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Vehicle Mounted Gamma Spectroscopic Mapping System

The Health Physics and Technical Services Section at ARPANSA Melbourne have designed and constructed a vehicle-mounted gamma spectroscopy system for the mapping of radioactive contamination.

Schematic diagram of Gamma Spectroscopic Mapping System

The system comprises two large-volume NaI(Tl) gamma-ray detectors, each connected to a computer controlled multi-channel analyser. The detectors, a GPS receiver and the computer are mounted in a weather-proof case fixed to the roof of the vehicle Pic#1.

A LCD monitor with a touchscreen is mounted inside the vehicle in view of the driverPic#2. This monitor is connected to the roof-mounted computer Pic#3 Pic#4. The software allows real-time spectrum analysis of gamma ray spectra collected at 12 second intervals Pic#5. These are stored to a removable hard disk, together with the vehicle position obtained from the GPS receiver.

If digital road maps are available, the software provides a real-time moving map display of position and radiation levels. Pic#6 Pic#7 Pic#8

The vehicle-mounted gamma spectroscopy system will be used to measure background gamma-ray spectra in the suburbs around Lucas Heights and in the immediate area around the ports that host visits by nuclear powered warships. Initial gamma-ray surveys have been made at Williamstown

Picture Gallery (Click to enlarge)

Pic 1 - weather-proof case mounted on the roof of the vehicle Pic 2 - touch-screen operators console inside the vehicle Pic 3 - compact computer is mounted in the weather proof roof-top capsule Pic 4 - side view of the roof-top capsule in operating position
Pic#1 Pic#2 Pic#3 Pic#4
Pic 5 - a typical real-time gamma ray spectrum Pic 6 - a sample map plot without digital road map Pic 7 - a sample map plot with digital road map Pic 8 - a sample map plot with digital road map and legend
Pic#5 Pic#6 Pic#7 Pic#8
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