A multi-sensor system was evaluated for the determination of barrel content with regard to eventual pollution hazards. The proposed system is able to investigate (in situ) the interior of a barrel filled with various unknown substances ranging from chemical and radioactive waste, raw sewage sludge, municipal incinerator ashes to common household trash. The crucial part of the system is a neutron sensor, which enables the identification of substance content without actually opening the barrel at all. A comparative laboratory test with the 3″×3″ and 5″×5″×10″ NaI(Tl) gamma ray detectors was made after which 3″×3″ detector was selected and incorporated in the submarine called "Surveyor". A field test was made in the Croatian Adriatic coast on the island Lošinj. Field tests show that the commercial system utilizing the described method could be constructed for barrel inspection regardless of the measurement environment (underwater, on land, dumping site, isolated location, etc.).
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