Radiological emergency response for community agencies with cognitive task analysis, risk analysis, and decision...

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Safety and Emergency Management
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Systems Engineering

Background:

• Effective coordination among diverse organizations (police, military, hazmat, transportation) is critical for radiological nuclear emergency response.
• Current emergency response simulations at the Angra dos Reis nuclear power facility lack electronic tools, leading to potential cognitive overload and decision-making delays.
• The complexity and time-sensitive nature of radiological incidents necessitate improved information management for decision-makers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a decision support system (DSS) to aid radiological emergency response coordination.
• To address limitations in current simulation exercises by incorporating technological solutions.
• To improve information sharing and automate cognitive functions for crisis management teams.

Main Methods:

• Application of systems methodologies, including cognitive task analysis.
• Human-machine interface design principles were employed in the DSS development.
• A prototype was developed for evaluation by plant officials.

Main Results:

• The developed DSS is designed to automate cognitive functions for emergency responders.
• The system aims to enhance information sharing capabilities within the coordination team.
• A prototype has been created for field evaluation and integration into future simulations.

Conclusions:

• The developed decision support system has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of radiological emergency response.
• Automating cognitive tasks and improving information flow can mitigate decision-making delays during nuclear emergencies.
• Further evaluation and integration into trial runs are planned to validate the system's utility.