Unmanned air/ground vehicle survey following a radiological dispersal event

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents the method and results of surveying a dispersed radioactive field using an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) and an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). A 35 GBq of La material was distributed in a specific geometric l‐polygon pattern measuring a 120 m 20 m longitudinal rectangle and an 80 m 10 m transverse rectangle. Two methods were used to determine the amount and distribution of the lanthanum over the polygon including 20 plywood coupons distributed over the area and a UGV equipped with a Kromek GR1® driving over the area. The aerial survey was conducted using an unmanned aerial vehicle UAV carrying the Kromek GR1® while flying a traditional grid pattern and circular pattern at different elevations and speeds over the area. The data collected by the UAV were further postprocessed using N‐Visage, a 3D radiation modeling method developed by Createc, to create a model of the ground activity. This model was compared with the reference data collected on the ground by the UGV and was found to be in agreement with 11%.