Modeling the Geospatial Distribution and Spatial Variability of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials on Farmlands

Seth Kofi Brimpong Dwamena; Jonathan Arthur Quaye-Ballard; Anthony Arko-Adjei; Naa Lamkai Quaye-Ballard; Janet Afia Boadu; Harriet Atsufui Ahorsu; Isaac Yidana

doi:10.4314/just.v42i1.1530

Mr. Seth Kofi Brimpong Dwamena Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3641-7815
Prof. Jonathan Arthur Quaye-Ballard Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2133-8687
Dr. Anthony Arko-Adjei Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4719-9083
Mrs. Naa Lamkai Quaye-Ballard Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1966-4504
Janet Afia Boadu Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2452-9809
Mrs. Harriet Atsufui Ahorsu Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1485-1638
Mr. Isaac Yidana Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Commission, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3335-1178

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v42i1.1530

Keywords: Importance, Influencing Factors, Quality Management Practices, Quality Management System

Abstract

The surge in anthropogenic activities following industrialization compromises the nature of the environment, specifically through alterations of the activities of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs). This research focused on modeling the spatial distribution of NORMs in farmlands. The soil was sampled from the study area and the selected NORMs 238U, 232Th, and 40K were determined. The Kriging method of interpolation (ordinary Kriging) was also employed to model the activity of the radionuclides at the unsampled sites in the study area in the estimation of the unsampled points. The radiological analysis of the samples revealed the activity concentration of 3.49±1.07, 1.32±0.68 and 6.43±4.18 Bq/kg for the target radionuclides, 238U, 232Th, and 40K, respectively, concentrations which were identified to be lower, compared to the average world limits 35, 30 and 400 Bq/kg for these radionuclide species. Using the kriging technique, the predicted map produced activity concentrations of the radionuclides which slightly deviated from the measured values, as well as showing a strong concentration gradient of the radionuclides across the study area, with high radioactivity occurring at the upper section of the area. The distribution map for 238U showed high activity of the radionuclide from the northern to the central part of the study area while the southern section had relatively lower concentrations. Similarly, the spatial distribution for the activity of 232Th and 40K was varied, with higher concentration in the northern part of the study area, also, the greatest activity for 232Th was shown in the central part of the study. As it relates to the measuring and monitoring of radioactivity in the environment, the study improved both theoretical and practical understanding of quality assurance. This will ensure that measurement findings can be compared in the future and that methods and processes are standardized at local levels.

Author Biographies

Mr. Seth Kofi Brimpong Dwamena, Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

Seth Kofi Brimpong Dwamena is a Senior Technician at the Institute of Distance Learning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from KNUST and a Master of Science in Geomatic Engineering from KNUST. His research interests are in Environmental Radioecology, Geospatial Analysis and Modeling, and Public Health Risk Communication.

Prof. Jonathan Arthur Quaye-Ballard, Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

J. A. Quaye-Ballard is a Professor at the Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Holds BSc. Geodetic Engineering from KNUST, MSc. Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation from the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Enschede, the Netherlands, and PhD Geodesy and Surveying Engineering. My research interests are in Geo-Information – Cartographic Visualization, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Programming, Usability Testing, and Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL).

Dr. Anthony Arko-Adjei, Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

Anthony Arko-Adjei is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. He holds a PhD degree in Land Administration, an MSc degree in Geo-Information Management for Cadastral Applications, and a BSc degree in Geodetic Engineering. His research interests include geo-information management, re-engineering of land administration systems, with emphasis on customary tenure security, land governance, optimization of geo-information processes, and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in various applications. He is a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), a Licensed Surveyor, and a member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).

Mrs. Naa Lamkai Quaye-Ballard, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI)

Naa Lamkai Quaye-Ballard has worked as a consulting geodetic engineer in Ghana for over 15 years. She is currently a researcher with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), Ghana, with an interest in geospatial technologies and sustainable public transportation and is pursuing her doctorate at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). She is a council member of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), chair of the Welfare Committee of GhIE, a council member of Women in Engineering Ghana (WinE), a committee member of Women in Engineering of the Federation of African Engineers (FAEO) and a professional member of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS).

Janet Afia Boadu , Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

Janet Afia Boadu is an Assistant Consultant at Nemas Consult Limited. She received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, and a master’s degree in environmental science from KNUST. She is interested in environmental impact assessment and environmental remediation.

Mrs. Harriet Atsufui Ahorsu, Department of Geomatic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

Harriet Atsufui Ahorsu is an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Geomatic Engineering with an MSc. in Geomatic Engineering. Her interest in Photogrammetry lit up when she worked on identifying false compensation claims using aerial photos of a mining concession. She has worked on several drone data capture projects from mapping several communities (for a typhoid vaccine trial program) to creating topographic maps of building construction sites. She loves collaborating with professionals from fields outside geomatics to bring geospatial solutions to bear while gaining intriguing insights into societal issues from new perspectives. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Geomatic Engineering in her department.

Mr. Isaac Yidana, Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Commission, Kumasi, Ghana

Isaac Yidana is an Assistant Geomatic Engineer at the Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Commission, Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geomatic Engineering from KNUST and a Master of Philosophy degree in Geomatic Engineering from KNUST. His research interests are in Geospatial Analysis and Modeling, Discrete Global Grid Systems, and Remote Sensing.