Luís Marques' PhD awarded top grade
On March 19, 2025, Major Luís Marques from Centro de Investigação da Academia da Força Aérea successfully defended his PhD thesis in Technological Physics Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico. His dissertation, titled 'Development of a Radiation Detection System Coupled to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Security and Defence Applications', was supervised by Prof. Pedro Vaz (C2TN, IST) and Prof. Alberto Vale (IPFN, IST). The candidate was approved and awarded the classification “Pass with Distinction and Honor”, the highest grade.
This groundbreaking research, developed at IST in collaboration with the C2TN and IPFN, with the support of Academia da Força Aérea, stands out for its academic excellence and strategic relevance. Conducted under the Fleet of dRones for radIological inspEction, commuNication anD reScue (FRIENDS) project, the study focused on developing a system for detecting and locating special nuclear materials (SNM), such as highly enriched uranium and plutonium, as well as radioactive sources used in medicine and industry.
These materials, when used maliciously, can contribute to the creation of improvised nuclear devices or radiological dispersal devices, commonly known as 'dirty bombs'. The research demonstrates how integrating gamma-ray and neutron detection systems into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can significantly enhance security and defense, particularly in preventing the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. Furthermore, it contributes to the technological and strategic advancement of the Portuguese Air Force, strengthening the modernization and resilience of its operations.
Given the current geopolitical landscape, marked by rising tensions and nuclear threats, this work gains even greater strategic importance. The developed detection system has critical applications in monitoring and safeguarding urban areas and critical infrastructures, such as air bases, airports, and seaports, helping to prevent large-scale incidents with severe social and economic consequences.
Other application areas include the inspection and monitoring of nuclear and radiological facilities (nuclear fission and fusion reactors, particle accelerators, etc. ), radiological and dosimetric mapping of contaminated areas, response to radiological and nuclear accidents and emergencies and nuclear forensics.
