Eden Nuclear and Environment Ltd has recently completed a detailed study, funded by the Environment Agency, on the potential role of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in supporting radiological monitoring across the UK.
The Challenge
Understanding and managing radioactivity in the environment is often time consuming, labour intensive, intrusive and sometimes dangerous to individuals. From fast-moving tidal sandbanks, nature reserves with fragile habitats, aged structures, or areas where radioactivity has concentrated as a result of human activity – there are many monitoring activities which would benefit from increased automation. UAV technology has advanced rapidly over the past decade and is transforming how traditional tasks are being approached. With support from Professor Tom Scott, a leading expert on aerial radiation monitoring, Eden NE led a review on behalf of the Environment Agency to explore the potential of UAVs for undertaking a range of monitoring activities.
The Approach
The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, we identified applications of UAVs for radiological monitoring over the last decade. We agreed five use cases of relevance to the Environment Agency - from everyday monitoring near permitted discharges to rapid, multi-agency responses. We developed an understanding of how a UAV would be used in each scenario and identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for each. The second phase built on the weaknesses and opportunities identified in the first phase to consider how emerging technology could benefit the systems developed earlier.
The Output
The review highlighted that UAVs show huge promise for monitoring environmental radioactivity. They can quickly scan vast areas, resolve radioactive sources to cm-level accuracy. They can dramatically reduce risks to on-the-ground personnel during emergencies where their ability to obtain diverse but complementary datasets (e.g. temperature and radiation intensity) is useful in co-ordinating a response. We found that their ability to construct a 'radiation map' in almost complete autonomy is perhaps the most useful attribute. However, current UAV technology is not without its limits. There is a balance between the maximum payload, flight time and cost which in some cases detracts from the economic and technical advantages they otherwise offer. The UAV system must also be flown in sufficient proximity to the source so that useful information can be obtained – this distance is constrained by the nature of the source of the radioactivity and the allowable minimal flight altitude.
Figure - A radiation map of a disused uranium mine overlaid with photogrammetry. Here, radiation measurements have been combined with a visual topography to assist with understanding the distribution of radiation in the environment. (Image reproduced from: P Martin et al., Radiological Identification of Near-Surface Mineralogical Deposits Using Low-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Remote Sens. 2020, 12(21), 3562; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213562)
The practical deployment of UAVs could be used as part of a broader toolkit for environmental radioactivity monitoring. While UAVs are unlikely to replace traditional methods entirely, they represent a valuable complementary technology for regulators and industry operators alike. The report helps ensure the Environment Agency is well-informed when making investment decisions, identifying best available techniques (BAT), and maintaining safe and efficient monitoring practices.
For more information, the full report is available on the GOV.UK website. Please note: The views expressed in this post are those of Eden Nuclear and Environment Ltd and do not necessarily reflect those of the Environment Agency.