Detection of Radioactivity in Transit Stations

The purpose of this Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project was to develop a prototype system to detect dangerous levels of radioactivity in rail transit stations. Transit stations could be potential targets for terrorist attacks because they carry large numbers of people daily. To protect against that threat, pervasive radiation detection is important. The fully developed product will be a software/hardware product that will allow dirty bombs to be detected using modern digital security cameras as the radiation detector. This product will augment other radiation sensors and enable high-level coordination by transit and law-enforcement authorities. Network-enabled software, using common communication interfaces, will facilitate the dissemination of alerts to key stakeholders in transit and government activities. The prototype implements a proprietary method of analysis to use digital imagery data to search for the telltale artifacts caused by radioactivity that hits and interacts with the Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detector within the digital camera. Most transit security cameras are connected to a Network Operations Center (NOC). The system makes use of existing detectors, data acquisition systems, communication networks, and centralized security staffing. The RedStar algorithms run on standard PC’s, which minimizes the cost of “buy-in.” A U.S. Patent application has been filed for this method and process.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/archive/studies/idea/finalreports/transit/Transit42_Final_Report.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This Transit IDEA project was conducted by Advanced Fuel Research, Incorporated, East Hartford, Connecticut. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Rubenstein, Eric P
• Publication Date: 2006-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Glossary; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 26p
• Serial:
  • TRANSIT-IDEA Program Project Final Report
  • Publisher: Transit Cooperative Research Program
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Charge coupled devices; Detection and identification systems; Digital cameras; Prototypes; Radioactivity; Rail transit stations; Security; Subway stations; Technological innovations
• Identifier Terms: Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dirty bombs; Radiation detection
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01082324
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Transit IDEA Project 42
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 7 2007 1:21PM