Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Visualization of Low-Level Gamma Radiation Sources Using a Low-Cost, High-Sensitivity, Omnidirectional Compton Camera
Published on: January 30, 2020
A high spatial resolution outdoor dose rate map of the Rio de Janeiro city, Brasil, risk assessment and urbanization
M V Licínio1, A C Freitas, H Evangelista
1Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biofísica Ambiental, LBBA/UFES, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Prédio do Básico, Avenida Marechal Rocha Campos, 1468, Maruípe, Espírito Santo, ES CEP 29043-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
Geophysical surveys have been widely used for geological mapping, and with appropriate ground calibration the database can be converted to radiometric surveys. Herein we present a case study of a high resolution map of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, constructed by integrating aerial and in situ (ground) measurements. This allowed assessing the influence of urbanization observed between 1978 and 2009 on radiation external exposure. Radiometric, geological and demographics databases were integrated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) facility. The average absorbed dose rate recorded for the city was 96 ± 0.3 nGy h(-1) and ranged from 22 to 152 nGy h(-1) among districts. The corresponding annual effective dose was determined as 0.09 ± 0.01 mSv. The number of people at risk per year according to the estimated natural radiation levels was 17 ± 1.4, among the 28,000 new cases estimated by the INCA (Brazilian National Cancer Institute) within a population of approximately 6.3 million people.
Related Concept Videos
Radiation: Applications
The average...
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Dose-Response Relationship: Overview
Biological Effects of Radiation
Hazard Rate
Selected Data About Geographic Locations
