Internet-based display of remotely-acquired ambient radiation data

The World-Wide Web is a powerful medium for disseminating radiation information in a readily and universally retrievable manner. Ambient monitoring of radiation measurements at a New York City location (Jacobi Hospital, Bronx, NY 10461), with automated publication of the data on the Web, has been ongoing since 1998. Several times daily, specialized communications software automatically retrieves the data by modem to a central base computer from where it is uploaded to an Internet-accessible Web page. The data are then accessible by standard Internet Web browser at the address www.aw-el.com/nyc/. This automated acquisition and display system has run with uninterrupted operation and minimal operator intervention for over 3 years. As the Internet becomes a ubiquitous conduit for information transmittal, the Web can serve as an effective means of display for radiation data, with relevance to many health physics applications discussed herein.