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Optimising in situ gamma measurements to identify the presence of radioactive particles in land areas

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 18:48 authored by Peter D Rostron, John A Heathcote, Michael H Ramsey
High-coverage in situ surveys with gamma detectors are the best means of identifying small hotspots of activity, such as radioactive particles, in land areas. Scanning surveys can produce rapid results, but the probabilities of obtaining false positive or false negative errors are often unknown, and they may not satisfy other criteria such as estimation of mass activity concentrations. An alternative is to use portable gamma-detectors that are set up at a series of locations in a systematic sampling pattern, where any positive measurements are subsequently followed up in order to determine the exact location, extent and nature of the target source. The preliminary survey is typically designed using settings of detector height, measurement spacing and counting time that are based on convenience, rather than using settings that have been calculated to meet requirements. This paper introduces the basis of a repeatable method of setting these parameters at the outset of a survey, for pre-defined probabilities of false positive and false negative errors in locating spatially small radioactive particles in land areas. It is shown that an un-collimated detector is more effective than a collimated detector that might typically be used in the field.

Funding

EPSRC CASE Studentship; EPSRC; EP/G501785/1)

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

ISSN

0265931X

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

138

Page range

162-169

Department affiliated with

  • Biology and Environmental Science Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-10-28

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-10-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-10-28

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