Background
Recognising the lack of appropriate off site emergency arrangements for nuclear accident, the European Commission sponsored a study to determine the status of the off site emergency preparedness and identify specific needs for improvement. The “Needs Assessment” study encompassing 14 Central European countries and NIS was completed in February 1996. The results of this study have been evaluated by the EC OSEP (Off-Site Emergency Preparedness) Inter-Service Group. Several areas where immediate support was needed were identified and the appropriate projects initiated. One of the areas where significant deficiencies were identified was the decision making support during emergencies.
The European Commission, under the auspices of its 3rd, 4th and 5th Framework Programs, supported the development of a comprehensive and generally applicable, Real time, On-line, decision Support (RODOS) system for the off-site management of nuclear emergencies. In 2000 the pre-operational version of the system was completed that is applicable to the early and intermediate phases of an accident. Further development of the system continued and new updated versions of the system are periodically issued by main RODOS developer FZK Karlsruhe on behalf of the Consortium of RODOS developers which includes institutions from different countries including Ukraine (Institute of Mathematical Machine and System Problems of National Academy of Sciences – IMMSP).
A large number of institutes from countries in both Eastern and Western Europe participated in the development of RODOS and many expressed an interest in the use of this system within national emergency arrangements, in particular to explore its efficiency in this context.
Project Aims
The overall objective was to implement RODOS as a decision support tool within the framework of emergency arrangements in Ukraine. This included procurement, delivery and installation of the hardware and communication lines, installation of RODOS and adaptation to local conditions as well as development of maintenance programmes, operating procedures and the provision of training for RODOS operators and users.
The objective of this project was to assist with the accelerated implementation of RODOS in Ukraine within national emergency arrangements. Experience gained in the pre-operational use of the system would determine the extent to which it would subsequently be formally integrated into national arrangements.
The main focus of the project was to establish the hardware for operation of the system, to customise the RODOS software for the site and monitoring network and provide organisational support for its implementation. More specifically, the main elements comprised:
- Procure and install the computer hardware for RODOS system in accordance with the specification provided.
- Establish the dedicated communication lines (e.g. leased telephone lines) between the organisations involved in the operation of RODOS system, including procurement and installation of hardware and software in accordance with specifications.
- Install RODOS system software to dedicated hardware and adapt specific functions of RODOS to local conditions (Zaporozhe NPP site).
- Test and verify the operability of the whole system (central unit, dispersed units, interfaces) and its operating parameters in all of its operating modes, including all links and connections with other systems (e.g. Gamma 1 in Ukraine).
- Develop and implement procedures for the pre-operational integration of RODOS into national emergency arrangements.
- Develop and implement the maintenance procedures for hardware installed in the framework of the project.
- Develop and implement the training program for the personnel of the national RODOS centres and other organisations involved in operation of RODOS system. The personnel to be trained include both the core staff for normal operation of RODOS as well as personnel involved in operation of RODOS during emergencies.
Project Results
Activities in the frame of the Project consisted of three groups of tasks.
Tasks related to equipment supply and installation:
- Task 1. Computer Hardware, Software and Peripheral Equipment: Procurement and Installation.
- Task 2. Communication Lines, Design and Establishment.
Tasks related to RODOS software adaptation and system verification:
- Task 3. System Software Installation.
- Task 4. System Verification.
Tasks related to the training in the use of the equipment:
- Task 5. Operating Procedures and Work Plans.
- Task 6. Maintenance Programmes.
- Task 7. Training Programmes.
The project had the following outputs:
- Hardware and commercial software installation at 5 locations.
- Established and tested communication links.
- RODOS system installed and tested in all modes of operation.
- A set of operating procedures to support the use of RODOS in emergency preparedness.
- Training on RODOS for users and operators.
- Project documentation as specified.
The project target groups were:
- Authorities in charge of emergency preparedness in Ukraine.
- Institutes involved with emergency preparedness.
The following input was provided into the project:
- 12 man-months of Western experts (FZK, KNT).
- 60 man-months of local experts.
- Category A-D computer equipment as specified.
- Communication equipment as specified.
- Leased lines as specified.
- RODOS system software in the version existing at the end of the project.
According to the Contract and the Technical Specifications the overall objective of the project was to implement RODOS as a decision support tool within the framework of emergency arrangements in Ukraine. This included procurement, delivery and installation of the hardware and communication lines, installation of RODOS software and adaptation to local conditions as well as development of maintenance programmes, operating procedures and the provision of training for RODOS operators and users.
Analysing the obtained results at the end of the project it can be concluded that the project objectives were achieved within the project duration of 18 months as originally envisaged, in a joint effort from the Contractor’s and the Beneficiary’s side.
The main achievement of the project was the practical customisation of the RODOS for the Ukrainian hydro-meteorological data fluxes and on-line monitoring data from the Zaporozhe NPP site. Also the training and feedback from the participants from all involved institutions – Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR), State Committee of Nuclear Regulation – SCNR (as technical advisor to MENR), Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), NAEK Enegroatom, Ukrainian Hydro-meteorological Centre, National Academy of Science - showed a remarkable interest of these Ukrainian institutions involved into the emergency preparedness and response for the pilot implementation of the RODOS and its further use in coherence with neighbouring countries, as a main decision support tool for off-site nuclear emergency management.
With the completion of this Tacis project a two year period of pre-operational use of RODOS in Ukraine commenced. During this period of time the following supporting activities would be necessary for a successful preoperational use of the RODOS system:

• Moving of the RODOS-Ukraine central unit to the new premises of MENR – National RODOS Centre and reconnection of RODOS with GAMMA-1, RMS, EAS NS in this new place.
• Re-connection of the RODOS with MES, Hydrometcenter, NAEK Energoatom, IMMSP in new National RODOS Centre.
• Definition of the status of SCNR as RODOS user and establishing communication lines with Emergency Information Centre of SCNR.
• RODOS networking with the “Prototype System” as installed.
• Establishing of RODOS – Ukraine connections with the RODOS centre in neighbouring countries.
• Execution of the operative Numerical Weather Prediction Model in the Ukrainian Hydrometcentre, to support RODOS operation for the site of Zaporozhe NPP and for the sites of other Ukrainian NPP’s after RODOS customisation for them.
• Customisation of RODOS - Ukraine for all other sites of Ukrainian NPPs”: Rovno NPP, Khmelnitsky NPP, South-Ukraine NPP.
• Definition of the legislative and technical basis of the RODOS operational use for national emergency preparedness and response and to share rights and responsibilities of the national RODOS users.
• To provide regular updates of the RODOS software in close cooperation with the RODOS developers team and community led by FZK.
• To take part in the international trainings and exercises organised by EC RODOS community.
• To provide bilateral training and exercises with the RODOS centre in the neighbouring countries – Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Byelorussia, Russia.
• To analyse, taking into account the specifics of the Ukrainian environmental problems, the possibilities of the RODOS use for the emergency management situations with the accidental non-radioactive pollution of environment.

This ambitions programme would require continued extensive cooperation of the Beneficiary, further Ukrainian institutions and the European Commission.