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Fixed-Position Direct Radiation Environmental Monitoring Systems

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Fixed-Position Direct Radiation Environmental Monitoring Systems Fixed-Position Direct Radiation Environmental Monitoring Systems Market Survey Report August 2019 Approved for Public Release SAVER-T-MSR-20 The Fixed-Position Direct Radiation Environmental Monitoring Systems Market Survey Report was prepared by the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Government. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the U.S. Government. The information and statements contained herein shall not be used for the purposes of advertising, nor to imply the endorsement or recommendation of the U.S. Government. With respect to documentation contained herein, neither the U.S. Government nor any of its employees make any warranty, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Further, neither the U.S. Government nor any of its employees assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed; nor do they represent that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The cover photo and images included herein were provided by the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, unless otherwise noted. Approved for Public Release ii FOREWORD The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program to assist emergency responders making procurement decisions. The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) located within the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) manages the SAVER Program, which conducts objective assessments and validations on commercially available equipment and systems and develops knowledge products that provide relevant equipment information to the emergency responder community. The SAVER Program mission includes: • Conducting impartial, practitioner-relevant, operationally oriented assessments and validations of emergency response equipment. • Providing information, in the form of knowledge products, that enables decision-makers and responders to better select, procure, use and maintain emergency response equipment. SAVER Program knowledge products provide information on equipment that falls under the categories listed in the DHS Authorized Equipment List (AEL), focusing primarily on two main questions for the responder community: “What equipment is available?” and “How does it perform?” These knowledge products are shared nationally with the responder community, providing a life- and cost-saving asset to DHS, as well as to Federal, state and local responders. NUSTL is responsible for all SAVER activities, including selecting and prioritizing program topics, developing SAVER knowledge products, coordinating with other organizations and ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to first responder requirements. NUSTL provides expertise and analysis on a wide range of key subject areas, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons detection; emergency response and recovery; and related equipment, instrumentation and technologies. For this report, NUSTL conducted a market survey of commercially available fixed-position direct radiation environmental monitoring systems at the request of the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY). These systems do not have a unique AEL reference number but may be considered a subset of the AEL reference number 07RD- 04-SGND titled Standoff Radiation Detectors. Visit NUSTL’s SAVER website at www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/SAVER for more information on the SAVER Program, or to view additional reports on radiation detection equipment and other technologies. Approved for Public Release iii POINT OF CONTACT National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate 201 Varick Street New York, NY 10014 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/SAVER Authors: Gladys Klemic, Physicist Cecilia Murtagh, Mechanical Engineer Approved for Public Release iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Within minutes of an explosion in an urban area, emergency responders must assess the situation. This includes recognizing whether radioactive materials have been released—for example, in the case of a detonation of a radiological dispersal device (i.e., “dirty bomb”). Elevated radiation levels can be detected by specialized handheld or portable equipment deployed to the site, or if available, by fixed-position radiation sensors that continuously measure the radiation exposure rate (or dose rate) at a particular location. A network of radiation monitors spread throughout a city could provide localized radiation information that could guide emergency personnel response actions and public messaging for evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions. Some emergency responder agencies are considering establishing radiation sensor networks as part of their emergency preparedness planning. To assist emergency responders interested in radiation monitoring networks, NUSTL’s SAVER program conducted a market survey of commercially available fixed-position direct radiation monitoring systems. Products included in this market survey report are capable of continuous, unattended outdoor operation and of providing real-time measurements of the external gamma radiation exposure rate ranging from natural background to emergency levels. They may also be capable of integrating with the RadResponder software platform as described in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Radiological Dispersal Device Response Guidance: Planning for the First 100 Minutes. This market survey identified ten radiation monitors that may be used in a dispersed network to provide situational awareness of the radiation environment in the aftermath of a radioactive release. Three of the products can identify the specific radionuclides detected. Two products contain removable, handheld radiation instruments for both portable and fixed use. Prices for the radiation monitoring systems vary from under $3,000 to over $30,000; however, individual products differ in what options are included in the standard price. Most products have options for meteorological sensors, back-up batteries or alternate power supplies, and varying data transmission solutions. The products also have a variety of software systems for display, storage, and visualization of current and historical radiation exposure rate data. Five products are currently capable of automatic upload of exposure rate data to RadResponder. Emergency responder agencies that consider purchasing fixed-position direct radiation monitoring systems should carefully research each product’s overall capabilities and limitations in relation to their agency’s operational needs. Agencies should also consider impacts associated with integrating equipment into their power and information technology infrastructure, data management and concepts of operations, and required maintenance. Approved for Public Release v TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 8 2.0 Fixed-Position Direct Radiation Monitoring Systems Overview .......................................................... 9 2.1 Current Technology............................................................................................................................ 9 2.1.1 Radiation Detectors ................................................................................................................. 10 2.1.2 Data Transmission ................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.3 Power Supply ............................................................................................................................ 11 2.1.4 Environmental Enclosures ....................................................................................................... 11 2.1.5 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Product Design Variations............................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Emergency Response Application .................................................................................................. 12 2.3.1 Integration with RadResponder............................................................................................... 14 2.4 Routine Monitoring Applications .................................................................................................... 15 2.5 Considerations ................................................................................................................................. 17 2.6 Standards/Regulations ................................................................................................................... 17 3.0 Product Information............................................................................................................................
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