A Drone-Based Approach for Radiometric Mapping of Gamma Radiation

This work presents the results of an experiment conducted with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) equipped with a Geiger-Müller detector module, aimed at validating a gamma radiation detection methodology. The experiment took place at the Batalhão Central de Manutenção e Suprimentos (BCMS) in Rio de J...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Felipe Mamed, Alessandra Vaz, Ary Machado, Joana Batista, Jonathan Oliveira, Paulo Silveira, Paulo Iack, Paulo Barreto, William Henrique, Wallace Vallory
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Brazilian Radiation Protection Society (Sociedade Brasileira de Proteção Radiológica, SBPR) 2025-03-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
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Online Access:https://bjrs.org.br/revista/index.php/REVISTA/article/view/2716
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Summary:This work presents the results of an experiment conducted with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) equipped with a Geiger-Müller detector module, aimed at validating a gamma radiation detection methodology. The experiment took place at the Batalhão Central de Manutenção e Suprimentos (BCMS) in Rio de Janeiro, where a Cesium-137 source was positioned at a specific point within a designated area for the drone flight. The measurement methodology involves continuous flight, with point-by-point readings taken at designated locations. Subsequently, during the data processing stage, each measurement point was organized into cells, forming a structured grid that served as the basis for generating a three-dimensional map of gamma radiation dose distribution. After processing the data collected by the drone, a dose profile was reconstructed, allowing for a satisfactory estimation of the location where the Cesium-137 source was positioned based on the radiation peak. Since specific patterns in the graphs, such as a sudden increase in dose rate in a particular direction, can indicate the presence of a source, we consider that this method can be employed as a useful strategy for the remote detection of radiation sources in various environments, offering a satisfactory approximation of the radiological conditions present in the analyzed environment.
ISSN:2319-0612