Status and Application of Spatial Information Technology as a Nuclear Verification Tool

The spatial information like satellite imagery and GIS data has been widely used for site development planning and monitoring in the area where the access is not allowed with any reason. The IAEA adopts this new method of analysis for enhancing its verification capability and is utilizing to search if there is any undeclared nuclear activities in the nuclear facilities worldwide. The ROK entered the group of the leading countries in the field of space technology with the successful launching of the KompSat I and II, and holds its high position in the IT technology which can draw useful analytic results from the satellite imagery. It implies that the ROK has some potential and related infra required for using the satellite imagery for the purpose of nuclear safeguards. However, we are in the very early stage to apply these advanced techniques to nuclear verification, because we don't have enough work forces enough to deal with these useful tools. It is necessary to review some previous examples about establishing satellite imagery analysis system like the IAEA. In this report, the IAEA's activities related verification using satellite imagery is reviewed and some examples on safeguards application is presented. A way to use satellite images for national inspection also is suggested