title: Computerised Decision Support Systems for the management of freshwater radioecological emergencies: assessment of the state-of-the-art with respect to the experiences and needs of end-users.
abstract: Assessment of the environmental and radiological consequences of a nuclear accident requires the management of a great deal of data and information as well as the use of predictive models. Computerised Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are essential tools for this kind of complex assessment and for assisting experts with a rational decision process. The present work focuses on the assessment of the main features of selected state-of-the-art CDSS for off-site management of freshwater ecosystems contaminated by radionuclides. This study involved both developers and end-users of the assessed CDSS and was based on practical customisation exercises, installation and application of the decision systems. Potential end-users can benefit from the availability of several ready-to-use CDSS that allow one to run different kinds of models aimed at predicting the behaviour of radionuclides in aquatic ecosystems, evaluating doses to humans, assessing the effectiveness of different kinds of environmental management interventions and ranking these interventions, accounting for their social, economic and environmental impacts. As a result of the present assessment, the importance of CDSS "integration" became apparent: in many circumstances, different CDSS can be used as complementary tools for the decision-making process. The results of this assessment can also be useful for the future development and improvement of the CDSS.
authors.affiliation: Ö. Kyrkogatan 35, Nyköping, Sweden. dmitry_hofman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brittain
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donchyts
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gheorghiu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Håkanson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heling
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerekes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocsy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepicard
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Slavik
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slavnicu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheleznyak
mesh_terms: D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive