Mobile imaging and Spectroscopic Threat Identification (MISTI): System overview

Mitchell, Lee J.; Phlips, Bernard F.; Johnson, W. N.; Wulf, E.; Hutcheson, A.; Lister, C. J.; Bynum, K.; Leas, Byron E.; Guadagno, Gerald

doi:10.1109/nssmic.2009.5401849

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The platform is a General Motors 20 foot box truck with an on board generator to provide power to its detectors and sensors [3] [4]. MISTI was transferred to LBNL and began acquiring data in the San Francisco Bay Area in November 2011.…”

Section: Radmap and Detector Specificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast neutron background characterization with the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP)

Davis

Brubaker

Vetter

2017

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

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In an effort to characterize the fast neutron radiation background, 16 EJ-309 liquid scintillator cells were installed in the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP) to collect data in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each fast neutron event was associated with specific weather metrics (pressure, temperature, absolute humidity) and GPS coordinates. The expected exponential dependence of the fast neutron count rate on atmospheric pressure was demonstrated and event rates were subsequently adjusted given the measured pressure at the time of detection. Pressure adjusted data was also used to investigate the influence of other environmental conditions on the neutron background rate. Using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) coastal area lidar data, an algorithm was implemented to approximate sky-view factors (the total fraction of visible sky) for points along RadMAPs route. Three areas analyzed in San Francisco, Downtown Oakland, and Berkeley all demonstrated a suppression in the background rate of over 50% for the range of sky-view factors measured. This effect, which is due to the shielding of cosmic-ray produced neutrons by surrounding buildings, was comparable to the pressure influence which yielded a 32% suppression in the count rate over the range of pressures measured.

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Section: Radmap and Detector Specificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast neutron background characterization with the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP)

Davis

Brubaker

Vetter

2017

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

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“…For the fast neutron detection system, this added capability can potentially be realized with the addition of a HPDE coded mask. Previous systems utilizing coded aperture technology on mobile systems to image and localize sources [1,2] as well as promising results from recent fast neutron coded aperture tests [3] indicate the viability of this approach. For source localization with the thermal detection system, a different approach is required.…”

Section: B Source Localizationmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Leveraging a heritage of developing large scale, mobile systems for the detection and localization of radioactive materials [1][2][3], the Radiation Detection Section of the High Energy Space Environment Branch of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed a containerized system for the standoff detection of both thermal and fast neutrons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standoff detection of thermal and fast neutrons

Hutcheson

Phlips

Wulf

et al. 2015

2015 IEEE International Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST)

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Abstract-Improved detection of weapons of mass destruction is one of the Science and Technology priorities of the Secretary of Defense for Fiscal Years 2013-2017. Unfortunately, the remote detection of special nuclear materials is difficult because the materials are not very radioactive, the radiation signatures decrease rapidly with distance, and faint sources of radiation can be obscured by naturally occurring and man-made radioactive sources. The Radiation Detection Section of the High Energy Space Environment Branch of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has developed a containerized fast and thermal neutron standoff detection system. The instrument was characterized with neutron sources at different standoff distances and at different drive-by speeds to determine the on-water performance of the system. Results of this measurement campaign will be discussed.

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“…These assets include trailer-based sensors [1] and wearable sensors, and they may also be used for intelligence-based search or chokepoint monitoring. Considering trailer-based systems, while non-imaging systems have been demonstrated with the use of advanced algorithms to be highly sensitive for RN detection during search [2][3][4], they are not able to discern on which side of a roadway a source is located. On the other hand, a coded-aperture-based system can perform this task while also sensitively and specifically detecting RN threats [1,[5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast neutron counting in a mobile, trailer-based search platform

Hayward

Sparger

Fabris

et al. 2017

EPJ Nuclear Sci. Technol.

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Abstract. Trailer-based search platforms for detection of radiological and nuclear threats are often based upon coded aperture gamma-ray imaging, because this method can be rendered insensitive to local variations in gamma background while still localizing the source well. Since gamma source emissions are rather easily shielded, in this work we consider the addition of fast neutron counting to a mobile platform for detection of sources containing Pu. A proof-of-concept system capable of combined gamma and neutron coded-aperture imaging was built inside of a trailer and used to detect a 252 Cf source while driving along a roadway. Neutron detector types employed included EJ-309 in a detector plane and EJ-299-33 in a front mask plane. While the 252 Cf gamma emissions were not readily detectable while driving by at 16.9 m standoff, the neutron emissions can be detected while moving. Mobile detection performance for this system and a scaled-up system design are presented, along with implications for threat sensing.

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Mobile imaging and Spectroscopic Threat Identification (MISTI): System overview

Cited by 22 publications

References 3 publications

Fast neutron background characterization with the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP)

Fast neutron background characterization with the Radiological Multi-sensor Analysis Platform (RadMAP)

Standoff detection of thermal and fast neutrons

Fast neutron counting in a mobile, trailer-based search platform

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