Virtual radioactive source system for exercises modeling high doses

This article presents the possibilities of working in a virtual high-dose rate field following a procedure developed at the Nuclear Security Department of the Centre for Energy Research (EK NSD) in Budapest. Real-life simulation of a radiation survey and a radiation risk assessment as well as searching for lost radioactive sources, monitoring surface contamination (SC), in addition to localizing and overseeing materials out of regulatory control (e.g., at a radiological crime scene) are only possible under inactive conditions or in low-dose rate environments in accordance with the as low as resonably achievable (ALARA) principle. A virtual radioactive source system (VRSS) developed at the Nuclear Security Department (NSD) makes it possible to simulate “measured” values very accurately, even in a high-dose rate environment, but without exposing trainees to radiation hazards.