3D Vision-Enhanced Radiation Sensor to Detect and Track Nuclear Threats

Combines Data from Radiological and Vision Sensors to Lower False Positive Rate and Improve Detection Sensitivity

This radiological threat detection system uses 3D-vision tracking data to improve accuracy and allow easier detection of materials with lower radiation levels. Radiological detection systems can enable nuclear facility operations, help secure high traffic public places, or recover lost or stolen nuclear material. Common security systems such as radiation portal monitors or sensor networks that detect potential radiological threats are also prone to false alarms that waste time, money, and resources. In addition, current systems face challenges when trying to maintain a continuity of commerce and people in busy, dynamic environments. On the other hand, avoiding alarms due to background radiation or non-threatening sources requires setting high detection thresholds, which may miss potential threats with weaker radiation signals.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a radiation monitoring system solution that has increased accuracy and better sensitivity to detect weaker sources and reduce the false positive rate. Integrating spatial and visual data in determining potential threats also allows a system to track radiation sources in high traffic areas.

Application

High-accuracy radiation scanning system that detects and tracks radiological material to enhance security at airports, seaports, shipping facilities, train stations, government buildings, etc. Active algorithm and sensor upgrade option for existing radiation monitoring solutions.

Advantages

• Improves detection accuracy of nuclear threats via 3D-vision data, lowering rate of non-threat alarms to avoid wasting resources
• Reduces detection threshold, reliably detecting much weaker radiological sources, as well a distributed or multi-source scenario
• Spatial analysis enables detection systems to track radiation sources, enhancing nuclear security

Technology

This detection system uses an algorithm to fuse data from 3D-vision sensors and radiological detectors in order to improve the accuracy of identifying potentially threatening radiation sources. Visual tracking provides contextual data from the scene that informs the radiation scanning process, causing fewer false positives. The better accuracy allows reliable detection using a lower threshold, allowing security systems to be more sensitive to lower radiation levels. The system solution allows operation and sensitivities significantly below the standard Currie-limit of standard previous detection systems.