Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl
In the immediate aftermath following a large-scale release of radioactive material into the environment, it is necessary to determine the spatial distribution of radioactivity quickly. At present, this is conducted by utilizing manned aircraft equipped with large-volume radiation detection systems....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Robotics and AI |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frobt.2019.00149/full |
| _version_ | 1819079165641490432 |
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| author | Dean T. Connor Kieran Wood Peter G. Martin Sevda Goren David Megson-Smith Yannick Verbelen Igor Chyzhevskyi Serhii Kirieiev Nick T. Smith Tom Richardson Thomas B. Scott |
| author_facet | Dean T. Connor Kieran Wood Peter G. Martin Sevda Goren David Megson-Smith Yannick Verbelen Igor Chyzhevskyi Serhii Kirieiev Nick T. Smith Tom Richardson Thomas B. Scott |
| author_sort | Dean T. Connor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the immediate aftermath following a large-scale release of radioactive material into the environment, it is necessary to determine the spatial distribution of radioactivity quickly. At present, this is conducted by utilizing manned aircraft equipped with large-volume radiation detection systems. Whilst these are capable of mapping large areas quickly, they suffer from a low spatial resolution due to the operating altitude of the aircraft. They are also expensive to deploy and their manned nature means that the operators are still at risk of exposure to potentially harmful ionizing radiation. Previous studies have identified the feasibility of utilizing unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in monitoring radiation in post-disaster environments. However, the majority of these systems suffer from a limited range or are too heavy to be easily integrated into regulatory restrictions that exist on the deployment of UASs worldwide. This study presents a new radiation mapping UAS based on a lightweight (8 kg) fixed-wing unmanned aircraft and tests its suitability to mapping post-disaster radiation in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). The system is capable of continuous flight for more than 1 h and can resolve small scale changes in dose-rate in high resolution (sub-20 m). It is envisaged that with some minor development, these systems could be utilized to map large areas of hazardous land without exposing a single operator to a harmful dose of ionizing radiation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:24:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c819282502794c8f9dc21957eb77dd08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:24:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Robotics and AI |
| spelling | doaj.art-c819282502794c8f9dc21957eb77dd082022-12-21T18:52:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Robotics and AI2296-91442020-01-01610.3389/frobt.2019.00149498995Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From ChornobylDean T. Connor0Kieran Wood1Peter G. Martin2Sevda Goren3David Megson-Smith4Yannick Verbelen5Igor Chyzhevskyi6Serhii Kirieiev7Nick T. Smith8Tom Richardson9Thomas B. Scott10Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomAerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomSouth West Nuclear Hub, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomSouth West Nuclear Hub, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomInterface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomSouth West Nuclear Hub, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomSSE Ecocentre, Ministry of Ecology, Chornobyl, UkraineSSE Ecocentre, Ministry of Ecology, Chornobyl, UkraineNational Nuclear Laboratory, Workington, United KingdomAerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomSouth West Nuclear Hub, University of Bristol, Bristol, United KingdomIn the immediate aftermath following a large-scale release of radioactive material into the environment, it is necessary to determine the spatial distribution of radioactivity quickly. At present, this is conducted by utilizing manned aircraft equipped with large-volume radiation detection systems. Whilst these are capable of mapping large areas quickly, they suffer from a low spatial resolution due to the operating altitude of the aircraft. They are also expensive to deploy and their manned nature means that the operators are still at risk of exposure to potentially harmful ionizing radiation. Previous studies have identified the feasibility of utilizing unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in monitoring radiation in post-disaster environments. However, the majority of these systems suffer from a limited range or are too heavy to be easily integrated into regulatory restrictions that exist on the deployment of UASs worldwide. This study presents a new radiation mapping UAS based on a lightweight (8 kg) fixed-wing unmanned aircraft and tests its suitability to mapping post-disaster radiation in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). The system is capable of continuous flight for more than 1 h and can resolve small scale changes in dose-rate in high resolution (sub-20 m). It is envisaged that with some minor development, these systems could be utilized to map large areas of hazardous land without exposing a single operator to a harmful dose of ionizing radiation.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frobt.2019.00149/fullradiationChornobylUAS (unmanned aircraft system)fixed-wing aerial surveyspost-disastercesium |
| spellingShingle | Dean T. Connor Kieran Wood Peter G. Martin Sevda Goren David Megson-Smith Yannick Verbelen Igor Chyzhevskyi Serhii Kirieiev Nick T. Smith Tom Richardson Thomas B. Scott Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl Frontiers in Robotics and AI radiation Chornobyl UAS (unmanned aircraft system) fixed-wing aerial surveys post-disaster cesium |
| title | Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl |
| title_full | Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl |
| title_fullStr | Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl |
| title_short | Radiological Mapping of Post-Disaster Nuclear Environments Using Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Study From Chornobyl |
| title_sort | radiological mapping of post disaster nuclear environments using fixed wing unmanned aerial systems a study from chornobyl |
| topic | radiation Chornobyl UAS (unmanned aircraft system) fixed-wing aerial surveys post-disaster cesium |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frobt.2019.00149/full |
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