AUTONOMOUS AERIAL RADIOMETRIC MAPPING

This project successfully proves the integration between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and radiation sensors that enables efficient and accurate monitoring of environments in a safe way by acquiring data in real time, referencing it with the help of geopositioning system (GPS), and automating the flight process to map radiometric differences in a fast and human-free way.   The benefits provided by this technology include successful production of maps showing radiometric data in high resolution to enable further application of this technique to monitor nuclear plants, environmental assessment, disaster relief operations, and even mineral exploration missions.   Even though the system proved to be very effective, some restrictions are to be acknowledged, like restrictions in sensitivity of the sensors used, external environment disturbances, and dependency of flight process on stable atmospheric conditions. In order to overcome those problems, future improvements can be aimed at enhancing sensor sensitivity, using more complicated data processing techniques, and implementing path optimization.   Overall, this project provides an efficient approach to autonomous monitoring and creates a base for further development.

Martin, P. G., et al. (2016). Airborne radiation mapping: overview and application of current and future aerial systems. Remote Sensing Letters. This paper provides a comprehensive background on the evolution of aerial radiation mapping, which supports your project's focus on the transition from manual to automated surveillance.             2. Pospisil, S., et al. (2026). Feasibility of low cost UAV based gamma radiation surveys for environmental monitoring. ResearchGate. This study validates the use of consumer grade drone technology for radiation detection, supporting your emphasis on lightweight, accessible drone solutions.             3.         The International Atomic Energy Agency is the primary global authority on nuclear safety. They publish technical documents that discuss the use of drones in radiological emergencies. Website: www.iaea.org 4.         Research Gate is a repository where researchers publish their work. Many papers there discuss the Grid Survey or Lawnmower pattern for radiation mapping. Website: www.researchgate.net   5.         MDPI Sensors is an open access journal that focuses on sensor technology and drone applications. This is an excellent source for technical literature regarding how sensor data is collected and processed. Website: www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors   6.         Zhang, X., et al. (2023). Path Planning for Autonomous Drones: Challenges and Future Directions. MDPI this resource analyzes the trade-offs between path length, energy constraints, and obstacle avoidance, which is useful for justifying why you chose specific navigation logic for your system.