Enhancing the Use of Multimedia Information for IAEA Safeguards Analysis

Open source information is one of the key information streams that the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA) uses for safeguards state evaluation and the planning of safeguards activities. For stateswith few or no nuclear activities, where state-declared data or safeguards field activities are scarce, opensource information is often the main or even only source of safeguards-relevant data. More and moreopen source information is available in non-text, multimedia formats (photographs, video, audio,illustrations, computer-generated imagery, site and facility diagrams, process flowsheets, etc.). Forexample, video recordings of government officials’ or journalists’ visits to nuclear sites or other locationsof interest may contain information that is highly relevant to safeguards. This type of data is valuablebecause it can contain indicators of potential undeclared activities. Additionally, it can complement andenhance analysis of other information types (notably satellite imagery) of declared sites and locations. Itcan also be used to prepare inspectors for field activities. Locating, collecting and processing multimediadata presents a unique set of challenges compared to traditionally text-based open source data. Relevantmethodologies, procedures and tools for effective use of multimedia in nonproliferation and safeguardsanalysis are still in development. To that end, this paper will first discuss how relevant multimedia datacan be used in the IAEA Department of Safeguards for state evaluation and the planning of safeguardsimplementation activities. It will then examine the Department’s existing capabilities to collect andprocess safeguards-relevant data in non-textual formats. Finally, the paper will present some initialfindings of a survey of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software and services that could address theneeds of safeguards analysts and potentially enhance their capabilities to work with multimediainformation during the state evaluation process and safeguards implementation activities.