Strategies for emergency monitoring and key data management

The NEA has been developing a strategy for the general management of nuclear emergency communications and data from the viewpoint of the decision maker's evolving information needs over the course of an accident situation. This strategy allows for the identification of important, or key data, at any particular moment during an accident. This includes how environmental monitoring can support the decision-making process. Also addressed is the best technical means of exchanging these key data to maximize the efficiency of their transfer and handling. This strategy is based on a coherent subdivision of the accident into temporal and geographic phases, an understanding of the nature of the information sender and receiver, and of the data being transmitted. Based on the characterisation of these subdivisions, a strategy for better addressing the decision maker's needs can be defined. (K.A.)