A solution for aircrew radiation dose A solution for aircrew radiation dose monitoringmonitoring

January 2009January 2009byby

Dr. Francois Lemay, COODr. Francois Lemay, COOPCAIRE Inc.PCAIRE Inc.

PCAIRE

Obsolete units of distance

• Inch – length of a thumb• Foot – length of a foot• Cubit – length of a forearm• Yard – used to sell fabric• Fathom – nautical term for depth• Rod – used for surveys• Furlong – throw of a javelin• Mile – distances on land between towns• Nautical Mile – distances on sea• League – distance on roads (different in France and

England, and period of history)

Definition of dosimetry

• What are we trying to measure?– Goal is to evaluate the risk from exposure to

radiation

• Why so many quantities? – Effective dose E– Ambient dose equivalent H*

Measurements using TEPC

Ambient dose equivalent

Ambient dose equivalent

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Rc (GV)

Do

se R

ate

at N

orm

aliz

ed A

ltit

ud

e

Solar 1 U=650 MV

Schrewe NC+IC

Radiation weighting factorsRadiation Energy

(MeV)Radiation weighting

factorsICRP 103

Radiation weighting factors

ICRP 60

Neutrons < 0.01 2.5 5

0.01 – 0.1 4 10

0.1 – 2 20 20

2 – 20 10 10

> 20 5 5

Protons > 2 MeV 2 5

Positive muons

all 1 1

Electrons all 1 1

Photons all 1 1

Ratio E/H (Fluka)

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Altitude (km)

Eff

ecti

ve t

o A

mb

ien

t R

atio

FLUKA3 RC=0.1

FLUKA3 RC=1

FLUKA3 RC=10

FLUKA4 RC=0.1

FLUKA4 RC=1

FLUKA4 RC=10

Ratio E/H (Luin)LUIN

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

0 5 10 15 20

Altitude (km)

Eff

ecti

ve t

o A

mb

ien

t R

atio

LUIN1 RC=0.1

LUIN1 RC=1

LUIN1 RC=10

LUIN2 RC=0.1

LUIN2 RC=1

LUIN2 RC=10

LUIN4 RC=0.1

LUIN4 RC=1

LUIN4 RC=10

The requirementThe requirement

• Aircrew are exposed to as much or more Aircrew are exposed to as much or more radiation as the average nuclear workerradiation as the average nuclear worker

• International guidance recommends International guidance recommends aircrew track exposureaircrew track exposure

• Many countries have regulated this Many countries have regulated this trackingtracking

• Canada has issued a notice, with Canada has issued a notice, with legislation in processlegislation in process

PCAIRE

• Developed specifically to address this Developed specifically to address this issueissue

• Only code based on flight measurementsOnly code based on flight measurements

• Personal dosimeters or instruments too Personal dosimeters or instruments too complex to use for routine dosimetrycomplex to use for routine dosimetry

HNL

LP PD

DIAP

PGUA

PCAIRE is: is:

• A mathematical model based on A mathematical model based on fine-grid measurements of fine-grid measurements of radiation at various locations radiation at various locations around the world.around the world.

• The largest experimental The largest experimental databasedatabase

• A software program that uses this A software program that uses this model to calculate dosesmodel to calculate doses

PCAIRE SysSys is: is:

• A A commercial toolcommercial tool designed for an designed for an operational environment, NOT FOR operational environment, NOT FOR RESEARCHRESEARCH

• Monitoring system for large number of Monitoring system for large number of personnel and flightspersonnel and flights

PCAIRE Sys Sys

• PCAIRE PCAIRE SysSys can operate: can operate:

– Via web - for individual usersVia web - for individual users– As a kernel incorporated into the airline’s As a kernel incorporated into the airline’s

human resources systemhuman resources system– As a data treatment centre, web/LAN-based, As a data treatment centre, web/LAN-based,

for processing batch files and interface with for processing batch files and interface with the airline’s databasethe airline’s database

PCAIRE Sys architecture Sys architecture

• One calculational dllOne calculational dll– Compiled and securedCompiled and secured

• Secure database access onlySecure database access only– For storage and retrieval of required dataFor storage and retrieval of required data– Using Microsoft’s newest security designUsing Microsoft’s newest security design

• Output files labeled with dll versionOutput files labeled with dll version– All input and output data is rigorously verified All input and output data is rigorously verified

by the codeby the code

PCAIREPCAIREdlldll

SQL database•Airport codes•Waypoints•Helio-values•Crew data•Security access

InputFiles

Databaseadministrator

SQL database•Stored flight results•Stored crew data

OutputFiles

dll labeled

PCAIRE Sys functionalitySys functionality

• Single flight entry or batch file processingSingle flight entry or batch file processing

• Great circle route or way pointsGreat circle route or way points

• Database of personnel by employment Database of personnel by employment categorycategory

• Secure accessSecure access

PCAIRE Sys functionalitySys functionality

• Runs as local application or fully web- or Runs as local application or fully web- or WAN-basedWAN-based

• Can be interfaced with larger human Can be interfaced with larger human resources and flight databaseresources and flight database

• Individual crew members can query dataIndividual crew members can query data– If allowedIf allowed

• Administrator can query by flight, crew or Administrator can query by flight, crew or dates (period, current year, current dates (period, current year, current quarter)quarter)

DemoDemo

PCAIRE Inc.PCAIRE Inc.The companyThe company

PCAIRE Inc. Inc.

• An Ottawa based companyAn Ottawa based company

• PCAIRE is run on servers at the Ottawa PCAIRE is run on servers at the Ottawa officeoffice– Many individuals use this service to track Many individuals use this service to track

annual doseannual dose– Many are US and European based aircrew Many are US and European based aircrew

• Current airline clients are worldwide Current airline clients are worldwide

ClientsClients

• Air BerlinAir Berlin

• LTULTU

• HAPAGHAPAG

• TUITUI

• Blue WingsBlue Wings

• Sun WingsSun Wings

• VeissmanVeissman

• PrivatairPrivatair

• Air CanadaAir Canada

• NATO GermanyNATO Germany

• German Air ForceGerman Air Force

• Canadian Air ForceCanadian Air Force

CertificationCertification

• PCAire has been certified by the Airline regulator PCAire has been certified by the Airline regulator in Germany – LBAin Germany – LBA– Completed in June 2004Completed in June 2004– Nine month certification processNine month certification process

• This certification is recognized by all EU This certification is recognized by all EU countriescountries

• PCAire has conducted detailed data collection PCAire has conducted detailed data collection and R&D and will propose an updated version and R&D and will propose an updated version for re-certification:for re-certification:– New H*10 to E conversionNew H*10 to E conversion– New proton/neutron weighting factorsNew proton/neutron weighting factors

PCAIRE Inc. Inc.

Mike McCall, MEng., P.Eng.CEO

Mike McCall, MEng., P.Eng.CEO

Brent Lewis, Ph.D., P.Eng.VP R&D

Brent Lewis, Ph.D., P.Eng.VP R&D

Jeff Lafortune, Ph.D., PEng.CFO and VP

Jeff Lafortune, Ph.D., PEng.CFO and VP

Les Bennett, Ph.D., P.Eng.Manager, Research Projects

Marty BeanIT Manager

Marty BeanIT Manager

IT R&DBen Francis

Francois Lemay, Ph.D., P.Eng.COO

Jeff Lafortune, Ph.D., PEng.CFO and VP

Jeff Lafortune, Ph.D., PEng.CFO and VP

ConclusionConclusion

• PCAIRE PCAIRE SysSys is solid science is solid science– Backed up by RMC research teamBacked up by RMC research team

• PCAIRE PCAIRE SysSys is designed for a production is designed for a production environment - the airlinesenvironment - the airlines

• PCAIRE PCAIRE SysSys is ready for use by all size is ready for use by all size airlinesairlines

Questions??Questions??