Most recent labor studies predict a shortage of health physicists during the next several decades. Failure to prevent this shortage will leave the United States in a disadvantage in a number of areas: nuclear power, radiological waste management, nuclear medicine, etc. One solution to this shortage is to expand existing training programs and to create new training programs. Another solution is to improve the effectiveness of the training programs. A major part of health physics training is devoted to learning how to use radiation detection and monitoring instruments. This is accomplished by: 1) using instruments and radioactive sources in a classroom laboratory situation, and/or, 2) on-the-job training. This project is developing an innovative new approach to laboratory training in health physics, i.e., the development of a computer simulator that can be used in place of actual radiation sources in laboratory training. Such a simulator will result in much lower cost of training, provide for a wider variety of training situations, and eliminate the safety hazards associated with actual radiation sources. We are building a computer system that will simulate the presence of various types of radiation sources in a variety of environments. This system, based on the IBM PC, will have three modules, Surveyor, Radiation Physics Laboratory, and Examination. The Surveyor will simulate an environment where radiation exposure potential exists. This environment will include pre-defined locations (known or unknown to the trainee) of radiation sources (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Neutron) and the ability to simulate the radiation level at any given point in the radiation environment. This module will be connected (through a digital to analog converter) to an actual instrument (or facade) so that the trainee can hold the instrument in his/her hand. The Radiation Physics Laboratory module will teach the principles of various types of radiation and the Examination module, based on the Surveyor, will test the knowledge of the trainee of the properties of various types of radiation and the ability of the trainee in the radiation environment. A simulator of this type will have far reaching effects on the health physics industry. It will streamline the way health physics professionals are trained and will facilitate an increase in the number of personnel trained in the health physics discipline. In addition, this system will be used to train personnel working in and around potential hazards, will improve their understanding of the principles of radiation physics and radiation protection and will decrease the cost of training.
