FEATURES

• Accurate and reliable identification of threats ensuring that response is timely and appropriate and reducing the risk that a threat would be released
• Confirmation that a threat is not present even in the presence of NORM or other stream of commerce materials improving Customs Officers' confidence and reducing the operational burden of non-threat alarms
• Modular cargo configuration can be adapted to a variety of site requirements, operational modes, and applications such as vehicle scanning or air cargo screening
• Three operating modes for secondary screening including pass through, intermittent wait-in and targeted wait-in which can be applied depending on site specific requirements

DESCRIPTION

CANBERRA has developed a Germanium (Ge) Spectroscopic Portal (GSP) monitor. This system has been adapted to requirements for secondary screening of containerized cargo.

The application of high purity germanium's unique capability to correctly identify materials based on their unique gamma emission provides the system benefit of reliably discriminating threats from non-threats. Reliable identification means the lowest possible operational burden and risk when abundant non-threat radiological materials are released from a port after screening.

Performance

High resolution germanium gamma detectors provide the gold standard in nuclear material identification. These detectors are widely used in other applications requiring certainty and defendability such as safeguards for nuclear material protection and control, waste characterization of low level and transuranic wastes for disposal, environmental monitoring for safety and exposure, and in vivo counting of nuclear workers for potentially ingested or inhaled contamination. All of these applications benefit from the better resolution of germanium which is 15 to 25 times better than sodium iodide scintillators (FWHM).

Operating Modes

The CANBERRA GSP system is designed for secondary inspections when reliable identification of materials is paramount. The system can be operated in three different modes, Pass Through, Intermittent Wait-In, and Targeted Wait-In. Pass through measurement is initiated automatically by an occupancy sensor which detects presence, measures speed and estimates position. Vehicle speeds of 5 mph (8 kph) are typical for this mode of operation. Intermittent pass through requires the vehicle to be stopped manually at fixed intervals (e.g. four stops at 14 ft spacing for 30 seconds/each). This mode provides better sensitivity and position information.

Targeted mode would be used when a possible threat location can be identified and the best possible results were desired. In this mode the system can dwell for five minutes or more at a single location.

User Interface

The user interface provides simple and useful information about the operation of the lane including occupancy, vehicle speed alarm status, nuclear material identified, vehicle images, and system state of health. Data is archived in industry standard formats to facilitate external review and validation when necessary. Supervisory computers and remote monitoring stations can replay and re-analyze occupancy data.

Modular Design

The GSP is designed with modular components. This architecture provides redundancy and facilitates maintenance. This also allows for the system to be configured for different applications such as personally operated vehicle screening or air cargo. The heart of the GSP is the Radiation Sensor Panel (RSP).