The deployment of an innovative real-time radiological soil characterization system
Fluor Fernald Inc., in conjunction with partners from Argonne National Laboratory, the Department of Energy's Environmental Measurements Laboratory, and Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, has developed a program for characterizing radiological contaminants in soil in real time. The soil characterization system in use at the Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP) for over three years combines gamma ray spectrometry equipment with other technologies to produce a system that can scan large areas of ground and produce color coded maps which display quantitative information regarding isotopic contamination patterns. Software running on a battery powered lap-top computer, is used to control acquisition of gamma spectral data to link the spectral Information with precise detector position measurements from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, and to control transmission of data to a central station or van via a wireless Ethernet link where Surfer6 mapping software is used to produce maps showing the position and amount of each target analyte. Either sodium iodide (NaI) gamma ray detectors mounted on three different vehicles for mobile measurements or stationary tripod-mounted hyper-pure germanium (HPGe) detectors can be used in this system to radiologically characterize soil. The operational and performance characteristics, as well as the strengths and limitations of each of these units, will be described. The isotopic information generated by this system can be made available to remediation project mangers within an hour after the completion of a scan to aid in determination of excavation footprints, segregation of contaminated soil and verification of contamination removal. The immediate availability of radiological characterization data made possible by this real-time scanning system has allowed Fluor Fernald to accelerate remediation schedules and reduce costs by avoiding excavation delays and expensive and time consuming laboratory analyses. Obtaining actual radiological characterization data from a much greater percentage of the soil under characterization than would be possible with the collection of physical samples has also resulted in more effective remediation of the site. The regulatory climate under which these realtime measurements are performed is briefly discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Fernald Environmental Management Project, Cincinnati, OH (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC24-92OR21972
- OSTI ID:
- 770692
- Report Number(s):
- FEMP-2582; TRN: US0108366
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Spectrum 2000 Conference, Chattanooga, TN (US), 09/24/2000--09/28/2000; Other Information: PBD: 29 Sep 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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