Nuclear Measurement Services
The Training and Technical Services Department is dedicated to providing excellence in instrumentation and health physics related services. A staff of Health Physicists, System Engineers, Operators, and Technicians have years of experience working with CANBERRA equipment in a variety of applications. Several of the Health Physicists hold certification from the American Board of Health Physicists, ensuring you of the highest level of competence and professionalism in the health physics field. We specialize in providing quality services in nuclear instrumentation and measurement activities.
Internal Dosimetry
The NSG specializes in
a wide range of internal dosimetry services:
- Whole Body Counter Calibrations - complete service, using your choice of a variety of phantoms and sources, performed by a Health Physicist. The calibration document provides a complete record and history including NIST source traceability, and compliance with ANSI N13.30.
- Mobile Whole Body Counting Systems - mobile FASTSCAN systems are available to augment planned or unplanned outages when whole body counting is at its peak. These systems can be supplied with a qualified CANBERRA operator, or for use by trained on-site customer personnel.
- Whole Body Count Data Review - analysis and interpretation of whole body count results are available from CANBERRA's staff of Health Physicists. This service can include performing internal dose assessments to assist customers in reporting the proper numbers to regulatory agencies and facility personnel.
System Startup and Support
CANBERRA customers can take advantage of years of experience from the CANBERRA Service Department to assist in specific system configurations for any customer need. Systems serviced include gamma spectroscopy, alpha spectroscopy, whole body counters, and waste assay systems.
CANBERRA service engineers can assist customers with the initial set-up, configuration, modification and operation of all standard CANBERRA spectroscopy and analysis systems through on-site customized assistance. Assistance could include the set up of analysis parameters, establishing QA/QC programs and routines, and preparing operating procedures.
Field Radiological Measurements
The CANBERRA Service Department has years of experience providing field radiological measurements. Mobile laboratories are available to provide rapid on-site analyses of environmental and facility samples. These services extend to site assessments, decontamination, and decommissioning of any facility. Environmental in situ measurements provide assurance that potentially contaminated sites are ready for release for unrestricted use.
ISOCS/LabSOCS Sample Geometry Modeling Services
CANBERRA now offers a specialized service to assist customers with modeling a wide variety of sample configurations using the standard ISOCS and/or LabSOCS geometry templates. CANBERRA can perform all tasks necessary to create these sample models using a "generic" detector within the Genie 2000 Geometry Composer application, producing a pair of files with the *.geo and *.gis format for each requested model. CANBERRA can also include the actual ISOCS/LabSOCS characterization file(s) for the customer's specific detector(s) as part of each geometry definition, and generate additional files with the *.ecc and *.cal format. (The final *.cal efficiency calibration files can then be applied directly within the customer's Genie 2000 and/or Apex software environment).
This service can be varied to provide the specific level of effort requested by each customer, and will be quoted and billed on a time and materials basis. Customer personnel will typically be responsible for providing accurate and complete information regarding all of the following:
- Manufacturer and model number (if known) for each sample container
- Inner and outer wall contour dimensions, wall material composition, and wall material density for each sample container
- Material composition, anticipated range of density values, and anticipated fill height(s) of the sample matrix in each container
- Anticipated detector-to-sample distance(s), and any applicable off-axis positioning dimensions
- Material composition, density, dimensions, and placement relative to the detector for any sample positioning components (support shelves and/or centering jigs) and/or other absorber layers located between the sample container and the detector
If requested, CANBERRA can take a more active role in obtaining the specific information listed above – by visiting the customer site for visual inspection and direct measurements of the customer's sample containers and counting system hardware. (Additional time and expenses required for travel and on-site work would be quoted and billed as part of this service.) After obtaining all information necessary for accurate sample modeling, CANBERRA would then:
- Select the optimum ISOCS/LabSOCS template in Geometry Composer and generate the *.geo and *.gis files for each requested sample model
- Generate the *.ecc and *.cal files for each requested model (using the ISOCS/LabSOCS characterization file for the customer's own detector)
- Copy all generated files to a CD, to be delivered to the customer with a written report describing each sample model (and providing instructions for using the supplied files within the customer's Genie 2000 and/or Apex software environment)
General Health Physics Services
Many other related services are provided by the CANBERRA Service Department, including licensing and RSO activities. Program and procedure development for new or existing licensees ensures a top quality radiation safety program in compliance with applicable Federal or State regulations. Emergency medical assistance for contaminated injured personnel is available in conjunction with Radiation Management Consultants. CANBERRA can also provide assistance with health physics record keeping systems to ensure complete traceability of personnel exposures and radiation work activities.
In Situ Characterization Services
CANBERRA has developed a service to assist customers with characterization of radiological contamination
in situ, using the CANBERRA InSpector gamma spectroscopy system. The service provides the ability to
perform high resolution, quantitative gamma spectroscopy in the field. These measurements may save the
customer time and money when the application requires rapid assessment, or when conventional sampling
and laboratory analyses would be costly if employed. When needed, the CANBERRA ISOCS calibration service
may be utilized to develop special geometry efficiencies.