A NEW NUCLEAR SURVEY INSTRUMENT WITH IMAGING CAPABILITY

MODERN MILITARY OPERATIONS HAVE MADE IT NECESSARY FOR COMMANDERS TO HAVE RADIOLOGICAL INFORMATION CONCERNING NUCLEAR CONTAMINATION OF OCCUPIED AREAS. THIS INCREASING NEED FOR MORE ACCURATE AND RELIABLE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOCATING AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS NUCLEAR SOURCES, HAS LED TO NEED FOR IMPROVED INSTRUMENTATION. IN PARTICULAR, A NUCLEAR SURVEY INSTRUMENT WITH IMAGING CAPABILITY WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH NUCLEAR SOURCES CAN BE LOCATED FROM REMOTE DISTANCES AND WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS TO THE RADIATION SAFETY OFFICERS THAT USE THESE INSTRUMENTS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING SUCH AN IMAGING NUCLEAR SURVEY INSTRUMENT. THIS DEVICE, WHEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH VIDEO CAMERA TECHNOLOGY WILL BE ABLE TO QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY LOCATE HIGH LEVEL SOURCES OF RADIATION FROM A DISTANCE OF 10 METERS OR MORE AND WILL SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE ABILITIES AND CONFIDENCE OF THE PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN SUCH TASKS.