Research team at UNSW develops portable personal radiation monitoring system

Associate Professor Hans Riesen and his team at UNSW Canberra have developed a radiation monitoring (dosimetry) system that is portable and light.

The system is based on patented X-ray storage phosphor technology and a laser-based readout system that can be incorporated into a mobile phone-size housing.

“The system may prove to be highly valuable for Australian and US Defence Personnel deployed in conflict zones around the world and may also serve to monitor large numbers of civilians and space, in nuclear accidents such as the recent Fukushima event, or after the application of dirty bombs,” says Reisen.

“This innovative technology has the potential to help reduce radiation exposure and to also provide early warning of excessive radiation exposure,” says Reisen.

“Exposure to ionising radiation is an ever-increasing issue both in medicine and for large sections of the general population in everyday life,” said Anthony Ujhazy, CEO of Dosimetry & Imaging Pty Ltd, a spin-off company of UNSW that is currently in the process of commercialising the system and has so far attracted almost $2,000,000 in venture capital.

The research became possible due to ARC Discovery Project and internal Defence Related Research Funding. Work commencing under a recent ARC Linkage grant will further develop the technology for use in a number of medical fields.

Associate Professor Riesen is an academic at the School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW Canberra located at the Australian Defence Force Academy.