Real-time non-intrusive depth estimation of buried radioactive wastes based on approximate three-dimensional relative attenuation model

TL;DR

This paper introduces a real-time, non-intrusive method for estimating the depth of buried radioactive waste using a 3D relative attenuation model based on surface radiation intensity variations.

Contribution

It presents a novel approximate 3D attenuation model for non-intrusive depth estimation of buried radioactive sources, validated with experimental data.

Findings

Accurately estimates depth up to 12 cm in sand

Uses surface radiation intensity variations for depth inference

Validated with Cs-137 radioactive source experiments

Abstract

A new method for non-intrusive estimation of the depth of buried radioactive waste have been developed. The method is based on an approximate three-dimensional relative attenuation model that exploits the variation in the intensities of the radiation image obtained on the surface of the material in which the radioactive source is buried. Experimental results using an organic liquid scintillator detector showed that the method is able to estimate the depth of a 329 kBq Cs-137 radioactive point source buried up to 12 cm in sand.