response system known as RIMNET (Radioactive
Incident Monitoring Network).
Development of RIMNET
was based on consultations between Government bodies, local authority
associations, the nuclear industry and others under the auspices
of a national co-ordinating committee - the Radioactive Incident
Monitoring Co-ordinating Committee (RIMCC). This Committee
continues to advise on points of operational detail.
RIMNET Phase 3
RIMNET Phase 3 is designed
to provide the following facilities:
- a fully automated network of 92 gamma radiation dose rate monitors,
sited throughout the UK, which supplies routine hourly readings
and raises an alert if any abnormal increases are noted: additional
readings from the RIMNET monitors can be obtained at any time;
- a purpose built TCC (Technical Co-ordination Centre) where assessments
of the accident's effects are collated and used to compile information
and advice bulletins;
- a fully equipped IC (Information Centre) sited alongside the
TCC for the dissemination of bulletins;
- a large Central Database Facility (CDF) computer for storing
radiological monitoring data;
- communications systems for use by the TCC and IC to pass data
and bulletins between Government departments and to outside organisations,
the media and the public;
- powerful workstation terminals which allow users to analyse
and display CDF data, using sophisticated mapping facilities,
and to compile textual messages and bulletins;
- information replay facilities to support accident response and
briefing.
Key aspects of
the RIMNET Phase 3 system design are:
- ease of use by staff responding to a nuclear accident;
- reliable and resilient operation;
- ability to effect the rapid transfer of large volumes of numerical
and textual information.
RIMNET Monitoring
Site in Tyne & Wear
The RIMNET Monitoring
Site in Tyne & Wear is on the roof of the former Weather Centre,
Newcastle City Centre. The results from this site are regularly
published.
For more information: www.hpa.org.uk/radiation..
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