What is RAMP?
The purpose of the Radiation Protection Computer Code Analysis and Maintenance Program (RAMP) is to develop, maintain, improve, distribute, and provide training on NRC's collection of radiation protection, health physics, dose assessment, decommissioning, and emergency response computer codes. RAMP codes calculate dose for scenarios such as environmental assessment, nuclear power plant licensing, radiological emergency response, atmospheric assessment, bioassay, and others.
RAMP includes user groups of domestic and international code users that share costs, analysis, and experiences to facilitate maintenance and usage of high quality radiation protection codes. This program provides a centralized management structure for code updates, distribution, modernization, applied research, training, and issue resolution. The RAMP user group of 4000+ active members include NRC staff, NRC and U.S. Agreement State licensees, private corporations, university/non-profit researchers, other U.S. federal agency regulators and researchers, U.S. state/local officials, and national regulators across the world.
The NRC allows distribution of its Radiation Protection Codes to domestic organizations (utilities, vendors, academic institutions, commercial enterprises) and international organizations located in countries that participate in the RAMP programs. Most RAMP codes are free for most users.
Goals of RAMP
- To ensure codes are appropriately updated.
- To ensure codes reflect computer programming language updates.
- Updates are in accord with International Regulations and Guidance Documents.
- Costs are shared among users of the codes.
- Centralized management structure for reporting, prioritizing and resolving code issues.
Research Mission
- Develop technical bases to support regulatory decisions
- Conduct confirmatory and anticipatory research
- Provide specialized technical expertise and tools
- Partner with national labs, commercial contractors, universities, other government agencies, industry organizations, and international organizations
- Issue Commission and congressionally mandated reports
International Research
- Strong international cooperation
- 100+ bilateral or multilateral agreements with over 20 countries (14 Agreements for RAMP)
- Cooperative Research Programs
- Shared insights and resources
- Coordinate on technical activities such as radiation protection state-of-the-practice and advanced reactor source term code development