Authors: Albert Qiang and Edward Lee
When tracking fluctuations in environmental data, geographical location is an important factor to consider. While the mobile stations have previously lacked this capability, over the course of this project we developed software to incorporate GPS data into the mapping of environmental and radiation sensor data, allowing for real-time tracking of measurements with location. Preliminary tests with the new integrated data were conducted around the UC Berkeley campus. In the future, we hope to be able to port this software to all of our mobile stations and create a robust app that will users a sense of how environmental measurements are affected by geographical location.
For the third year now DoseNet has invited a small (4-6) group of high school students to work under the mentorship of our project leadership as volunteer interns.
Tags: education, outreach, internship
RadWatch and DoseNet participated in the Bay Area Science Festival again this fall. We were part of both the North Bay Science Discovery Day and Discovery Day at AT&T Park.
RadWatch postdoc Brian Plimley was backpacking in the Grand Canyon in November 2016 near Horn Creek, a stream marked on park maps as "Do Not Drink" as a result of an old uranium mine at the canyon rim above the creek. Brian was able collected samples of water and sediment from Horn Creek to be measured at the LBL Low-Background Facility. The results of those measurements are included in this article along with some discussion of what they tell us.
Tags: Environmental Radiation
Our very own Christopher Figueroa accompanied a group of scientists on an expedition to observe and gather samples from the wreck of the USS Independence, a World War II aircraft carrier used as a target in the 1946 atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. This report describes the measurements of ocean sponge and their results.
The RadWatch Gamma Sampling Data has been updated to include a wider range of environmental samples from our most recent measurements of fish, seawater, and even pork products, and using a new analysis method to verify and improve on past results. Details describing the procedure for preparing and measuring samples to obtain the data presented are now described in our new Methods Page. All of this data and older results are stored through various links found through the Sampling Data Page.
Tags: Environmental Radiation
Adding weather measurements to DoseNet expands our environmental data collection and allows radiation levels to be correlated to weather. Here we provide the steps needed to install an affordable weather station and establish publically accessible hosting of the data obtained by the station.
We had a great visit to Gilroy High School to talk to Mr. Hungerford's class about nuclear science and install our DoseNet device. Lots of fun with Geiger counters and some great questions from students! We are looking forward to future visits.
We had a great first visit to Miramonte High School to install our DoseNet device and talk to Ms. Hauptman about coming back to visit with the STEM club and talk to her class later in the year. We are looking forward to our future visits!
We had a great time visiting Life Academy to install our DoseNet device and talk to Mr. Juang's 7th grade students about radiation in their environment. We're looking forward to future visits and making use of their data in the classroom!
