Mk-Series
The Mk-Series (pronounced "Mark") instruments were designed by SRA with rugged portability in mind. These instruments are comprised of two parts: 1) the detector package which is typically a sodium iodide (NaI) crystal with a discriminator, high-voltage, and data logger, with Bluetooth connectivity, and 2) a Pocket PC with SRA Virtual Instrument Module (VIM) software. The VIM software allows SRA to provide a customized interface for client specific needs.
There are several different models of the Mk-Series. The Mk-III-G is a 3x3 NaI gamma detector with no collimation. The Mk-V is a 5x2 NaI gamma detector available as the Mk-V-G (no collimation) and the Mk-V-GC (collimated version). These systems may be mounted in various ways. SRA provides the Mk-Series in a standard backpack mount, or if desired, other mounts such as the In-Situ Contamination Bucket Monitor (ICBM) are available. The ICBM is a shielded, ruggedized mount system designed for excavators or other heavy equipment, with internal shock absorbers to protect the Mk-Series instrument.
The Mk-Series VIM software is Pocket PC software that allows complete control over data logging, calibration, and the user interface. SRA VIM technology allows multiple alarm set points or even complete customization to site requirements. With the sophisticated VIM technology, procedures and instrumentation can be merged to capture barcode data and survey data in one survey session.
Location (positional) information that ties the measurement to a place is important for surveys. To that end, a wheel encoder option is available: the WECM-SA is a stand-alone handheld wheel encoder for a technician to use indoors or outdoors. This permits spatial data correlation without the requirement for complex and expensive GPS systems, although we can interface to GPS systems if required.
If desired, Pocket PCs can be purchased from SRA. There are two available Pocket PC options: 1) the SRA PPC1 which is an HP-5555 (w/ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi included) or equivalent Pocket PC, a ruggedized case, and a serial connection cable, and 2) the SRA-PPC2 which is a Symbol ruggedized Pocket PC with built in bar-code scanner and serial cable.
Optional SRA desktop software called the Information Center (i-Center) is available to completely control the Mk Series instruments, and to analyze and report the data. This data is mapped in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet in a pattern that replicates the one used to record the data, and coded to create a color map. A single technician can provide data to create a color map with thousands of gamma measurements of an acre field in less than an hour of time. Four-plots of the data and other statistical analysis may also be accomplished. i-Center is not required for every Mk-Series instrument. The customer can purchase seats based on site requirements or a site license that allows ubiquitous deployment over a single geographic area (or facility) is available as well.
Instead of assuming the survey was performed at a prescribed constant speed, the logged speed data shows the variability so that minimum detectable concentration (MDC) calculations may be made a postiori. Thus the a-priori MDC may then be verified and cross-checked. Presenting the data in a 2 dimensional image helps one determine the background of the survey area and to visualize if the data is spatially correlated.
