A Users' Guide for the Computer Program ISDMAP: Analysis and Mapping of In-Situ Gamma-Ray Spectrometry and Soil Sample Data

The computer program ISDMAP was written to analyze data from a set of in situ gamma-ray spectrometry measurements on a grid. It can also do a combined analysis of this type of data and data from soil samples. One well-known difficulty with attempting this type of analysis is that such sets of data can never provide enough information to determine a unique solution. This can be understood intuitively since a finite number of measurements cannot be sufficient to determine a continuous distribution (this observation is not restricted to data collected with the in situ technique, but holds for any set of discrete measurements, such as a series of soil samples). One can, however, restrict to particular types of solutions by requiring that they satisfy other conditions in addition to the measurements, and this is the approach taken by ISDMAP. In ISDMAP, the data are analyzed in a different manner depending on whether the data is from a characterization survey or from a post-remediation survey. The ''characterization'' option creates a map of contamination in surface soil that is smooth and fits the data. The ''post-remediation'' option creates a map with a summary of potential hot spots over a constant background level,more » providing a map of hot spots that might be ''hidden'' in the data. This report describes the operation of ISDMAP in sufficient detail to allow a user to prepare the necessary input files and run the program. The program requires a PC with DOS or a DOS emulator (most Windows machines have this).« less