In today’s fast-paced world, having timely information at your fingertips is more important than ever. That’s why Health Canada’s Radiation Protection Bureau reached out to Natural Resources Canada’s Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) for geomatics expertise. The two departments collaborated to create the Real-Time Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring dataset. This map and geospatial data give Canadians clear information on radioactivity levels and fluctuations from natural sources and human activity.

Why monitoring environmental radioactivity matters
Understanding environmental radioactivity is crucial to protect public health and safety. Major events like 9/11, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the COVID-19 pandemic, showed just how vital timely data is. Accessing this information empowers everyone to better understand their surroundings and make informed choices during emergencies. In the event of a nuclear incident, having real-time data is essential for managing health risks and improving public communication.

Key features of the dataset
The Real-Time Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring dataset provides readings of terrestrial gamma dose rates (measurements of radiation from the ground). The data is typically measured from the dosimeters at stations strategically located in:

• population centres 
• near Canadian nuclear power plants
• near harbours occasionally visited by nuclear powered vessels from allied countries
• other key areas across Canada

The Fixed-Point Surveillance (FPS) Network is one of three sub-networks of the monitoring stations deployed across Canada. The FPS Network detectors deliver real-time measurements, ensuring the data is both timely and easily accessible.

To facilitate this dataset, the CCMEO established a process for uploading validated data from Health Canada’s Radiation Protection Bureau into a web service, updating its maps and charts every 15 minutes:

• This process involves managing XML files, which takes 11 minutes to treat, parse, filter and extract, then generate a geodatabase for the update to run.
• With around 70 monitoring stations across Canada taking readings every 15 minutes, each station collects over 6,000 data points every three months,amounting to nearly 120,000 reading each year for some stations.
• Both the last 90 days and the past calendar year of data are available for viewing and downloading, helping Canadians to better understand local radioactivity levels and changes over time.

This new cutting-edge process opens the door to making additional critical geospatial data available for Canadians.

*Republished with permission from The Source, NRCan.