Year
2018
Abstract
IAEA safeguards equipment and associated data collection and evaluation software have evolved considerably over the last decade. A long list of new systems spans the main operating areas of safeguards instrumentation including optical surveillance, unattended monitoring, non-destructive assay, remote data transmission and containment. In partnership with Member State Support Programmes and contractors, experts from the IAEA are managing multiple projects to further modernize the suite of available verification technologies. Remarkable success has been achieved recently, for example the Passive Gamma Emission Tomography (PGET) system which provides the IAEA with the unprecedented ability to detect any defect in spent fuel assemblies at the fuel rod level. The introduction of genuine fast neutron assay technology in the Fast Neutron Collar (FNCL) will result in an ability for the IAEA to verify fresh fuel assemblies containing burnable poisons, without the need for any information from the operator. Multiple development projects are ongoing to improve the usability and effectiveness of data streams captured by unattended systems and transmitted remotely to IAEA Headquarters. Modern evaluation software is being developed, including the integrated Review and Analysis Platform (iRAP) and the Next Generation Surveillance Review (NGSR) package. Their modular structures are designed to accommodate advanced recognition capabilities currently being explored by Member State Support Programmes. New approaches to identify, evaluate and develop emerging technologies are also being exploited, including crowdsourcing methodologies. The instrumentation technology foresight initiative has resulted in the identification and application to safeguards of technologies used in astronomy and in the drone industry, culminating in the validation of a completely different approach to Cerenkov imaging. The exploration of in-door positioning technologies used by first responders led to the development of the Inspector Record Integration Software (IRIS), which allows inspectors to automatically gather and structure a variety of data collected in the field during Complementary Access and Design Information Verification. A crowdsourcing exercise was jointly organised by the IAEA and the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) to explore applying robotized technologies in support of safeguards. Other crowdsourcing initiatives are being initiated in the area of containment technologies.