Skip navigation
Nuclear Safeguards Education Portal

Next Generation of surveillance system (NGSS)

The NGSS provides the complete surveillance infrastructure needed to make use of optical image and equipment state of health data to assist in the drawing of safeguards relevant conclusions. Visual evidence of events is recorded and processed in a front end camera and stored locally, or is forwarded to a data consolidator unit where data are stored and in turn forwarded via a remote monitoring connection (where allowed). At the back end, surveillance review software allows for the analysis of image files with automatic data filtering and preprocessing, and provides tools to facilitate an efficient review by safeguards inspectors. The entire NGSS was designed for ease of use and maintenance, with a modular infrastructure that allows for simpler inventory management, uncomplicated (plug and play) exchange of faulty modules in the field and easier upgrading as new technologies become available.

The NGSS, which is scalable to any number of cameras, has advanced security features, low power consumption and solid state storage media, and is highly reliable under harsh environmental conditions. All safeguards sensitive data and parts are protected inside an electronically sealed, tamper-indicating core module, which allows replacement and installation of parts by third parties without compromising data authenticity. The intrinsic sealing and the advanced data security provided by public key cryptography enable the NGSS to be easily used jointly with other inspectorates or States without additional security or authentication measures.

The NGSS can be configured as a single, all in one camera system or as a scalable multi-camera system with dedicated, rack mounted modules for each camera for data storage, data processing and power supply. Furthermore, the NGSS supports various trigger signals from other sensors or electronic seals, remote monitoring, high resolution and full colour images, and picture taking rates as fast as one image per second. Another advantage is a choice of lenses, for example, a fisheye lens can be easily installed which will then provide greater than 180° coverage. A single NGSS camera can record up to four different fields of view simultaneously and can thus replace several traditional cameras in certain situations. The NGSS will be brought into routine use starting in 2012.

 Ngss -system

Ngss -single -camera

(Source: IAEA Safeguards Techniques and Equipment)