System and method for simulated dosimetry using a real time locating system

Abstract

A system for providing a simulated total dose exposure measurement during a nuclear facility training exercise by locating participants using a real time location system, modeling incremental exposure as a function of location and summing incremental exposure to produce a total dose for each of the participants. Total dose may be displayed via a wireless link to a simulated dosimiter worn by each participant. Radiation sources may also have location tags and the exposure model may be modified in real time according to the tracked location of the radiation source. In one embodiment, the locating technology comprises near field locating technology based on comparing near field signal characteristics. Alternative locating technologies may be used.

1 . A system for determining a simulated radiation dose for a participant comprising:
 a real time location system, said real time location system comprising:
 a first locator tag to be worn by said participant, and 
 a locator system for determining a plurality of positions for said first locator tag during a training period; 
   a radiation field model for determining a dose rate for a position within a training area during said training period; and   a computer, said computer determining a dose rate for each position of said plurality of positions of said first locator tag based on said radiation field model, said computer calculating a total received dose for said participant based on said dose rate for each position of said plurality of positions of said first locator tag during said training period.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the real time location system comprises a near field location system. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said first locator tag comprises a transmitter tag. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a dosimeter worn by said participant, said dosimeter displaying said total received dose for said participant.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an input from a trainer to modify said radiation field model during said training period. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an input from said participant to modify said radiation field model during said training period. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a second locator tag, said second locator tag associated with an item in said training area, wherein said radiation field model is modified by location information from said second locator tag. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the item is a radiation source. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation model comprises a pre-calculated lookup table of dose rate values for a plurality of locations within said training area. 
   
   
       10 . A method for determining a simulated radiation dose for a participant comprising:
 associating a radio frequency locating tag with said participant for locating said participant's movements within a training facility;   generating a plurality of position measurements of said participant based on said radio frequency locating tag;   producing a simulated dose rate for each position of said plurality of position measurements for said participant based on a simulated dose rate model; and   generating a total dose for said participant based on said plurality of position measurements and said simulated dose rate for each position of said plurality of position measurements for said participant.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of:
 displaying said total dose for viewing by said participant by a simulated dosimetry display to be worn by said participant.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of:
 modifying the simulated dose rate model in real time based on an input from a trainer.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of:
 modifying the simulated dose rate model in real time based on an input from said participant.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of:
 modifying the simulated dose rate model in real time based on a position measurement of an item within said training facility.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the simulated dose rate model includes a pre-calculated lookup table of dose rate values for a plurality of positions within said training facility. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the radio frequency locating tag comprises a near field locating tag.