Transport is a critical component in the supply and use of nuclear and other radioactive material for beneficial uses. Ensuring the security of these materials during transport is a critical element in keeping them secure throughout their lifecycle. Current approaches to transport security for normal commercial shipments of radioactive material and Category III and below nuclear material are largely human-based (observation, communication, etc.), with security technologies contributing to some degree. Emerging technologies have the potential to significantly strengthen current transport security approaches. Opportunities to strengthen transport security include building on technologies that are being increasingly adopted in other areas of freight security: vehicle tracking, communications and anti-theft technologies are being applied in ever widening ways to vehicles and conveyances of all types. Challenges include developing technologies that can function in harsh operating environments (shock, vibration, heat, cold, humidity, etc.), areas where normally widespread services are not available (mobile phone coverage), and the fact that many technologies are evolving at an extremely rapid pace (rapid obsolescence). The CRP provides opportunities for research institutes, commercial transport security providers and systems vendors, shippers and carriers to collaboratively advance the use of technologies in improving security in operationally efficient ways.
IAEA 12th July 2017 read more »