ID: nu.eic.gammaGuard
Version: 2.1.1
File Size: 2.7Mb
GammaGuard Complete Screenshots
GammaGuard Complete Details
- Uses the Phone's Camera to Detect Radiation. No External Detector Required.- Noise Reduction Algorithm. Higher Sensitivity than Other Camera Based Radiation Detection Apps.
- Runs and Alarms in Background.
- Logging out the data and GPS coordinates for further investigations
- Capability of calculating Dose and Dose rate units including uSv and Rem.
Our GammaGuard Android application can run continuously in the background and will alarm if you are in an area with high radiation levels.
GammaGuard employs your cellphone's camera to detect ionizing radiation. To use, simply cover your camera lens and start the application!
To reduce background noise, GammaGuard uses an advanced algorithm that identifies noise events and excludes them from the analysis.
What to Expect:
GammaGuard reads the brightness of the camera's pixels and compares that value to a threshold. When radiation interacts with the camera, some pixels will be bright, even when the camera is covered. To discern light sources from radiation sources, no light must be allowed to enter the camera while GammaGuard is measuring. The easiest way to keep the camera dark is with a couple of strips of electrical tape. We will also sell protective cases with built-in shutters for the most popular phone models.
The sensitivity of any radiation detector is related to its volume. The solid state cameras in phones are quite small. Consequently, at background radiation levels, gamma rays will interact with the camera infrequently. All radiation detector apps that use the phone's camera are subject to this limitation. Any app that claims to be able to detect the radiation from the potassium in a banana is probably fake.
Depending on where you live, the size of your phone's camera, how many frames per second are analyzed, etc., you can expect anywhere from a few counts per hour, at background, to a few hours between counts. Every day objects, such as radium dial watches, thoriated TIG welding rods or smoke detectors emit radiation fields 10 to 100 times background. When measuring these objects, one can expect a count every few seconds or minutes. Similarly, the radiation level in an air plane at 30,000 feet is around 30 times background. GammaGuard can easily detect these radiation fields.
While the low sensitivity of camera based radiation detectors is a limitation when measuring low levels of radiation, it is a huge advantage for protecting the user from high radiation levels. Many expensive and sensitive radiation detectors will saturate and become useless in very high radiation fields. Over exposures have occurred while using these detectors because workers responding to radiation incidents were given a false sense of security. Camera based radiation detectors do not saturate in high radiation fields, making them ideal for use by First Responders.
GammaGuard performs a lot of calculations. As a result, the buttons can be somewhat sluggish. Please be patient! The idea of GammaGuard is that you set it up once and then let it run continuously in the background without having to interact with it.
For a more detailed description of the application, please visit the developer website listed below.
What's new in GammaGuard Complete 2.1.1
- Added help button and instruction of how to use the app- Increased sensitivity by controlling camera parameters
- Improved calibration and noise reduction algorithm
- Capability of changing camera parameters including ISO and exposure compensation
- Bug fixes