Energy Analysis
TRACKING OF MOVING RADIOACTIVE SOURCES (IN-05-128, IN-09-003 and IN-09-007)
Innovative System for Detecting Unsecured Nuclear Materials
Argonne National Laboratory
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Example of video monitoring and data capture using Argonne’s system.
Devices for radioactive source detection exist but their capabilities and their precision is limited. There are currently no systems which integrate signals from multiple sensors or which provide directional information or discrete source location information. In addition, current systems allow a target to know that they are being tracked.
Present-day devices tend to have a limited range of geometrical configurations in which they can be deployed. Generally, they must be deployed in a single fixed geometric arrangement of detectors and thus are limited to applications where the flow of traffic, either people or vehicles, can be directed to meet the spatial requirements imposed by the detection device. This generally involves defining a surveillance pathway and having to alter the free flow of traffic so it is directed into the pathway. There is a need for a system that can cover a free-form area without having to specifically control the flow of traffic.
Argonne’s technology relates to systems and methods for 1) detecting the introduction of a source into the monitored area, 2) tracking its position in the monitored area, 3) identifying the type of radioisotope and the source strength, and 4) portability – it is easily moved to new locations. The technology provides these capabilities while minimizing the probability of false positives and the probability of a missed positive even in environments where the signal-to-noise ratio may be lower than is achievable by current systems.
Argonne has created an innovative system for detecting unsecured nuclear materials: a flexible and low-profile system for unobtrusive detection and tracking of radioactive sources in transit suited for deployment at traffic choke points such as rest stops, toll collection plazas, truck stops, bridges and free-form areas. The system is significantly better than other systems in free form traffic flow areas like crowd monitoring, personnel movement in subway entry/exits or city streets, and traffic intersections.
Argonne’s system includes portable gamma radiation detectors, networking for linking these detectors, signal processing algorithms, and a central processing and control unit.
Radioactive source detection is performed using a sequential analysis test; a video camera for capturing radiation information and video data; a data collection and storage system linked to a network of radiation detectors; a decision-making architecture for processing the radiation information; and a graphical user interface for real-time display of the processed radiation information and the video data.
Benefits- Detect, locate and track radioactive source in real time
- Does not need source to be physically near the detector
- Portable; easy to use and deploy
- Unobtrusive
- Passengers at subway stations, stadium athletic events, and airports Highway rest stops or toll collection plazas
- Truck stops
- City Halls, public streets, hospitals, museums, venue monitoring, crowd monitoring and traffic choke points
- Free-form areas
Technology ID | Development Stage | Availability | Published | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IN-05-128, IN-09-003 and IN-09-007 | Prototype | Available | 01/30/2013 | 01/30/2013 |
