DETECT & PROTECT
The new ViewPoint complete radiation monitoring system from Thermo Fisher Scientific enables real-time radiation detection that could represent the future for radiation assessment
True readiness for radiation threats requires closing the loop that connects technology, systems, and people. New solutions are now emerging that enable remote monitoring of any type of sensor or detector. These new solutions have worldwide applications and allow systems to communicate with conventional radiation detectors and/or any type of industrial hygiene, gas, water or process detector/sensor, typically used in industry.
Radiation threats are becoming of increasing concern in the Middle East, especially with regards to the safeguarding of public gatherings, as well as of centres of industry like oil refineries and gas plants. It is becoming evident that real safety relies on a comprehensive system for monitoring radiation and hazardous environmental conditions.
 command centre centrally processed and analysed all instrument and detector information and fed it back to the police and Thermo Fischer personnel
Traditionally, systems operate on low-end solutions unable to cope with large volumes of data. Newer real-time remote monitoring systems, such as the Thermo Scientific ViewPoint system, provide an integrated, real-time monitoring system, designed to provide early warning if a hazardous condition develops.
The ViewPoint system uses a multi-tiered approach for communications between field sensors and base locations. A command centre centrally processes and analyses all instrument and detector information, providing the user with the capability to tie together all of the remote sensors and route the input. The system provides users with the ability to integrate detectors from Thermo Fisher as well as third-party vendors.
 A Thermo Scientific TPM 903B (Transportable Portal Monitor) can provide personnel screening at an event to detect any potentially threatening radioactive materials
Where radiation threats must be instantly assessed and located to protect the major assets of critical sites, multiple sensors and instruments can be networked with the ViewPoint system to create unique detection capabilities for radiation and particulate monitoring. Users can employ radiation detection appliances, which can provide wide area radiological background trending of a specific site. A Thermo Scientific TPM 903B (Transportable Portal Monitor) can provide personnel screening at an event to detect any potentially threatening radioactive materials. Users can also detect levels of both artificial and natural gamma counts with a Mobile Portal Monitoring System (MPMS) combining the FHT671 gamma Natural Background Refection (NBR) and FHT641 neutron (Thermo Fisher Scientific) probes.
Handheld instruments exist which allow users to identify threats following any radiation detection. Portable spectroscopic devices (such as the Thermo Scientific Interceptor GiD, RadEye PRD and ADR air concentrator detector) can be used to locate the source and the isotope of the detected radioactive material.
Robust platform
While many devices can effectively measure radiation in the environment, not all provide a robust platform that can centralise instruments, deliver real-time, two-way transmission capabilities and offer maximum flexibility in data management.
This system has been used in global situations for asset and threat identification, including in hospitals and political gatherings.
An example of a landmark use of this new technology saw a police task force in the UK utilise the ViewPoint complete radiation monitoring system to manage and monitor the radiation threats at a recent political party conference. The event required a flexible but dependable system that could provide precise radiological detection in real time at multiple sites throughout the venue. Equally important was that every detector be connected into a central hub where radiation warnings could be immediately assessed and located.
Detection appliances were used to equip a Thermo Scientific survey vehicle for a remote vehicle search site (RVSS) to screen vehicles entering the conference and provide wide area radiological background trending
Detection appliances were used to equip a Thermo Scientific survey vehicle for a remote vehicle search site (RVSS) to screen vehicles entering the conference and provide wide area radiological background trending. The survey vehicle, outfitted with gamma and neutron probes, an ADR air concentrator detector, a GID spectroscopy personal radiation detector (SPRD) and a RadEye PRD, also drove predetermined routes twice daily monitoring radiation levels and comparing them with previous background radiation surveys.
The centralised communication network allowed the real time transmission of data to be sent to both the police headquarters and to the RVSS via the ViewPoint system. The system, operated with Windows NT/2000/XP, not only produced real time dose readings but also GPS data that enabled police officers and hermo Fisher personnel to specify the exact location of a radiological event.
Following the installation of the TPM, power was supplied to ensure uninterrupted operation of the portal. Performance and calibration of all detectors was checked using a C-137 button source of <1uci. Reachback was achieved at both the RVSS and the police HQ. A graph model registering the background count was used to help spot any activation of the TPM. With regards to the mobile surveys, there were some alarming events recorded which were proven non-hazardous.
Overall, this implementation offered numerous benefits and can be considered as a leap forward in radiation monitoring. The Thermo Scientific ViewPoint system was said to be very easy to use and provided sophisticated, real-time people and environment graphing/trending.
Wide range of applications
As this is achieved in both, normal and outage operations, the system is suitable for a wide range of applications including the nuclear power industry and industrial, civil defence and security applications. Charlie Eggar, superintendent of the police force and Commander Silver for the security at the conference, explains: “The system was easy to use and provided a high degree of confidence. The Thermo Fisher Scientific team fitted in very well with the CBRN operation and had the expertise to keep the systems working reliably.”
This trial was a worthwhile project demonstrating the application of the system for real time personnel dosimetry and data management, area monitoring, integrated remote monitoring, instrument management, first responder environmental monitoring and site process monitoring, with the ability for worldwide applications.
It is also useful for other applications where radiation threats must be instantly assessed and located to protect the major assets of critical sites: hospitals, nuclear power plants, industrial plants, governmental properties and other large facilities involving multiple access points or thousands of visitors and on-site personnel.
 For more information visit: www.thermo.com/solutions
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