Bukovel has received a Radnote radiation monitoring station from the SaveDnipro NGO with the support of Safecast and Blues Inc. Radiation background data from the station are now available on the SaveEcoBot radiation map and on the Bukovel environmental dashboard.
Why are Radnote stations important?
The Radnote station is designed to operate independently from the power grid. It is equipped with a solar panel, a rechargeable battery and a backup Tadiran battery, allowing it to continue operating during power outages. Data is transmitted wirelessly via cellular communication, eliminating dependence on wired internet connections typically used by monitoring sensors. Even if the mobile network becomes unavailable, the device stores information and automatically transfers it to the server once communication is reestablished.
What does this mean in practice?
Thanks to its autonomous operation, the Radnote station can be installed almost anywhere. This makes it possible to expand radiation monitoring to locations where automated measurements were previously unavailable.
The advantages of solar-powered operation have already been demonstrated during periods of power outages. In the summer of 2024, there were situations when Radnote stations remained the only publicly accessible automatic radiation monitoring stations still operating in Kyiv.
Why is the Radnote network particularly valuable?
The data collected by Radnote stations are publicly available through the SaveEcoBot platform. In addition, SaveEcoBot shares this information with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety and the National Security and Defense Council, providing government institutions with important information during this challenging period for the country.
Should a radiation emergency occur, electricity supplies may be disrupted. In such circumstances, the importance of the Radnote network increases significantly, as the stations are capable of continuing to collect and store data independently.
Who produces Radnote stations?
Radnote stations are manufactured by Blues Inc for Safecast (Japan/USA), a non-profit organization established after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Safecast provides the stations to the NGO SaveDnipro, which is responsible for expanding the network across Ukraine.
SaveDnipro also expresses its gratitude to its partners for providing this valuable equipment and for their expert support in the development of radiation monitoring in Ukraine.
“We are grateful to Bukovel for its cooperation in strengthening independent public radiation monitoring,” representatives of SaveDnipro conclude.