Live Identification: An Emerging Detection And Identification Technology For Radiation Detection In Complex Operations

New initiatives underway within the Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) focus on equipping partner countries with detection systems that support law enforcement missions. These initiatives happen in environments with complex, and often time-sensitive, pedestrian traffic flows. The high probability of encountering medical isotopes in these environments, and the difficulty in detecting, localizing, and identifying radiation sources, make dual detection and identification systems attractive options for pedestrian scanning missions. This work summarizes the radiation detection performance findings from an emerging class of radiation detection technology: systems with “live-ID”. Live-ID is the ability to simultaneously detect and identify radioactive material in a manner that combines the CONOPs of primary screening and secondary adjudication. Radiation detectors with effective Live-ID methods reduce the burden on law enforcement from adjudicating nuisance alarms in complex pedestrian environments such as airports, stadiums, and large public gatherings. This presentation will detail the different categories of live identification technology and showcase the performance findings from a rigorous evaluation against special nuclear material and medical isotopes. We also present the unique missions and CONOPs that can emerge through “live-ID”, and the operational considerations on systems with this capability.