The project deals with green transportation and one of the challenges is to minimize any risks of accidents and pollution with hazardous materials.
Non-experts in the radiological field, such as front line officers, will be familiarized with radiation detection, radiation hazards, and measuring and relaying technical information obtained from instruments for subsequent analysis by the scientific experts. This complexity and the need for optimized use of radiation measurement equipment obviously call for thorough training of the front line officer and the other competent authorities relative to their roles in the State’s national nuclear security plan.
This is also a major target for the European Commission that has to be achieved. The importance of the project becomes evident from the words of the former European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn that said: “Nuclear security is a major global challenge in the 21st century. Training and international cooperation in detection are key elements in our response to the threat of illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear materials.”
The main objective of the project is composed of five objectives that have to be achieved
Discovery and identification of radioactive materials
Location of dangerous points of the roadway and vehicles’ condition
Investigation of radiological risk after a traffic accident
Establishment of common emergency response protocols for both countries
Training of the stakeholders customs, border police, drivers, engineers etc.
The main groups targeted by the project activities are: Customs; border police, drivers; active citizens aware of hazardous materials transportations and health risks; public health advocacy groups, local communities that will be protected from dispersion of pollution after an accident and finally engineers involved in all stages of transportation.