Intelligent Radiation Sensor System (IRSS) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD)

In response to the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office's (DNDO) BAA 09–102 Passport Systems, Inc. of Billerica, MA has carried out a system-level trade space study and started development of a networked system of Intelligent Personal Radiation Locators (IRPLs) and Human Portable Radiation Detection Systems (HPRDSs) designed to improve the detection, localization, and identification of potential radiological threats. A system of this nature is targeted to situations where it is not feasible to direct traffic through portal radiation detection systems, e.g. large events, search team objectives, etc. The capability to intelligently network individual portable detectors using advanced algorithms and COTS hardware has been shown within this program to significantly increase the effectiveness of an assortment of portable radiation detectors, including those devices currently available to first responders and search teams, in a variety of NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) backgrounds. An overview of current work will be provided in two parts: 1) Results of our system analysis will highlight important drivers in the trade space of network protocols, detection efficiencies, computational requirements, and human interfaces; and 2) Development status of both the prototype hardware and the advanced suite of detection, localization, and identification algorithms will be shown. Conclusions are derived from a combination of simulation and actual data collection efforts.