Detection and localisation of radioactive environmental anomalies using aerial radiometric surveying

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The project is to develop methodologies and protocols for the use of Mobile radiationmapping technologies to identify anomalies. It is specifically aimed at developingmethodologies for the identification of valuable ore bodies using both aerial and groundbased techniques.Accordingly the project will involve a significant element of fieldwork based mainly in thesouthwest UK but also seeking to conduct research in one of more other countries. This willpotentially include Somaliland, Romania, Japan (Fukushima) and Portugal.The project will make use of multi-rotor UAV radiation mapping systems developed byBristol and the commercialised by Imitec Ltd (a UoB spin-out) along with car and backpackbased variants they have also developed. As part of the project the PhD student will learn tofly UAVs and gain CAA qualification.A key aspect of the project is to develop a next generation radiation mapping technologywhereby radiation data is combined with accurate terrain data gained by LiDAR to provide amore accurate representation of the true radiation field. This technology may then be appliedto nuclear site monitoring as well as the identification of near surface ore bodies that carry aradiometric signature.We will use fieldwork at home and abroad to develop a suite of high quality datasetscombining LiDAR and Radiation data. Subsequently these data sets will act as test data forthe development of some specialist software for inverse modelling the most likely solutionfor the 'true' radiation field at each given site. We will also use the UoB test facility atFenswood Farm (just south of Bristol) to establish some smaller scale tests with complicatedgeometries and shine paths.Furthermore we will also apply to the NERC ARF programme to gain access to a fixed wingaircraft to provide comparative higher altitude data against our low altitude UAV surveys.Already we have submitted a proposal to conduct a survey across the west Mendip hills,where significant mineralisation is known to have occurred along with at least oneradiological hot spot.By comparing radiation data from aircraft, UAVs, cars and backpacks all for the same area,we will seek to develop new methodologies and protocols for rapid surveying (prospecting)of a target area.