Image analysis software developer Image Insight has developed a smartphone application that uses a phone's camera to measure radioactivity levels in the environment.
The company's GammaPix application is designed for Android phones and is based on software that analyzes images produced by a surveillance camera, webcam, or smartphone to measure gamma radiation exposure at the device. The technology is sensitive enough to detect high levels of radiation so that action can be taken immediately, according to the company.
Image Insight said that GammaPix can also be used to collect data over longer time periods, from minutes for detecting weaker radioactivity sources to hours for measuring normal background radioactivity. The app can be used to detect radioactivity in everyday life, such as radiation exposure on airplanes or from medical patients, or from unusual events, such as the nuclear accident in Japan or terrorist attacks.
The application is available for free as a trial download on specific Android phones. An iPhone version will soon follow, and the company also expects to develop versions for professional use by first responders such as police, fire, and medical personnel.
