Computational personal dosimetry at a realistic neutron workplace field

Some drawbacks of monitoring radiation worker doses with personal dosimeters could be avoided by the introduction of computational dosimetry based on 3D cameras for tracking of workers, modelling the workplace and its radiation field, and dose calculation using computer simulations. The PODIUM (Personal Online DosImetry Using computational Methods) project was setup to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of the computational dosimetry approach developed within the PODIUM project at a realistic neutron workplace field. A transport container with spent MOX fuel needles in a controlled area at SCK CEN was selected as a realistic neutron workplace field for this feasibility study. An MCNP6.2 model of this workplace was developed and successfully validated by comparing simulations with extensive measurements. After validation, the model was used to calculate an effective dose rate map of the workplace field. A single 3D camera was setup at the workplace to track the workers. Using a Python tool, the effective dose rate map, and the tracking file from the camera, the effective dose of the tracked worker could then easily be calculated. •Setup of an MCNP6.2 model of a neutron workplace field around a container with spent MOX fuel.•Validation of the MCNP6.2 model by means of an extensive measurement campaign.•Demonstration of computational staff dosimetry without personal dosimeters at a realistic neutron workplace field.