Representativeness and comparability of dose rate measurements: Description of site-specific uncertainties and data bias

The representativeness of dose rate measurements is reduced if a measuring site differs from a site with ideal condition. Such a site is characterized by a detector positioned 1 m above an extended grassland surface. The most frequent and serious obstructions in this respect are discussed A procedur e for establishing a site description and categorisation scheme, as used in the IMIS network, is presented as an example. In two model studies represe nting two different networks with divers planning concepts, the bias of the measured dose rate in relation to ideal conditions was assessed. Deviation s of more than one order of magnitude may occur between probe sites which h ave been contaminated under the same conditions. It is shown that the bias can be characterised by environmental parameters On the basis of these para meters, the measured data can be interpreted correctly. If data from differ ent networks is exchanged the parameterisation can be used for quality assu rance purposes.