Waste Estimation Support Tool (WEST): A Tool for Estimating the Volume and Radioactivity

Levels of Waste Generated by a Radiological Incident

Paul Lemieux and Timothy BoePresentation for P&RA CoP 2018 Annual Technical Exchange Meeting

October 30-31, 2018

Aiken, SC 1

WEST Description

• GIS-based tool that can assist in planning/preparedness activities at all levels of government– Waste management issues linked with decontamination &

restoration timeline– Waste management decisions need to be made early

• Waste Estimation Support Tool (WEST) Facilitates– First-order estimate of waste quantity and type– ID of potential triage/staging/storage/disposal options– Impact of decontamination strategies on waste generation– Impact of WM strategies on decontamination decisions– Identification of starting points for policy discussions

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WEST: MethodologyGIS Module

(ArcGIS)Calculator Module

(MS Access)

Geospatial

Spreadsheet

Calculator

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GIS Module: Overview

• ArcGIS add-in

• Point and click – little GIS expertise required

• Uses plume shape files generated elsewhere (e.g., NARAC)– 3 nested regions (zones)

• Surface classification method built in

• Ability to launch Calculator Module directly from ArcGIS

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GIS Module: Surface Classification

Satellite Image Surface-classified Image

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Calculator Module: Main Page

The numbers of datafiles associated with each part of the module are displayed in the corner. If there is no number you must first create at least a Contamination Scenario, a Decontamination Scenario, and import a GIS dataset (from the WEST GIS Module)

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Tool Icons Used In WEST Calculator Module

Go to WEST Home Page

Add a Scenario

Edit a Scenario

Delete a Scenario

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Calculator Module: Contaminant Scenario

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Calculator Module: Decontamination Scenarios

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Calculator Module: GIS Datasets

Pick which aspect of the imported GIS data you want to view/change

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Calculator Module: GIS Datasets

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Calculator Module: GIS Datasets

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Calculator Module: GIS Datasets

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Calculator Module: Waste Results

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Calculator Module: Waste Results

The information on this first page is used in the reports 15

Calculator Module: Waste Results

Pick which aspect of the waste results you want to view

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Calculator Module: Waste Results

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Calculator Module: Waste Results

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Calculator Module: Results

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Calculator Module: Reports

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Disclaimer

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Office of Research and Development (ORD) funded and managed the research described here under Contract EP-D-11-006 to Eastern Research Group (ERG). It has been subjected to the Agency’s review and has been approved for publication and distribution. Note that approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views of the Agency. Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation.

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