In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the application of luminescence dosimetry techniques, Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Thermoluminescence (TL) to determine radiation dose exposure following a catastrophic and unexpected radiological event. The data obtained is used for the estimation of dose due to the exposure to external sources of radiation, primarily gamma radiation, by individual members of the public and by populations. The purpose of this project is to develop an emergency dosimetry system using optically stimulated luminescence characteristics of YAP–based luminophores with high Zeff values and  BeO, MgO, TiO2, ZnO-based luminophores with low Zeff values (near tissue equivalence) and by designing a portable high sensitivity OSL reader primarily for specifying radioactive exposure dose and radioactive source identification following catastrophic, large-scale radiological events. In addition, Monte Carlo models of the energy response properties of these phosphors in a wide energy range were constructed to understand the observed changes in response. For emergency dosimetry immediate action to evaluate dose to individual members of the public and/or to populations following radiation exposure are required to assess deterministically biological effects and to enable rapid medical triage.