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Radiological

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Rad Survey Guidance

An ideal background radiation survey will provide first responders, emergency managers, and public health officials with a better understanding of the typical levels of radiation in their jurisdiction.

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DHS SBIR Success Story - Advanced Radiation Detection for Protection Against Radiological Threats

To showcase SBIR awardee Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) and provide an overview of its expertise, capabilities, and contributions.

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Status of Guidance on Using HVAC in RadNuc emergencies

Status of Guidance and Scientific Knowledge on Using Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems for Protection During Radiological/Nuclear Emergencies.

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FACT SHEET AND REPORT: DHS Advances Efforts to Reduce the Risks at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Threats

DHS submitted a full report and a fact sheet of selected findings from the AI CBRN Report to the President in response to Executive Order (E.O.) 14110 on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

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Optimizing Radioactive Contamination Screening

The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) prepared the “Optimizing Radioactive Contamination Screening at Community Reception Centers Report” to provide emergency response organizations with technical guidance for deploying CRC radiation detection equipment to optimize screening efficiency. 

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RNRR Portfolio

NUSTL manages a portfolio of Radiological/Nuclear Response and Recovery (RNRR) Research & Development (R&D) projects dedicated to improving radiological response and recovery capabilities at the state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT), and federal levels, and to advancing the understanding of impacts and risks of a radiological or nuclear incident within first responder agencies nationwide.

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Remote Alarm Accessory for Radioactive Contamination Screening

Following a radiological release, whether from an accident or a terrorist act, local response agencies can set up community reception centers (CRCs) to screen the public for radioactive contamination. Before people enter a CRC for final screening, they would be prescreened using personal radiation detectors (PRDs) while they stand on a small platform with another PRD under it to detect radioactivity on their shoes. Because the shoe-screening PRD is hidden beneath the platform, that PRD’s alarm light cannot be seen and CRC personnel must rely on its audible alarm. Unfortunately, the platform muffles the alarm sound, making it hard to hear in a noisy environment.

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Visualizing a Nuclear Detonation and Response Fact Sheet

It is critical to provide first responders with tools, knowledge, and training to understand the effects of a nuclear detonation and the response strategies that will allow them to save lives, stabilize infrastructure, minimize exposure to radiation, and provide for basic human needs. DHS S&T(NUSTL, in partnership with DOE LLNL, is developing science-based visualizations that will depict nuclear detonation effects in a computer-generated but realistic city to help first responders understand the size, scale, and expected impacts of a nuclear explosion.

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ST-Radiological Data Quality Assessment Toolkit

To help assure data quality in the aftermath of a radiological or nuclear incident, S&T’s NUSTL in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing a set of manuals, quick reference guides, spreadsheets, checklists, and other tools and technical guidance.

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S&T-Wide-Area Background Radiation Survey

S&T’s NUSTL, in conjunction with DOE National Nuclear Security Administration and several DOE national laboratories, is developing a set of processes and procedures that will make it easier to plan and perform wide-area background radiation surveys.