Development of real-time mapping software for wide-area radiation survey

Takahashi, Tone; Koizumi, Mitsuo ; Yoshimi, Yuki*; Mochimaru, Takanori*

To prevent the smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials into event venues for the purpose of terrorism, it is common practice to individually inspect people and vehicles entering and exiting using radiation detectors. However, since there remains a risk of such inspections being bypassed, it is necessary to complement them with a wide-area radiation survey to ensure that no nuclear or radioactive materials have been brought in. Radiation mapping is an effective method for efficiently surveying large areas. In this method, a gamma-ray detector equipped with GPS is used to record location data and radiation dose rates while moving. By utilizing network connectivity, measurement data from multiple detectors can be aggregated at a central command post, allowing real-time monitoring of survey progress. This system helps to prevent both redundant and missing measurements and enables the prompt detection of suspicious radiation sources. Furthermore, by incorporating spectrometers into the gamma -ray detectors, it becomes possible to identify radioactive isotopes, thereby enabling appropriate responses. To enable such wide-area radiation surveys, we developed real-time mapping software. The developed software receives measurement data transmitted from GPS-equipped gamma-ray spectrometers, processes it sequentially in real time, and plots it onto pre -downloaded map data. Additionally, by integrating the spectral data collected from regions showing abnormal radiation levels can be displayed immediately. To enhance information security, the software is designed to function within local networks without requiring internet connectivity. In this report, we introduce an overview of the developed software and provide a simplified version of the source code as an appendix. The provided code is developed using open and free operating systems, libraries, and environments, making it freely available and usable by anyone.