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Description
Following a nuclear or radiological event, radiation protection authorities and other decision-makers need rapid and credible information about the affected areas based on reliable radiological data. However, the potentially large areas and risks to people in the vicinity pose difficult measurement challenges.
Therefore, European joint research project “Metrology for Mobile Detection of Ionising Radiation Following a Nuclear or Radiological Incident” (Preparedness) in the framework of the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) has developed new measurement techniques and traceable calibration methods for determining ground surface activity.
One of the major outcomes of the Preparedness project is the development of unmanned airborne spectrometric system equipped with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Considering accident conditions, the system must be reliable and heavy-duty. Therefore, an unmanned helicopter with sufficient payload and flying range is used as a carrier. Spectrometric system enables fast and safe identification of released radionuclides and thus the level of technology disruption and the determination of accident zones with specific conditions. The system will support timely and effective measures to protect the population and the environment from the effects of ionising radiation.
The paper describes adaptation of the HPGe detector for airborne use, testing its performance using standard sources and Monte Carlo modelling. Data collected during the initial flight tests are presented and compared to the Monte Carlo simulations. The data obtained was used to calculate minimum detectable activity for several radionuclide sources and different flight altitudes.
This project has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
