Radiation detection evaluation: RadAssessor characterizes integrated findings

Abstract

Radiation handheld instruments perform an integral role in first responder programs to detect illicit radioactive materials and reduce terrorist attacks. A comprehensive understanding of each commercial instrument's performance facilitates rapid and accurate data interpretation and threat assessment. RadAssessor was developed as a radiation detector database to characterize and evaluate commercial handheld instrument findings. Under laboratory conditions, previously reported instrument performance data have been expanded both in terms of the number of instruments tested and sources measured as well as including gamma isotope identification and neutron response findings. Instrument performance data and findings captured within RadAssessor include: radiation detectors, radioactive sources, shielding, experiments, detailed measurements, spectra, and measurement performance categorizations. Measurement performance categorizations are an approach to categorizing gamma identification results based on defining the most abundant isotopes (MAIs) identified during a measurement. There are two category systems that provide both a high-level understanding of instrument performance and a more detailed understanding with additional granularity. RadAssessor features a web-based interface for selecting instruments, isotopes, and shielding combinations. Users are provided with dynamically generated screens based on the most recent data loaded in the RadAssessor database. Graphical and textual results are generated and presented instantaneously for enhanced decision aides