Development of RFID-Based Tracking System for Nuclear Material Via GPS Service: A Prototype Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Radiation Engineering, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT) Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of Electrical Communications, Faculty of Electronic Engineering Menoufia University Menouf, Egypt

Abstract

A prototype RFID-based system has been developed for tracking and monitoring of nuclear materials and waste packages during transport and storage. The system is designed to allow persistent monitoring at all stages, including waste disposal. The system consists of RFID tags attached to the packages with on-board collection of sensors and radiation detectors, a reader network, application software, a database server and web pages. The tags monitor and record critical parameters, including the movement of objects, and environmental conditions of the nuclear material packages in real time. They also provide instant warnings or alarms when pre-set thresholds for the sensors are exceeded. The information collected by the readers is transmitted to a dedicated central database server that can be accessed by authorized users via a secured network. After the data is received, authorized operators can analyze the status of the packages and take the suitable actions for each case including emergencies via a secured website. The on-board memory of the tags allows the materials list and event history data to be associated with the packages throughout their life cycles in storage, transportation, and disposal. The software provides easy-to-use graphical interface.

Keywords


[1]  Y. Liu, H. Lee, B. Craig, and J. Shuler, "Smart Drum Technology for Radioactive and Other Hazardous Materials-18273," https://rampac.energy.gov/docs/default-source/rfid/rfid-wm2018.pdf, 2018.
[2]  B. Craig, H. Lee, K. Byrne, K. Mittal, J. Scherer, H. Tsai, et al., "ARG-US CommBox: A Standalone Item-Based Tracking and Monitoring System," in Proc. INMM 55th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, 2014.
[3]  B. Craig, H. Lee, H. Tsai, Y. Liu, and J. Shuler, "ARG-US RFID for Monitoring and Tracking Nuclear Materials—The Operating Experience," in Proc. 17th Inter. Symp. Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials (PATRAM), San Francisco, CA, 2013.
[4]  J. Anderson, H. Lee, P. De Lurgio, C. Kearney, B. Craig, I. Soos, et al., "Tracking and Monitoring with Dosimeter-Enabled ARG-US RFID System-12009," 2012.
[5]  H. Tsai, Y. Y. Liu, M. Nutt, and J. Shuler, "Advanced surveillance technologies for used fuel long-term storage and transportation," in ASME 2011 14th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management, 2011, pp. 699-706.
[6]  H. Tsai, K. Chen, Y. Liu, and J. Shuler, "Demonstration (DEMO) of radiofrequency identification (RFID) system for tracking and monitoring of nuclear materials," Packaging, Transport, Storage & Security of Radioactive Material, vol. 21, pp. 91-102, 2010.
[7]  H. Tsai, K. Chen, Y. Liu, J. Norair, S. Bellamy, and J. Shuler, "Applying RFID technology in nuclear materials management," Packaging, Transport, Storage & Security of Radioactive Material, vol. 19, pp. 41-46, 2008.
[8]  F. T. Sheldon, R. M. Walker, R. K. Abercrombie, R. L. Cline, D. Kopsick, and J. Pantaleo, "Tracking radioactive sources in commerce," in Proc. Waste Management Symp, 2005.
[9]  F. U. Dowla, "Radiological source tracking in oil/gas, medical and other industries: requirements and specifications for passive RFID technology," Lawrence Livermore National Lab.(LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)2016.
[10]         G. Van Rossum and F. L. Drake, "Python language reference manual," 2003.
 
 
Volume 28, ICEEM2019-Special Issue
ICEEM2019-Special Issue: 1st International Conference on Electronic Eng., Faculty of Electronic Eng., Menouf, Egypt, 7-8 Dec.
2019
Pages 163-168