News

Sandia National Labs designs modular radiation monitors for U.S. ports

Sandia National Laboratories’ modular radiation detection monitors will decrease costs and enhance threat detection, officials say.

As part of an effort to replace and upgrade the aging radiation detection systems at ports across the country, the Department of Homeland Security tasked Sandia National Laboratories and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to create a plan for a new generation of radiation portal monitors to replace the more than 1,400 monitors deployed at land crossings, rail crossings, mail facilities and shipping terminals across the country.

Known as the interface specification, the blueprint outlines a redesigned radiation portal monitor based on a modular, open-systems architecture that will allow upgrades or replacements of each module or unit as new technologies or threats arise, Will Johnson, a Sandia physicist said.

The modular design also includes built-in diagnostic tools that allow for state-of-health monitoring and predictive maintenance. The tolls are expected to simplify the upkeep of the units, as well as the upgrading of the monitors, which would lower the unit’s lifetime operating costs, saving the government money.

The plans also enhance threat detection through advanced alarming algorithms that can collect data to develop even better algorithms in the future, officials said. The enhanced threat detection would reduce the number of nuisance alarms, which, in turn, would mean fewer vehicles and containers would need secondary inspection, thus keeping the flow of trade and commerce at ports of entry flowing.

“This means scanning cargo and conveyances to detect radiological and nuclear threats with a greater level of accuracy, resulting in increased protection, decreased costs and reduced delays at ports of entry,” Johnson said. “Our work on this project is a really good example of using Sandia’s radiation detection hardware expertise and our nuclear threat detection knowledge and systems engineering capabilities, while partnering with other labs for their deep operational and testing experience.”

Liz Carey

Recent Posts

Sen. Barrasso raises concerns over DOE’s ability to protect AI R&D from China

With artificial intelligence (AI) the increasing focus of interest for Washington and private companies, U.S.…

21 hours ago

Senate advances legislation that emphasizes federal building security

The Senate greenlit the Federal Building Security Act (S. 3613) this week, moving to the…

21 hours ago

Senate bill seeks to compel national security risk analysis of economic integration with China

A bipartisan group of senators recently introduced the American Economic Independence Act, which would require…

2 days ago

Sen. Peters presses federal agencies to increase cybersecurity for American health care

Citing cases where cyberattacks targeted health care systems in the United States, U.S. Sen. Gary…

2 days ago

U.S. Justice Department launches National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center to curb gun violence

The U.S. Department of Justice recently launched a new resource center – the National Extreme…

3 days ago

Government funding agreement includes $3M allotment to create Northern Border security center

Among the provisions included in the recent $1.2 trillion funding agreement signed by President Joe…

3 days ago

This website uses cookies.