Spectral anomaly methods for aerial detection using KUT nuisance rejection

Journal Article · Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.01.040· OSTI ID:1845311

Detwiler, Rebecca S. ^[1]; Pfund, David M. ^[1]; Myjak, Mitchell J.  ^[1]; Seifert, Carolyn E.  ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Aerial detection combines all the challenges of standoff detection with all the difficulties of mobile survey, including large and varying standoff distances and abrupt and significant changes in background. Critical issues for aerial detection include land-water interfaces, rapidly changing KUT backgrounds, and varying down scatter with altitude changes. To address these issues a spectral anomaly method has been adapted to aerial detection. The NSCRAD (Nuisance-Rejection Spectral Comparison Ratio) algorithm was initially developed at PNNL for medium resolution detectors. The algorithm has been used for a range of ground-based detection applications, including ground-based detection, portal monitoring, and OSI applications. The method used in NSCRAD includes both optimized energy windows for detection of threat sources and a nuisance rejection capability. Additionally, the spectral anomaly method was optimized in this work for aerial detection systems to increase the probability of detection of threat sources in aerial search while using the nuisance rejection capability to minimize false alarms from rapidly changing aerial background. The adaptation of NSCRAD for aerial detection includes re-optimization of energy windows, adapting KUT nuisance rejection for aerial backgrounds, development of new methods for background tracking and adjustment of tracking and detection thresholds.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; US Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830; HSHQDC-12-X-0037
• OSTI ID: 1845311
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1439765
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-103907; TRN: US2302437
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 784; ISSN 0168-9002
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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