Detection and localization of mobile and weak radioactive sources by data-fusion of a surveillance camera and a NaI detector in the continuous and discontinuous modes

Although nuclear energy and radioactive materials have considerably impressed national health and economics, inappropriate use of radioactive materials can pose a significant threat to public health and security. This research aims to enhance defensive capabilities for countering nuclear terrorism by accurate detection and continuous tracking. A vital component of this system is to equip surveillance cameras of a region with a relatively low-cost radiation detector (NaI detectors) for counting gamma rays. Data-fusion of the surveillance camera and radioactive sensor that is linked together helps us detect and localize suspicious sources among other objects. The system can provide data flow (continuous) or a collection of snapshots several times (discontinuous), then a fast and new algorithm detects the suspicious source in these two modes. The promising results represent the integrated system by employing the new algorithm to detect the suspicious source in both data modes. Still, the source can be detected quicker in the continuous mode.