James Fisher Inspection and Measurement Services - the leading provider of NDT and Radiation Protection instrumentation services

James Fisher & Sons PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY - the leading provider of marine services

Detection, Identification, Measurement

A common task is to locate and identify a source. A concern might have been raised by an elevated background identified by a dose rate meter or an alarm raised by a vehicle or pedestrian monitor. A search and identifier needs to have a high sensitivity to changes in dose rate to facilitate pinpointing the location and also to alert the operator rapidly if they are approaching too close to a large source.

The PDS 100 series of locators are rugged compact and user-friendly and complies with and exceeds the requirements of the ITRAP and ANSI 43-32 standards. The PDS 100G and PDS 100GN are respectively a gamma and a gamma plus neutron search meter with high sensitivity and fast response times. The CsI detector for gamma radiation with a range of 45keV to 1.8Mev and 6Li detector for neutrons with a range of 25eV to 10 MeV allow for the rapid location of sources and the classification of the source type (medical, industrial material, SNM). The spectrum of the source can be stored and downloaded with either an IRDA or a Bluetooth link for further study or archiving.

The PDS 100G ID and PDS 100GN ID have in addition the facility to identify and display the isotope as well as its class. The advanced algorithm allows for the identification of mixtures of up to four isotopes including screening of SNM by medical sources and exceeds the requirements of ANSI 42-48. Identification of sources is rapid, typically less than one minute at 1 µSv/h. The spectrum of the source can be stored and downloaded with either an IRDA or a Bluetooth link for further study or archiving.

The HDS 100 is a high sensitivity hand held search and identification monitor delivering rapid identification and classification of nuclear materials. The HDS 100 uses the same detectors and detection algorithms as the PDS 100 ID monitors, but with a significantly larger detector volume, the HDS 100 series has an improved sensitivity and speed of identification and classification.

For situations requiring the greatest sensitivity, the SPIR Ident Mobile is a rugged movable search and identification system designed to fit into cars, boats, helicopters or airplanes.

The versatile system allows one to four detectors to be connected together offering NaI (Tl) detector volumes between two and 16 litres. Combined with one 1024 channel MCA per detector and state-of-the-art algorithms which can identify simultaneously up to four isotopes, the SPIR Ident mobile system can rapidly and reliably locate and characterise areas with high radiation levels. System displays can be either simplified to present the key parameters or "expert mode" where spectra and trend information are also displayed. The ruggedised PC with a built-in GPS capability can also use Radiamap software to display the trajectory, level indications and alert locations as well as replay a mission.