Investigating Radiological Contamination of the UK Environment Four Decades After the Chernobyl Incident Using IoT Networks and Sensing Technology.

A Ph.D Field Research Project in association with the University of Gloucestershire.

My name is Mark Rhodes, I am a Ph.D research student at the University of Gloucestershire. I am working to gain my Doctorate (Ph.D) in Cyber and Technical Computing, and my research area is the Internet of Things (IoT) and I have a passion for sensor systems for hazardous enviornments (Mainly Nuclear). My original passion/interests lies with the 1986 incident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Ukraine) and I had originally planned to design, build and further develop the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) and deploy it in and around the abandonded city of Pripyat (Ukraine). Shortly after enrolling on the Ph.D programme, Russia invaded Ukraine, this resulted in locking down the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) meaning that no scientific investigations and/or experiments can be conducted whislt the conflict is ongoing.

With the confilct in Ukraine still ongoing, I have been forced to secure alternative locations to test and deploy GammaNet, Meaining I will be investigating Radiological Contamination of the UK Enviroment that resulted from the Chernobyl Incident, when a cloud containing radioactive particles broke the UK boarders on the 1st May 1986 around 22:30pm, and over the next few day there were isloted pockets of rain which brought those particles down on the UK. As it's 40 years on since the incident. My research will identify if contamination levels have dropped or remained the same, samples will be taken for scintillation analysis where possible to identify any isotopes detected.

The Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has been built from the ground up using speciailst computers and sensors designed to Capture, Monitor, Record and Transmit data relating to levels of Radiation and Environmental (Weather) from all around the network, data collected will be futher analysed to support my final Ph.D thesis (Dissertation).

GammaNet (The Wireless Sensor Network) is aimed to be deployed/installed (Week of:) 25th August 2025 in the village of Puriton, and will then be switched on (Go Live) on the Monday 1st September 2025 and begin collecting data, The Sensor Network will collect data over a 60 day period ending on the 31st October 2025 at 23:59 after this time the Network will be shut off and no further data collected beyond this date in this location, other areas have been identified and will be researched inturn.