Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for airborne gamma-ray surveys in radioecological and geological research are being increasingly used, since they provide radiation safety for personnel and high survey performance. Improvement of detection modules is one of the main directions in which UAS-gamma is dev...

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Main Authors: Alexander Parshin, Vladimir Morozov, Nikita Snegirev, Evgeniya Valkova, Fedor Shikalenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/5/2247
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author Alexander Parshin
Vladimir Morozov
Nikita Snegirev
Evgeniya Valkova
Fedor Shikalenko
author_facet Alexander Parshin
Vladimir Morozov
Nikita Snegirev
Evgeniya Valkova
Fedor Shikalenko
author_sort Alexander Parshin
collection DOAJ
description Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for airborne gamma-ray surveys in radioecological and geological research are being increasingly used, since they provide radiation safety for personnel and high survey performance. Improvement of detection modules is one of the main directions in which UAS-gamma is developing. Semiconductor detectors are used increasingly as they have a small mass and are convenient for light unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Simultaneously, in our opinion, the potential of traditional scintillation detectors is not exhausted because they are cheaper and more affordable. Radiometric and spectrometric detection modules based on scintillation detectors can even be created at home. The main disadvantage of scintillation detectors is the need for large crystals with significant mass to obtain high data quality. Traditional aerial gamma surveys with operated aircraft systems use scintillation detectors with a volume of tens or hundreds of litres. In this paper, we present the comparison result of radiometric and spectrometric surveys with small volume detectors made at different altitudes and ground surveys. We prove that with properly designed and applied ultralight UAS for aerial gamma spectrometry it is possible to obtain high-quality and informative data.
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spelling doaj.art-acfd6cbd5b8045468a85318d25f871392023-12-03T12:24:12ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-03-01115224710.3390/app11052247Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation DetectorsAlexander Parshin0Vladimir Morozov1Nikita Snegirev2Evgeniya Valkova3Fedor Shikalenko4Vinogradov Insititute of Geochemistry SB RAS, Favorsky St. 1A, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaSiberian School of Geosciences, Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Lermontova St. 89, 664074 Irkutsk, RussiaVinogradov Insititute of Geochemistry SB RAS, Favorsky St. 1A, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaSiberian School of Geosciences, Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Lermontova St. 89, 664074 Irkutsk, RussiaSTC RADEK Ltd., 190005 Saint-Petersburg, RussiaUnmanned aerial systems (UAS) for airborne gamma-ray surveys in radioecological and geological research are being increasingly used, since they provide radiation safety for personnel and high survey performance. Improvement of detection modules is one of the main directions in which UAS-gamma is developing. Semiconductor detectors are used increasingly as they have a small mass and are convenient for light unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Simultaneously, in our opinion, the potential of traditional scintillation detectors is not exhausted because they are cheaper and more affordable. Radiometric and spectrometric detection modules based on scintillation detectors can even be created at home. The main disadvantage of scintillation detectors is the need for large crystals with significant mass to obtain high data quality. Traditional aerial gamma surveys with operated aircraft systems use scintillation detectors with a volume of tens or hundreds of litres. In this paper, we present the comparison result of radiometric and spectrometric surveys with small volume detectors made at different altitudes and ground surveys. We prove that with properly designed and applied ultralight UAS for aerial gamma spectrometry it is possible to obtain high-quality and informative data.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/5/2247gamma radiometrygamma spectrometryunmanned aerial systemsUAV geophysicsradioecology
spellingShingle Alexander Parshin
Vladimir Morozov
Nikita Snegirev
Evgeniya Valkova
Fedor Shikalenko
Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors
Applied Sciences
gamma radiometry
gamma spectrometry
unmanned aerial systems
UAV geophysics
radioecology
title Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors
title_full Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors
title_fullStr Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors
title_full_unstemmed Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors
title_short Advantages of Gamma-Radiometric and Spectrometric Low-Altitude Geophysical Surveys by Unmanned Aerial Systems with Small Scintillation Detectors
title_sort advantages of gamma radiometric and spectrometric low altitude geophysical surveys by unmanned aerial systems with small scintillation detectors
topic gamma radiometry
gamma spectrometry
unmanned aerial systems
UAV geophysics
radioecology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/5/2247
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