SpringerLink
Log in

A Fast Method for Modelling A Gamma-Ray Field over Inhomogeneous Ground Sources

  • Published:
Surveys in Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Designing airborne gamma-ray surveys for geological purposes, mineral prospecting, environmental applications or radioactive contamination map** requires the optimal choice of survey parameters such as the survey altitude, line spacing and survey speed with respect to the sensitivity of the instruments employed and the presumed size and intensity of the detected anomalies. The gamma-ray field attenuates significantly with the distance from the source; being able to model gamma-ray field intensity in various detector positions can be very useful. In recent years, the use of mini-airborne UAV radiometric measurement has developed rapidly. On the one hand, the low payload capacity of UAV results in low sensitivity of the employed detectors; the possibility of increasing gamma-ray signals from low altitude surveys and low speeds on the other hand raises the demand for simulating the gamma-ray field of local inhomogeneous radiometric anomalies. The gamma-ray field modelling method introduced in this paper is based on the monoenergetic approach and discretization of geological radioactive sources utilizing a three-dimensional net of point sources. The optimal density of point sources depends on the detection altitude and the degree of inhomogeneity of the radioactive source. The designed modelling method was verified by comparing the model data with experimental data from three localities where uranium anomalies occur. The degree of conformity of the model and experimental data is acceptable and confirms the applicability of the modelling method. The paper describes a relatively fast and simple gamma-ray field modelling method that is appropriate for ground planar radioactive anomalies. The method is useful for designing survey parameters and for interpretation of detected airborne gamma-ray anomalies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data and Materials

Experimental data were measured and processed by the author.

Code Availability

The modelling algorithm in the MATLAB code was written by the author.

References

  • Beamish D (2016) Enhancing the resolution of airborne gamma-ray data using horizontal gradients. J Appl Geophys 132:75–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2016.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger MJ, Hubbell JH, Seltzer SM, Chang J, Coursey JS, Sukumar R, Zucker DS, Olsen K (2010) XCOM: photon cross section database (version 1.5). National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA). http://physics.nist.gov/xcom. Accessed 1 Mar 2020

  • Billings SD, Hovgaard J (1999) Modelling detector response in airborne gamma-ray spectrometry. Geophysics 64:1378–1392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RB, Duval JS, Adams JAS (1972) Computer simulation of an air-borne gamma-ray spectrometer. J Geophys Res 77(17):3021–3031. https://doi.org/10.1029/JB077i017p03021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connor DT, Wood K, Martin PG, Goren S, Megson-Smith D, Verbelen Y, Chyzhevskyi I, Kirieiev S, Smith NT, Richardson T, Scott TB (2020) Radiological map** of post-disaster nuclear environments using fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems: a study from chornobyl. frontiers in robotics and AI. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2019.00149

  • Duval JS (1997) USGS gamma-ray modelling programs. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97–96. USGS

  • Gong P, Tang XB, Huang X, Wang P, Wen LS, Zhu XX, Zhou C (2019) Locating lost radioactive sources using a UAV radiation monitoring system. Appl Radiat Isot 150:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.04.037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA (2003) Guidelines for radioelement map** using gamma-ray spectrometry data. IAEA-TECDOC-1363. IAEA, Vienna

  • IAEA (1989) Construction and use of calibration facilities for radiometric field equipment. Technical Reports Series No. 309, IAEA, Vienna

  • IAEA (2013) Advances in airborne and ground geophysical methods for uranium exploration. IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES No. NF-T-1.5. IAEA, Vienna

  • Kogan RM, Nazarov IM, Fridman SD (1971) Gamma spectrometry of natural environments and formations. Israel Programme for Scientific Translations

  • Lee C, Kim HR (2019) Optimizing UAV-based radiation sensor systems for aerial surveys. J Environ Radioact 204:76–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.04.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowdon M, Martin PG, Hubbard MWJ, Taggart MP, Connot DT, Verbelen Y, Sellin PJ (2019) Evaluation of scintillator detection materials for application within airborne environmental radiation monitoring. Sensors 19(18):3828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacFarlane JW, Payton OD, Keatley AC, Scott GPT, Pullin H, Crane RA, Smilion M, Popescu I, Curlea V, Scott TB (2014) Lightweight aerial vehicles for monitoring, assessment and map** of radiation anomalies. J Environ Radioact 136:127–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.05.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mareš S, Gruntorád J, Hrách S, Karous M, Marek F, Matolín M, Skopec J, Válek R (1984) Introduction to applied geophysics. D. Riedel Publishing Company, Dordrecht and SNTL, Prague

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Martin PG, Payton OD, Fardoulis JS, Richards DA, Scott TB (2015) The use of unmanned aerial systems for the map** of legacy uranium mines. J Environ Radioact 143:135–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.02.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin PG, Payton OD, Fardoulis JS, Richards DA, Yamashiki Y, Scott TB (2015) Low altitude unmanned aerial vehicle for characterising remediation effectiveness following the FDNPP accident. J Environ Radioact 151:58–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.09.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin PG, Moore J, Fardoulis JS, Payton OD, Scott TB (2016) Radiological assessment on interest areas on the Sellafield nuclear site via unmanned aerial vehicle. Remote Sens 8(11):913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matolín M, Křesťan P (2011) Stoje V (2011) Standards for Field Gamma-Ray Spectrometers in Czech Republic (in Czech). Int J Explor Geophys, Remote Sens Environ 3:98–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitkin JA, Duval JS (1980) Design parameters for aerial gamma-ray surveys. Geophysics 45:1427–1439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šálek O, Matolín M, Gryc L (2018) Map** of radiation anomalies using UAV mini-airborne gamma-ray spectrometry. J Environ Radioact 182:101–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.11.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanada Y, Torii T (2014) Aerial radiation monitoring around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant using an unmanned helicopter. J Environ Radioact 139:294–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.06.027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Škácha P, Sejkora J, Plášil J (2017) Selenide mineralization in the Příbram uranium and base-metal district (Czech Republic). Minerals 7(6):91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werner CJ, Bull JS, Solomon CJ et al (2018) MCNP 6.2 Release Notes. Los Alamos National Laboratory. Report LA-UR-18–20808

Download references

Acknowledgements

The technical support for field experiments was generously provided by Georadis s.r.o. and the National Radiation Protection Institute of the Czech Republic.

Funding

Charles University, Center for Geosphere Dynamics (UNCE/SCI/006), International Atomic Energy Agency contributed to the research under the Research Contract No19036.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    Ondřej Šálek

Authors
  1. Ondřej Šálek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ondřej Šálek.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Šálek, O. A Fast Method for Modelling A Gamma-Ray Field over Inhomogeneous Ground Sources. Surv Geophys 42, 427–450 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-020-09624-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-020-09624-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation