Recursive estimation for the tracking of radioactive sources

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:350997

Howse, J W; Ticknor, L O ^[1]; Muske, K R ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Villanova Univ., PA (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

This paper describes a recursive estimation algorithm used for tracking the physical location of radioactive sources in real-time as they are moved around in a facility. The algorithm is related to a nonlinear least squares estimation that minimizes the change in the source location and the deviation between measurements and model predictions simultaneously. The measurements used to estimate position consist of four count rates reported by four different gamma ray detectors. There is an uncertainty in the source location due to the large variance of the detected count rate. This work represents part of a suite of tools which will partially automate security and safety assessments, allow some assessments to be done remotely, and provide additional sensor modalities with which to make assessments.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 350997
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--98-4026; CONF-990602--; ON: DE99002751
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ALGORITHMS
COORDINATES
GAMMA DETECTION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
RECURSION RELATIONS
SECURITY