Bayesian metropolis methods applied to sensor networks for radiation source localization

We present an application of statistical techniques to the localization of an unknown gamma source in an urban environment. By formulating the problem as a task of Bayesian parameter estimation, we are able to apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to generate a full posterior probability density estimating the source location and intensity based on counts reported from a distributed detector network. To facilitate the calibration procedure, we employ a simplified photon transport model with low computational cost and test the proposed methodology in a simulated urban environment, with calibration data generated using the radiation transport code MCNP. The Bayesian methodology is able to identify the source location and intensity along with providing a full posterior density.