PNNL

Abstract

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a mobile radiation detection system for the U.S. Customs department. Based on the radiation detection instruments currently in use at many border crossings, the mobile radiation portal monitor (mRPM) consists of two Ludlum 4500-3000 detector panels, a package of sensors and a sensor integration module mounted to a medium duty truck chassis. The sensor package detects the presence of scanning targets (containers) and uses this to control operation of the detectors. The mRPM is designed to scan containerized cargo at seaports. A single mRPM can be driven past grounded or chassis-mounted containers (both sides of the container must be scanned for complete coverage), or a pair of mRPM systems can be parked opposite one another to form a relocatable portal. This rapidly reconfigurable system has proven to be very useful for targeted scanning of containers at multiple seaports. Since seaports are frequently space-constrained and contain few chokepoints, mobile systems that can be easily relocated allow customs operators to effectively scan cargo with minimal interference with the flow of commerce. Operators previously trained in the use of the stationary radiation portal monitors require minimal additional training to use the mRPM systems. The medium duty trucks employed are similar to one-ton crew cab pickup trucks, and a commercial driver's license is not required to operate them. In addition to successful deployments at seaports, the mRPM units have proven useful in other applications, such as preliminary characterization of rail cargo and targeted scanning at special events (political conventions).