First demonstration of aerial gamma-ray imaging using drone for prompt radiation survey in Fukushima

摘要: Considerable amounts of radioactive substances (mainly 137Cs and 134Cs) were released into the environment after Japanese nuclear disaster in 2011. Some restrictions on residence areas lifted April 2017, owing to successive effective decontamination operations. However, distribution vast mountain, forest satoyama close city is still unknown; thus, operations such are being hampered. In this paper, we report first aerial gamma-ray imaging a schoolyard Fukushima using drone that carries high sensitivity Compton camera. We show regions with diameter several tens hundred meters can be imaged typical resolution 2–5 m within 10–20 min flights duration. The images taken 10 20 above ground qualitatively consistent dose map reconstructed from ground-based measurements survey meter. Although further quantification needed for distance air-absorption corrections derive situ map, an system reduce measurement time by factor ten suitable place where difficult.