Background radiation monitoring using manned helicopter for application of technique of nuclear emergency response in the fiscal year 2020 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Sasaki, Miyuki; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Sato, Kazuhiko*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Kikuchi, Hikaru*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2021-020, 138 Pages, 2021/11

JAEA-Technology-2021-020.pdf:17.11MB

A large amount of radioactive material was released by the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), Tokyo Electric Power Company, caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami on March 11, 2011. After the nuclear disaster, airborne radiation monitoring via manned helicopter has been utilized to grasp rapidly and widely the distribution of the radioactive materials surrounding FDNPS. We prepare the data of background radiation dose, geomorphic characteristics and the controlled airspace surrounding nuclear facilities of the whole country in order to make effective use of the monitoring technique as a way of emergency radiation monitoring and supply the results during an accident of a facility. This report is summarized that the knowledge as noted above achieved by the aerial radiation monitoring around Tsuruga and Mihama nuclear power station, research reactors in Kindai University Atomic Energy Research Institute and Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. In addition, examination's progress aimed at introduction of airborne radiation monitoring via unmanned plane during nuclear disaster and the technical issues are summarized in this report.

Application of the forest shielding factor to the maximum-likelihood expectation maximization method for airborne radiation monitoring

Sasaki, Miyuki; Sanada, Yukihisa; Yamamoto, Akio*

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 184(3-4), p.400 - 404, 2019/10

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncz095

The maximum-likelihood expectation maximization (ML-EM) method is expected to improve the accuracy of airborne radiation monitoring using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The accuracy of the ML-EM method depends on various parameters, including detector efficiency, attenuation factor, and shielding factor. In this study, we evaluate the shielding factor of trees based on several field radiation measurements. From the actual measurement, the shielding factors were well correlated with the heights of the trees. The evaluated shielding factors were applied to the ML-EM method in conjunction with the measured data obtained from above the Fukushima forest. Compared with the conventional methods used for calculating the dose rate, the proposed method is found to be more reliable.

Airborne radiation monitoring using a manned helicopter

Sanada, Yukihisa; Ishizaki, Azusa; Nishizawa, Yukiyasu; Urabe, Yoshimi*

Bunseki Kagaku, 66(3), p.149 - 162, 2017/03

https://doi.org/10.2116/bunsekikagaku.66.149

The Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on 11 March 2011 generated a series of large tsunami waves that caused serious damage to the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, following which a large amount of radioactive material was discharged from the nuclear power plant into the environment. The airborne radiation measurement using a manned helicopter was applied to measure the radiation distribution immediately after accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station as technique to quickly measure the radiation distribution in the wide area. In Japan, this technique was researched and developed in the 1980s. However, this technique and system were not applied immediately after the accident because standardization of analysis was not established and the Japanese system became deteriorated. This technique is important for post-accident of nuclear facility. We summarized the methods of the airborne radiation measurement using a manned helicopter. In addition, measurement results of dose rate distribution at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station was shown in this paper.

Experience of airborne radiation monitoring after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Station accident

Sanada, Yukihisa

no journal, , 

This article presents the methods and the results of manned helicopter radiation monitoring and unmanned helicopter radiation monitoring carried out around Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station after the accident.