Radiation Detection with Distributed Sensor Networks Diana Jackson, Columbia University Angela Mielk

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Radiation Detection with Distributed Sensor
Networks
Diana Jackson, Columbia University Angela
Mielke, Mentor Los Alamos National
LaboratoryInternational, Space, and Response
Technologies Division (ISR-3)
Little/No processing at sensor level Raw
data available at CPS - Possible single-point
failures - Possible long range communications -
Potentially large computational
requirements of CPS - Lack of ability to scale up
in sensor number
Collective computation capability Self
organizing/ Self healing CPS absent Fault
tolerant Large number of sensors - Complex
sensor/network design
My part of this project was to develop the
software that would be used to handle the
radiation detection data. To effectively do
this, the code was separated into two parts
serial data and network data.

• Generate background radiation measurements
• Compiled as average and standard deviation
• Generates baseline threshold to be able to
  signal when vehicle has a count higher than
  threshold value

• Network Code
• Uses socket connections to bind to port
• Listens for and parses incoming packets
• Process timestamp information
• Sends a return packet back

• Serial Code
• Reads in bytes from serial port
• Sets timer to go off every second at specified
  intervals to calculate standard deviation and
  average radiation levels

• Forward sensors cue radiation detectors
• Detection based on magnetic fluctuations
• Broadcast as timestamped report when threshold
  values are exceeded
• Each detector uses mote timestamp to measure
  counts per second
• Last node sums values, calculate a threshold
  from noise statistics, and determine whether
  total exceeds threshold
• If threshold is exceeded, notification is sent
  through proper channels to ensure human
  intervention

• Configurable boards
• Contains a sensor/processor/radio platform
• Generates data on vehicular presence

Both pieces of code interact with each other to
provide necessary information needed to calculate
measurements. The program is run on each Sharp
Zaurus.
Disclaimer This work was supported by the
University of California, operator of the Los
Alamos National Laboratory under Contract No.
W-7405-ENG-36 with the U.S. Department of Energy.
The U.S. Government has rights to use,
reproduce, and distribute this information. The
public may copy and use publicly released
information without charge, provided that this
Notice and any statement of authorship are
reproduced on all copies. Neither the Government
nor the University makes any warranty, express or
implied, or assumes any liability or
responsibility for the use of this information.
This type of sensor network offers many
advantages over the portal monitors used today
for radiation detection. It is more cost
efficient by using low-cost, low-efficiency
radiation detectors as opposed to the relatively
expensive portal monitor sensors. Unlike these
portal systems, the sensor network does not
interfere with traffic by causing vehicles to
slow down to at least 10 mph. Hence, there is a
thicker layer of transparency. This type of
network is easily deployable and covers a wide
range depending on the number of sensors in use.
The DSN is on schedule to be tested and
demonstrated in the near future. Based on
results that were obtained from a simulated
environment, we expect the network to prove
equivalence and even superiority over the portal
monitor systems.
Approved for release under LA-UR-04-5429.