Based on the framework for post-accident rehabilitation preparedness elaborated in theEURANOS project (Dubreuil et al., 2010), a Norwegian Pilot Study wasconducted in spring 2008 to test the suggested method. This article describes the methodused in the Norwegian Pilot Study and the outcomes of the co-expertise meetingsarranged.

Within the EURANOS project, 17 different demonstrations were conducted. The objective ofthese demonstrations was to apply a certain product in the operational environment of anemergency centre and to check its performance either in particular exercises or in theirdaily use. As a result of a demonstration feedback to the development team was provided,highlighting requirements for the further development of the product – if necessary. Asecond key pillar in the project was the intensive involvement of the RODOS Users Group(RUG) in the research activities. In particular all work packages related to the furtherimprovement of the RODOS system have been observed by the RUG. In some of the workpackages, the RUG was involved from the beginning and participated even in the designdocuments for the software development. Both mechanisms, the demonstrations and userinvolvement, guaranteed that the end user’s perspective was considered throughout allphases of the EURANOS project.

Two handbooks have been developed in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders thatprovide assistance in the management of contaminated food production systems and inhabitedareas following a radiological incident. Emergency centres in Member States not involvedin the development of these handbooks were invited to take part in demonstrationactivities to establish whether the handbooks would be useful for the purposes ofcontingency planning and accident management. Some eight centres took part. Emergencyexercises or similar events based on scenarios involving contamination of the foodchainand inhabited areas were used. Feedback from all of the demonstrations was positive withconstructive criticism given on how to improve the navigation, structure and format of thehandbooks. All of the key improvements highlighted during the demonstrations were takeninto account and included in version 2 of the handbooks. Two additional demonstrationstook place in Denmark and Slovakia to investigate the appropriateness and applicability ofa stakeholder participatory process when applying the handbooks. These stakeholdersexpressed their willingness to discuss the issues at stake from contamination of foodproduction systems and inhabited areas and gave a clear commitment to continue theprocess.

MOIRA-PLUS is a decision support system (DSS) designed to address the mid and long-termissues after nuclear accidents causing the contamination of freshwater bodies andcatchments with radionuclides. It is designed to allow for a reliable assessment of thelong-term evolution of the radiological situation and of possible alternativerehabilitation strategies, including an objective evaluation of their social, economic andecological impacts in a rational and comprehensive manner. MOIRA also features a decisionanalysis methodology, making use of multi-attribute analysis, which can take into accountthe preferences and needs of different types of stakeholders. The main functions andelements of the MOIRA-PLUS DSS are described summarily, together with the conclusions fromend-user’s experiences with the system. MOIRA-PLUS has proven to be a mature system, userfriendly and relatively easy to set up. It can help to reassure the public by enabling arealistic evaluation of the complete impacts of possible recovery strategies. However, theusers also identified possibilities for further improvement of the DSS.