Satellite Imagery Analysis for Safeguards and Non-Proliferation - Automation and Transferability of Image Analysis Procedures for Nuclear Safeguards-Related Monitoring Purposes -

Seeing the expected technical improvements as to the spatial and spectral resolution, satellite imagery could more and more provide a basis for complex information systems for recognizing and monitoring even small-scale and short-term structural features of interests within nuclear facilities, for instance construction of buildings, plant expansion, changes of the operational status, underground activities etc. A monitoring system for the Iran was set up based on the software eCognition to implement and evaluate different image analysis approaches that could be relevant for nuclear safeguards applications. Regarding the necessity of automation for extensive monitoring tasks the processing aspects of standardization and transferability took the centre stage of the investigations. 1. Nuclear Safeguards & Satellites The importance of satellite imagery for monitoring and verification of multilateral agreements like the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has been effectually demonstrated by many case studies, illustrating the broad potential of satellite imagery data ranging from panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral to radar for site description and change detection; for a comprehensive overview please see [1]. Seeing the expected technical improvements as to the spatial and spectral resolution, satellite imagery could more and more provide a basis for complex information systems for recognizing and monitoring even small-scale and short-term structural features of interests within nuclear facilities, for instance construction of buildings, plant expansion, changes of the operational status, underground activities etc. The analysis of large volumes of multispectral satellite data