Year
2010
Abstract
When a nuclear facility adheres to its international safeguards obligations, a security system is usually developed and designed to incorporate and integrate elements of physical protection and containment and surveillance for maximum protection. Simple security components as applied to nuclear facilities can range from closed-circuit camera systems, electromagnetic door locks, motion sensors, physical barriers, portal monitors and other radiation sensors, and radio- frequency identification tags. The integration of such components into a complex system provides confidence in the security of the material in question and periodic checks on the integrity of the system are required for reporting requirements. One practice used is conducting a vulnerability assessment (VA) for evaluating the system in place and identifying key points where the system shows susceptibility to an outside agent trying to gain access. In assisting how this concept is being taught at Texas A&M University, staff at the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) have conducted a draft VA which includes the use of monte carlo based (MCNP) computer model to assess weaknesses in the security system. Considering the main items of interest to be protected in a given facility emit radiation, it was determined that a MCNP model could identify certain weaknesses within a physical facility and its security system. This paper will convey the manner in which the model was created, the results NSSPI staff attained using such a method, and conclusions of using this technology for this application.