English (7 MB) - Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty ...

MAJOR PROGRAMME 2:INTERNATIONAL DATA CENTREthrough patches to Release 2.1 or in Release 3. Twenty-eight software patches toRelease 2.1 were delivered from the pIDC, analysed in detail and tested.The IDC calibration programme was initiated with the goal of improving thelocation of events on the basis of the best available regional travel time information.The PTS awarded eight external contracts to scientific organizations as afirst step towards implementing this new and important programme.Anumber of efforts during 2000 focused on improving the ability of the IDCto analyse radionuclide spectra. One study was devoted to improving thedetection and quantification of small peaks in gamma spectra and associated statisticalerrors, while another examined new types of peaks that have appeared inspectra from new IMS stations that utilize broad energy detectors. To supportcalibration of IMS germanium detectors, a virtual gamma spectroscopy laboratorybased on Monte Carlo methods was developed and demonstrated. An indepthstudy of isotopic ratios of fission products both in particulate debris andin the form of noble gases, specifically xenon isotopes, neared completion. Thegoal was to search for reliable ratios which may exist in connection with nuclearexplosions.RADIONUCLIDE AND DATAFUSION METHODSThe IDC and IMS Divisions organized an exercise to test interactions betweenthe PTS and the radionuclide stations and laboratories for samples requiring laboratoryanalysis. The results suggested the need to develop specific policies, proceduresand software, and to conduct further testing, to implement this importantfunction within the verification regime.A cooperative agreement between the Preparatory Commission and the WMOwas negotiated and signed by the PTS during 2000. Under the agreement, thePTS will receive support for expert meteorological analyses when a Level 5 sampleis detected. Also, arrangements were made for RSMCs of the WMO to providethe IDC with daily meteorological data needed to support atmospherictransport calculations.In this area, one of the primary responsibilities of the IDC is configurationcontrol, maintenance and improvement of software. A significant softwaremodification made it possible for the IDC to receive and process data that conformto internationally recognized channel naming standards. Software forreceiving continuous IMS data was further developed, and is currently used bythe IMS, the IDC and some States Signatories. A prototype of the Geotool software,to be provided to NDCs to support data acquisition and analysis, wasdeveloped and an initial version was made available to 23 States Signatories fortesting and review. In addition, the Geotool installation procedures were simplified.As the software engineering staff at the IDC grows, it will assume anincreasing responsibility for software development and maintenance.SOFTWARE INTEGRATIONPreliminary work was done to establish a framework in which the source code atthe IDC will be documented. The objective was to produce documentation thatwill help those responsible for maintaining the source code. The documentationwill make use of hyperlinks, and for the most part will be automatically generated.The IDC Division and the Evaluation Section completed joint projects to evaluatethe quality of the IDC software and documentation. The results, coupled15