The RS-500 is the most advanced airborne gamma-ray spectrometer system utilizing leading edge DSP/FPGA technology for previously unachievable levels of spectral data performance.
RSI has applied extremely advanced technologies to the RS-500 systems making obsolete all current available systems by a significant factor. Nonetheless it is designed to be easy to interface and virtually fool proof to use, making the RS-500 system the clear technological leader in this sophisticated field.
| Spectrometer | DPU | Detector | Outputs | Inputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channels: 1024 Differential non-linearity: <0.2% over top 99.5% Integral non-linearity: <0.01% over top 99.5% Zero dead time(*) Baseline restoration: Digital (IPBR) (**) Pulse shaping: Digital (AOPS) (***) Pile-up rejection: Digital (<40nS) Pile-up contamination: <0.1% @ 250kcps |
I/O: Ethernet Sample rate: 0.1-10 per sec Timing: Internal/External Gain stabilization: Automatic multi-peak |
RSX-4 4 x 4L NaI (Tl) RSX-5 4+1 x 4L NaI (Tl) Energy resolution <8.5%(****) |
Composite spectrum Individual spectra State of health |
Detector configuration Operational parameters Trigger signal Calibration data |
(*) The RS-500 has no dead time in a traditional sense. A live time clock will be adjusted for loss of system measured pile-up rejections to give an apparent dead time to ensure the absolute count rate is correct.
(**) IPBR – Individual Pulse Baseline Restoration. The baseline is established for each individual pulse for maximum pulse height accuracy.
(***) AOPS – Automatic Optimized Pulse Shaping. Pulses are continuously analysed and the signal pulse shaping adjusted for optimum performance.
(****) Stated energy resolution is for new systems. Refurbished system performance depends on quality of xtals supplied.
In the past most users had Cesium sources for in field start-up stabilization but with the ever increasing difficulty of radioactive source shipments, a better solution was needed. The RS500 system uses MULTIPLE-PEAK Gain Stabilization on natural isotopes. In all locations on the earth’s surface there are varying amounts of K, U and Th in the rocks/soils. The RS500 uses very advanced algorithms to utilize these spectral signatures to achieve fast high quality stabilization for system start up. The system uses statistical techniques to verify correct stabilization by computing spectral Quality-of-Fit to automatically advise users when the system is ready to go. Data tests shows that GOOD fit could be achieved in typically 20 seconds under normal low background conditions (30 Gy/h) and a VERY-HIGH quality fit within a few minutes under essentially any geological conditions.
The same analysis algorithms described above are also used for in-flight stabilization. The use of MULTIPLE-PEAKS for Gain Stabilization ensures highest confidence and quality performance under any local geological conditions.
A common requirement in geophysical Surveys is the need to carry out GROUND CHECKS using Uranium and Thorium sources to prove that system performance is being maintained. These sources are also very problematic for legal transportation. The RS500 implements a special feature that has “perfect” spectra in memory for the Potassium, Uranium and Thorium spectra that are geologically prevalent. Prior to flight, as the system performs it’s automatic pre-flight stabilization described in item (1) above – at the automatic end of this test the accumulated spectra are fitted to the “perfect” spectra in memory and a Quality-of-Fit for K, U and Th is determined. These data are used to PROVE that system performance is within the required ranges. RSI will develop a peer-reviewed paper to explain this technological advance that can be used to satisfy local in-field Customer Quality control requirements.
The RS500 can be sampled at any setting between 0.1sec/sample and 10 sec/sample but in normal Geophysical applications a 1 sec data rate is normally recommended, however very low ground spacing users may operate at a higher rate. A typical system operates with 9 xtals (8 DOWN and 1 UP). The RS500 uses advanced data compression methods to compress data typically by 10x. For this reason RSI recommend that the RAW data from ALL xtals are recorded in the data system. A 9 xtal system operated at 1/sec would generate fully compressed 1024 channel spectral data for ALL xtals of typically 7MB/HOUR, a relatively trivial data storage requirement for today’s data systems (note that currently at 1 sec data – recording UP and DOWN uncompressed data = 14MB/HOUR!).
The huge advantage of ALL SPECTRA data storage is that RSI can provide the user with a Utility program that reads all the COMPRESSED data stored, analyses ALL individual spectra for Quality-of-Fit and provides the user with this result for QC control. If ALL spectra are OK the Utility then sums them to provide the UNCOMPRESSED spectra for summed DOWN and UP xtals for user data analysis.
In the event that the analysis process shows serious data errors on any of the spectra, RSI can provide data tools and services to remove the problem data PRIOR to summing to avoid data contamination. In many cases RSI can also help the users resample the BAD data to correct it and permit the majority of the bad data to be reused.
These 2 features (5+6) means that re-flies for bad data quality should be almost eliminated.
This new G-823A magnetometer includes the well proven high performance G-823A sensor. It provides unmatched versatility of performance, size, function, and cost effectiveness.
The system’s high performance and multi function capability are excellent for mapping geologic structure, for mining, oil and gas exploration and environmental surveys.
Reliability is very high. The specialized Cesium (non-radioactive) components are stable and not subject to limited life or early failure. Even after years of operation, full conformance with original stringent specifications can be expected.
A special development for gravity airborne geophysical surveys based on high performance intertial navigation system
Fig. 1 Illustrate installation in a light aircraft.
Highly accurate measurements of the gravity field together with other geophysical methods!
Figure 2. Multi-parameter airborne survey with AGP-GRAV
Figure 3. Comparsion AGP-GRAV and GT-2A on repeated line
The Zdas acquisition and navigation unit (all in one) was conceived to fill a role of combining the necessary functions of navigating an airborne platform accurately and recording the parameters in one small integrated system.
This was deemed necessary to prevent the proliferation of computers that appears to be invading most aircraft with the problems of ensuring that they’re all running correctly and synchronised with each other.
The Zdas reads the GPS positions and immediately tags the incoming streams of data with a precision counter and the last good position coordinates that the on board GPS receiver provided.
These are written to a file in a sequential mode in order to preserve the spatial integrity of the incoming data streams.
In addition it provides command information to the pilot in an aviation friendly display that has been optimised to give intuitive guidance during the critical phases of low level flight where extraneous information is both distracting and dangerous.
The aim was to package the system in the smallest case that allowed fitment to small utility helicopters and fixed wing platforms.
(Images and text may not reflect the exact current version as both the software and hardware change with time due to product improvements).
Website: www.georesults.com.au
Email: peter.m@georesults.com.au
