Reinforcement of DIV Capacities by Geophysical Inspection Tools

During the last years, more complex safeguards inspection challenges arose. In the framework of additional protocol implementation appeared the need to reinforce verification capabilities of Design Information Verification (DIV), to enable IAEA (3) to conduct more detailed verifications and provide better assurances of declaration completeness and correctness. Under the French Support Programme, CEA (1) conducted a programme to improve DIV by introducing new methods, mainly existing geophysics tools. This programme aims to ensure appropriate survey and good data acquisition in the field, with on site data quality control and, as appropriate, to allow inspectors to get preliminary results. This work is carried out with the support of LCPC (2) bringing its expertise in Non Destructive Testing and subsurface survey for civil works. LCPC is also hosting its own geophysical test site. Subsurface geophysical methods aim mainly at the detection of heterogeneous bodies in structures or ground, such as voids or buried structures, revealed by their physical contrasts such as material magnetic or density properties. Their capabilities depend on correct implementation, on anomaly parameters such as amplitude, distance, size and on the survey context. The implementation process has been designed after analysis of the IAEA objectives and identification of appropriate methods