February 2020 - HotSpot 3.1.2

• Bugfix Provides the following software corrections:
  • In the percentile module:
    • Fixed an error in the generation of random wind speeds for wind group 0.
    • Fixed the interpolation of both stabilities and wind speeds to eliminate possible output of "X @ 10.00" when percentile values equal to 100% as well as computational slowdowns.
    • Corrected the output of the wind group indices, which were off by one, when the "Write All sorted Frequency Data to Disc" is selected.
    • Removed discrepancies between percentile module executions following a QC check with those not following a QC check.
    • Restored proper UI exiting procedures when the module is closed using the control box "x" instead of the menu option File->Exit.
    • Fixed an initialization issue causing incorrect group frequencies in the header section of an output file.
    • Eliminated the ability of entering non increasing percentile values (from left to right in the UI) to allow faster evaluation of percentile values.
    • Eliminated the possibility of entering a zero valued distance
  • In the Fidler utility eliminated a text file option that was not working in both the main Fidler and lung screening forms.
  • Removed an issue preventing saving non-default fields in the Fidler utility.
  • Removed a correction to lung doses for Tritium when using both FGR13 dose conversion factors (DCFs) and elemental Tritium (HT) which should only apply to FGR11 DCFs.
  • Corrected a discrepancy between batch and normal UI scenarios using area sources
  • Removed an issue preventing proper setting of lethality levels with acute DCFs.
  • Fixed error causing lung clearance categories to not be read correctly from scenario files with certain nuclides
  • Fixed issue preventing ICRP recommended capability from working when dose library was set to “Acute:”
  • Removed a default settings feature to avoid inconsistencies in determining a “default environment”
  • Eliminated occasional error when writing cloud top parameters
• Minor improvements:
  • Implemented select/unselect all options in the constant distances UI of the percentile module
  • Changed acute lethality levels to be constant and not dependent on the selected dose conversion factor database.

July 2019 - HotSpot 3.1.1

• Bugfix Provides the following software corrections:
  • Fixed incorrect UI settings for the airborne and release fractions during the creation of a mixture file
  • Restored the ability to run up to twenty wind sector-independent distances in the Percentile Meteorological UI
  • Corrected the processing of the last nuclide in a mixture file containing 50 nuclides
  • Fixes to two issues related to non-USA language settings:
    • Release coordinates written to Google KML files now correctly in English format, as required by KML, instead of in the language settings of the Window OS
    • Mishandling of numbers with language settings that do not use a period as a numerical symbol, e.g., decimal or thousands separator
  • Changed the wind groupings display in the Percentile Meteorology UI to correctly reflect the speed ranges used in the code
  • Fixed the display in the Mapping UI of an imported NARAC plume file
  • Eliminated an error in the centerline graph UI from selecting the “Show Scenario” option with an airborne fraction less than or equal to 0.01
  • Safeguards against a possible error in an initialization file when processing an empty string
  • Removed an obsolete text field in the Fidler UI relating to lung screening
  • Removed a nuclide which contains no doses in DCFPAK 3.0 (Nb-97m)
  • Certain GUI paths not setting the enabling/disabling of deposition buttons
  • Certain GUI paths not displaying the correct value of the sigma theta parameter (G stability)
  • Inhalation dose conversion factors missing for two special chemistry nuclides
  • Output from 95th Percentile runs was not providing enough scenario information to properly QA scenarios
  • Closing of the main window was triggering some unnecessary code processing
  • The ordinate axis of the centerline graphic had an incorrect deposition label under SI units

October 2017 - HotSpot 3.1.0

• Highlights The first upgrade version since the .NET modernization of version 3.0. See next section for details
  • Upgrades the 95th Percentile capability with the ability to use compass sector based (or varying) distances. Previous versions only allowed for constant distances. This upgrade follows the guidance provided in DOE-STD 3009 and NRC Regulatory Guide 1.145. Also includes numerous modernization upgrades to the 95th Percentile Interface.
  • Upgraded and modernized the Acute Dose Options capability (doses calculated over periods of 30 days or less after exposure)
  • Modernized all color related options in the contouring routines. Removed all static color options and replaced with a standard windows color chooser dialog. Added new fill and transparency options as well. Color options dialog available in the Setup tab.
• New Features
  • 95TH Percentile Upgrade
    • Upgraded 95th Percentile capability to include DOE-STD-3009 and NRC Guide 1.14510 Position 3
    • New interface for entering distances that vary with each compass sector. Includes options to export and import distances from a file
    • Added several new distance units
    • Added an option to calculate and output the maximum doses in each compass sector
    • Added a new progress bar during the percentile calculations
  • Contour Graphics Options
    • Reworked all contouring graphics (plume centerline, compass based, map or imagery based, and google formatted) to allow modernized fill and transparency routines.
    • Replaced all color selection interfaces with a modern Windows color selection dialog
  • Acute Dose Capability
    • Implemented the Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1-day and 4-day Acute Inhalation Dose Conversion Factors (DCFs) Library (Eckerman, 2012; EPA 2002)
    • Updated lethality levels for critical organs
    • Updated the acute dose example scenario
    • Replaced the acute options form with a new window adding more flexibility in selecting RBE (Relative Biological Effectiveness) settings
    • Added a new context sensitive help form for explaining RBE settings
    • Added 1-day dose values for Cf-252 which were not in the original database
    • Added better consistency to the display of a user's selected acute dose options
• Improvements
  • Modernized the centerline graphics algorithms and interface. Updated the menu options and added several application settings for saving a user's preferences
  • Modernize Map Form File menu options and algorithms. Also added the ability to change background color of the text section
  • Modernized the GPS Setup interface
  • Replaced the use of a file for storing GPS options with application settings
  • Streamlined deposition button changes which occur when a scenario toggles deposition on or off
  • Removed various obsolete variables and references
  • Separated the textual (PLM) and Google output interfaces. These two formats had been accessible through one button which toggled back and forth between them.
  • Added the output Air temperature value in table output for fire scenarios
• Bug Fixes
  • Removed Centerline Graphics from the QC test. This eliminated a conflict between the new graphics routines and the full QC test
  • Three issues with the center line plots "Show All Stability Classes" option:
    • The maximum dose value was not being re-calculated under certain conditions
    • The displayed textual value for the adjusted wind speed was not correct
    • The six stability curves were not being labeled
  • The Rain out Coefficient was not processing user input properly for certain values
  • A navigator error was occurring during nuclear explosion prompt effects calculations
  • Acute Dose Critical Lung statement in table output was not being output when English units was selected
  • Fixed an incorrect acute lethality level for the small intestines when the IAEA 30 day doses were being used
  • Managing imagery that had not been geo-registered was leading to an erroneous state
  • The "Cloud Top" parameter was being displayed in table output for fire scenarios not based on the cloud top option
  • Small, non-zero concentrations were being generated slightly upwind of an explosive release
  • Nuclear Explosion - Compass contour plots button was not behaving properly

August 2015 - HotSpot 3.0.3

• Bugfix Eliminated the following software bugs:
  • The GPS import algorithm was not capturing all the valid NEMA data being streamed through a USB device. This same routine was also delaying data processing by waiting for the input buffer to completely fill. This wait was reduced hence speeding up GPS data processing by a factor of 3 to 4.
  • Import of mixture files written in international (non-English) format was not working.
  • Acute Mixture Files - Header was not being written correctly: the Mixture Scaling Factor was not being written and an extra blank line was being added. Also eliminated a function which was adding the mixture scaling factor to pre-existing mixture files not containing that field.
  • Algorithm for re-calculating contours levels was failing because it was based on behavior of the old Visual Basic 6 IDE.
  • Eliminated the display of the About form (a splash Screen) in automated or non-interactive mode.
  • When using the compass option for table output, upwind deposition values for the Explosive Release Model were incorrectly outputting non-zero concentrations
  • The compass option for the display of contours from a nuclear explosion was not in effect.
  • The QC test was not consistent for nuclear explosions as it was using a variable based on the most recent scenario as opposed to a constant value.
  • Receptor locations on contour plots were not being displayed correctly.
  • Table Output for Nuclear Explosion Model was not re-setting centerline distances correctly when English distance units were set.
• Window XP Dependencies Eliminated the following Windows XP dependencies:
  • Migrated from Visual Studio (VS) 2008 to VS 2012 and from development in a Windows XP environment to Windows 7.
  • Had been using a deployment solution that was integrated into VS 2008 so developed a new deployment package using a new Windows installer.

July 2014—HotSpot 3.0.2

• Bugfix Eliminated the following software bugs:
  • Ground Shine Dose rate factor for ICRP 30 with international (non-English) Windows environment*

    In international mode, a specific ICRP 30 ground shine dose conversion factor was being initialized incorrectly. Resulted in incorrect doses for any scenarios involving ground shine from the ICRP 30 library. Two of the Quality Control tests: the General Explosion and General Fire scenarios were such examples and so were failing the QC test.

  • KML Writer for Google Earth Output*

    In international or non-USA mode, the format for contour coordinates in Google Earth KML files was based on the Windows Language settings and Google Earth was not able to display the data. Contour coordinates in KML files are now always formatted with English settings which seems to be what Google Earth always expects. Contour information such as the legend table are still based on the Windows Language settings.

  • Small images in the Map window (Either width less than 793 pixels and/or height less than 600 pixels) being distorted.

    When importing such background images into the Map Window, they were being stretched and distorted to fill up the entire window. This caused latitude and longitude coordinates to be calculated incorrectly.

  • Display of Contour legend information for two levels in Map Window

    In scenarios where the highest of three contours was not reached, leaving only two valid contours to plot, the legend information for the two remaining contours was displayed in reverse colors. The map or plotted contours were being displayed correctly though.

  • Print to clipboard option not working in Contour and Centerline display windows
  • Ability to generate textual output of the contours (PLM files) in latitude/longitude coordinates as opposed to x/y.
  • User defined wind direction was not being saved between sessions in non-USA mode.*
  • Inconsistencies for users canceling out of inputting wind speed and direction values.

* Users of HotSpot within the US would not be affected by this bug.

September 2013—HotSpot 3.0.1

• Bugfix Fixes three significant Windows 7 issues:
  1. Executable installed properly under "Program Files/HotSpot 3.0". Installation package now smaller: removed dependency on older Windows DLL files.
  2. Forms now properly scale based on DPI instead of font for users who change their screen resolution to something other than 100%. This is a more common feature in Windows 7.
  3. Windows installer was starting everytime most users started the program, even after HotSpot was already installed. Now, after the program is installed the installer may come up once for each new user but only the first time they run HotSpot on a particular machine. So no user should see the installer come up more than once over many uses.
• GPS capability updated to directly use a serial port through a USB connection. Non-USB connections should still work.
• Fixed table output inconsistencies for fire scenarios.

March 2013—HotSpot 3.0.0

• Complete rewrite of code to make it compatible with Microsoft's .NET Framework. From a user's perspective only minor interface changes result from the rewrite.
• New capability: Surface Roughness entry in the Setup/Terrain section. User can enter a surface roughness value to modify the calculated concentrations. Only applicable when Standard terrain is selected.
• Accessibility of Explosive Release - Ballistic Particle option. This option (implemented in version 2.07.2) is now available through the user interface. Ballistic interface available with explosive release having airborne fractions less than one (the source has a non-respirable component) through the Setup - "Change/View AF Distribution" option.
• HotSpot Output Directory modified to reflect version 3.0. Output directory will now appear as “HotSpot30” under a parent folder as given by the Windows Environment variable “AppData”. Note that all sub-directories and files under HotSpot30 are 100% compatible with HotSpot2.07 versions. Files from 2.07 versions need only be moved to their corresponding location under HotSpot30 to be used.
• Digital Signature applied to the installer and program assuring the Windows environment that HotSpot comes from a trusted source. In Windows 7, not having a digital signature causes a warning box to come up whenever HotSpot is run.
• New Explosive Release cloud rise calculation option, implemented in version 2.07.2, is on by default.
• Several bug fixes. Most notable being a fix to a user change of the DCF library when a user does not follow through with a selection of a new source. Also, when a user selects a nuclide he/she can let HotSpot automatically select the conservative default solubility classification recommended by DOE for a particular nuclide. Other notable fix was done on the international mode which would only affect users outside the U.S.

September 2011—HotSpot 2.07.2

• Full Vista and Windows 7 compatibility. Default installation directory supports text file output.
• Corrections to display of HotSpot Help
• New Automatic Batch Mode. HotSpot can be run in a “background” mode that produces Table output and Google Earth .KML files without displaying the HotSpot graphical user interface. When this mode is enabled HotSpot can be launched at the command prompt or a batch file. These files are placed in the HotSpot “Output” folder.
• New Explosive Release ballistic particle option. This option improves the modeling of particles with aerodynamic diameters greater than 100 micrometers. This new option is turned off by default.
• Supports MACCS2 meteorological file input in both wind-from and wind-towards format, when site-specific meteorological data are input into HotSpot for calculation of percentile dose values
• New resuspension factors developed by Maxwell and Anspaugh (2010)
• New Explosive Release cloud rise calculation option, which is turned off by default. New cloud rise formulas are most appropriate for detonations of about 100 pounds or less. Therefore, the old Church formula is still used above 100 pounds, even when the new option is selected.