Real-time environmental radiation monitoring based on locally developed low-cost device and unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

In this study, a low-cost local device based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for real-time environmental radiation monitoring is proposed. The device consists of a Geiger-Müller ZP 1200 counter for gamma radiation detection and an appropriate electronic circuit for processing and shaping the detected pulses. The Geiger-Müller detector used is low-cost, insensitive to environmental temperature variations, and can be operated continuously over a long period. Two different methods were performed to calibrate the designed device, namely the use of a programmable nuclear pulse generator for electronic calibration and a Cs-137 gamma-ray calibration source. A long flight time UAV is developed locally with suitable characteristics and adapted to carry the radiation detection device. The designed UAV mainly consists of a multi-flight controller having an intelligent switching system associated with a GPS Module for accurate position-keeping and four heavy lift motors. The use of UAVs has the advantage that it allows measurements to be taken over large areas, even those that are difficult to access, and avoids exposing people to radiation. The flight measurement tests were carried out in the urban area of Yaoundé-Cameroon, at an altitude of 15 to 100 meters with a sweeping speed of about 20 km/h for 36 days from January 01, 2023, to February 06, 2023. The tests showed that the concentrations collected varied between 0.00697 μSv/h and 0.8706 μSv/h, of which 85.71% of data have a concentration below the threshold (0.3 μSv/h) and 14.29% above this threshold. These tests confirm that the developed radiation detection system works properly and is suitable for environmental radiation protection and nuclear safety activities.