USE OF CIVIL SATELLITE IMAGERY FOR IAEA SAFEGUARDS

It is now well recognised that information gathered from space by remote sensing satellites could enhance the International Atomic Ener&s (IAEA) safeguards procedures. The quality of images available fi-om commercial satellites has improved considerably in recent years and there is scope for the IAEA to use such commercially available data. Civil remote sensing satellites have been extensively used for such applications as town planning, mapping and exploration of the earth’s natural resources. However, the use of remote sensing satellites for observing nuclear fbel cycle activities is a new application. In order to prove and establish the technique, it is necessary to examine sites fir which collateral information is also available to identifi satellite observable features. Although the technique is in its infancy, it has been shown that it is possible to detect and to differentiate between an undeclared nuclear facility used for military purposes and a facility being employed for civil applications.