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Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance

Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM)

MARSSIM is a regulatory guidance document that provides detailed guidance for planning, implementing and evaluating environmental and facility radiological surveys. The objective is to demonstrate compliance with a dose- or risk-based regulation particulaly in the final status survey once scoping, characterization and any necessary remedial actions are completed. MARSSIM is the result of a multi-agency effort that includes the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The latter two agencies are principle sponsors of the SADA project.

To obtain a copy of MARSSIM click here.

SADA provides a number of critical MARSSIM tools for sample design and checks for compliance. These include a formal MARSSIM approach for individuals buildling a MARSSIM assessment from scratch. In addition, users can access various stages (available through the MARSSIM Quick tools) of the process to introduce SADA mid-evaluation. Regulators can also use the quick tools to check a licensee's work.

Full (formal) approach

Users specify the type of class, the type of test and grid geometry, answer a number of questions that compute the required sample size, adjust for instrumentation factors and produce a sample design for the specified site. This process is captured in the following images.

MARSSIM Quick Tools

These tools allow users and regulators to perform quick checks or quick regulatory checks. Below we describe the quick check tools and show some screen shots of interest.

Quickly calculate the number of samples. Users are introduced to the process with this window.

Quickly calculate the number of samples and perform a MARSSIM test. Users are passed through the same questions as the Design Check above but must also specify the data set they want to evaluate.

Only conduct the MARSSIM evaluation test. Users are introduced to the process with this first screen and then proceed to pick a dataset followed by the evaluation.