Wham!

The Wham! (Web-Hosted AMBER Model) code has been developed by Quintessa, and utilises the dynamic AMBER compartment modelling software. For more information about AMBER, please visit the AMBER website or contact Russell Walke of Quintessa or amber@enviros.com.

The Wham! model is based upon (but is not a direct replication of) the hypothetical Vault Test Case developed as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Co-ordinated Research Project (CRP) on Improvement of Safety Assessment Methodologies for Near Surface Disposal Facilities (ISAM).

The model represents a near-surface radioactive waste repository (vault) and simulates the fate of the contaminants released due to the infiltration of water. Contaminants are leached from the vault into the unsaturated zone and then into an underlying aquifer. They are then transported through the aquifer to a well from which water is abstracted for human use.

Wham! has been designed with two graphical user interfaces (GUIs), intended to make the model understandable and useable by a greater range of people:

The Basic user interface is recommended for those with little experience of this kind of modelling. The system is visualised, parameter values can be chosen from a pre-defined list and help windows are available to explain in detail the different parameters and sections of the model.	The Advanced user interface is recommended for those who require greater control over parameter values. The system model is displayed to indicate the processes involved in the simulation, the parameters are all displayed on a single page, text boxes allow the user to input any parameter values, and a range of different result graphs may be chosen.

Details of the two interfaces are shown below, along with images of the GUIs.

Basic Wham! User Interface	Advanced Wham! User Interface
In this interface, the model is displayed pictorially to help the user visualise the system. Parameters within the model can be accessed by clicking on the words on the main image which correspond to the section of the model in question: 'Vault', 'Sand', 'Clay', 'Weathered Granite', 'Aquifer', 'Human' and 'Time'. Each brings up a 'change settings' box with dropdown menus and/or tick boxes to select the required value. Each editable parameter has a help window to explain what is meant by the parameter, and how it will affect the system. The help windows are accessed by clicking on the parameter text. To close each change settings box, click the 'Confirm' button, which will save your parameter choices and return you to the main image. If you wish to return all parameter values to their default settings, click 'Restart'. When you have finished editing parameters, click 'Calculate'. This will prompt you to confirm your choice - you can either return to the interface to continue editing parameters ('No, Go Back'), or go on to run the simulation by clicking the 'Yes, Calculate Now' button.	In this interface, the model is displayed in terms of a series of sub-models and transfers. Parameters are all displayed on a single screen for speed and ease of reference. The units for each are displayed alongside. The human diet parameters are edited by tick boxes, whereas all other parameters are input via text boxes. There are more editable parameters than in the basic interface. Additions are: - The Inventory, where each nuclide's activity can be individually edited, - Institutional Control Time, - Aquifer Hydraulic Conductivity, - A free choice of result graphs to be plotted. If you wish to return all parameter values to their default settings, click on the 'Refresh all Parameters' button at either the top or bottom of the page. When you have finished editing parameters, click 'CALCULATE' at the bottom of the page to save your parameter choices and go on to run the model.

After editing parameters and running the simulation, your results will appear in your browser. You may then generate a PDF report of the simulation.