Experimental Characterization of Dosimeter Based on a Wireless Sensor Network for A Radiation Protection Program

In this paper, we show our instrumental design and experimental results on the use of personal dosimeters for determining the radiation dose received by a radiation worker in real-time. We used the wireless sensor networks (WSN) technology to monitor five personal dosimeters. This instrument includes cost-effective sensors, developed as an alternative efficient method for a radiation protection program. A coordinator node, along with a graphic user interface (GUI) was developed for this purpose. The main component of a sensor node consists of commercial radiation made from photodiode type X-100 7, an Arduino microcontroller as a microprocessor, and a low power consumption Xbee module for wireless communication. Testing has been carried out to see the characteristics of the wireless sensor in an open space and a laboratory building. Based on the analysis of packet error rate (PER) values, the communication between the sensor node and coordinator node can be run properly in open space at a maximum distance of 140 m, whereas in the laboratory building at about 45 m due to the blockage by some concrete walls. The radiation count received by the sensor must be at least 30 seconds, and the counting is stable up to 400 seconds. By determining the radiation dose received in realtime, radiation workers may receive an early notification related to the dose received in their working environment with a better log documentation system.