A Systems-Of-Systems Conceptual Model and Live Virtual Constructive Simulation Framework for Improved Nuclear Disaster Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Mitigation

Abstract

Nuclear disasters have severe and far-reaching consequences. Emergency managers and first responders from utility owners to local, state, and federal civil authorities and the Department of Defense (DoD) must be well prepared in order to rapidly mitigate the disaster and protect the public and environment from spreading damage. Given the high risks, modeling and simulation (M&S) plays a significant role in planning and training for the spectrum of derivate scenarios. Existing reactor models are largely legacy, stove-piped designs lacking interoperability between themselves and other M&S tools for emergency preparedness system evaluation and training. Unmanned systems present a growing area of technology promising significant improvement in response and mitigation. To bridge the gap between current and future models, we propose a conceptual model (CM) for integrating live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) models with nuclear disaster and mitigation models utilizing a system-ofsystems (SoS) approach. The CM offers to synergistically enhance current reactor and dispersion simulations with intervening avatar and agent simulations. The SoS approach advances life cycle stages including concept exploration, system design, engineering, training, and mission rehearsal. Component subsystems of the CM are described along with an explanation of input/output requirements. A notional implementation is described. Finally, applications to analysis and training, an evaluation of the CM based on recently proposed criteria found in the literature, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

A Survey on Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Disaster Robotics: Main Challenges and Directions

“…Given the proximity of many nuclear reactor sites to large bodies of water, the deployment of USVs for monitoring or even support can be a natural fit [164,165]. In particular, after the accident in Fukushima earthquake/tsunami, it became clear that radiation from reactors can indeed leak to the body of water in case of extreme events, endangering life and compromising rescue operations.…”

Critical dimensions for the effective design and use of simulation exercises for emergency management in higher education

“…An understanding of whole-of-system dynamics intervening in disaster contexts is therefore required, including the interactions between system components, their value, and their external influences. Different SEs have been developed to support such understanding and ultimately increase the effectiveness of emergency management practice (Davis et al , 2016; Simonovic, 2011; Van Niekerk et al , 2015). Nevertheless, a number of limitations with SEs have been reported, including unrealistic physical environments, inadequate scalability, deterministic or linear assumptions, and inattention to individual and community characteristics (Simonovic, 2011).…”

Immersive Learning Environments at Scale: Constraints and Opportunities

“…The broad concept of virtual reality encompasses many different interfaces, equipment, and experiences (Hepperle, Weiß, Siess, & Wölfel, 2019). From large, fully immersive virtual worlds (Davis, Proctor, & Shageer, 2016), to using a digital overlay with the real world around the user (Siegle, 2019), the use of virtual reality has evolved leaps and bounds in recent years. This review focuses on a subset of virtual realityimmersive learning environments (ILEs)-defined as fully and visually immersive environments in which a 2D image surrounds the user to create or enhance a 3D space.…”