Objectives
Overall the intention of BIOPROTA is to make available the best sources of information to justify modelling assumptions made within radiological assessments constructed to support radioactive waste management. Particular emphasis is placed on key data required for the assessment of long-lived radionuclide migration and accumulation in the biosphere, and the associated radiological impact, following discharge to the environment or release from solid waste disposal facilities.
The project is driven by assessment needs identified from previous and on-going assessment projects. Where common needs are identified within different assessment projects in different countries, a common effort can be applied to finding solutions. Such solutions may readily take account of the BIOMASS Theme 1 Data Protocol, among other things [IAEA, 2003 "Reference Biospheres" for Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal: report of Theme 1 of the BIOsphere Modelling and ASSessment Programme (BIOMASS), IAEA-BIOMASS-6. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.]
The modelling issues considered include:-
- the treatment of various features, events and processes (FEPs) of the systems under investigation;
- the development of conceptual models which correspond to an adequate approximation to those systems;
- mathematical representation of those conceptual models; and
- the choice of parameter values to adopt within those mathematical representations.
BIOPROTA achieves these objectives by:-
- holding an annual information exchange meeting;
- holding workshops on special topics; and
- by providing a mechanism for setting up collaborative projects.