OpenLegislation

Division Component 2: Projects 2–8

United Kingdom

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Project 2: Engagement with State Signatories, including technical system validation and testing using Cloud technology for Phase 3 of the IDC Reengineering

Background

The IDC has initiated Phase 3 of the IDC Reengineering project (RP3) aiming to develop a comprehensive software system for SHI processing over the next decade.

The project will bring notable improvements over the existing SHI system, such as:

  • enhanced user interface flexibility for analyst tools, enhanced Analyst review workflow, event management, event cross-correlation and comparison, map tool and map integration, visualisation and editing of waveform quality control masks, frequency-wavenumber (FK) display, and support for analyst training,

  • comprehensive capturing of data provenance in order to understand how processing results were arrived at, and investigate the evolution of results as available information changes,

  • extensibility as a major feature built in all components,

  • flexible integrated SHI pipeline configuration supported by graphical tools,

  • facilitating a new model for collaborative software development following best practices in the open source software development,

  • enhanced monitoring and testing capabilities – Test Data Set Replay.

Reengineering Project 2 (RP2) was carried out through Contribution-in-Kind from the USA as well as funding under Decision (CFSP) 2015/1837. The funding was used, in particular, to sustain technical meetings with experts from Member States in order to ensure wide participation in the RP2. Those funds also supported prototyping activities, to show how software contributed by NDCs can be integrated into the reengineered architecture.

In preparation for RP3, funds under Decision (CFSP) 2018/298 were used to raise the technology readiness level for several algorithms, which could be considered for inclusion into the reengineered software, specifically to provide better ways to process seismic aftershock sequences in automatic or semi-automatic mode.

Objectives

  • Support the evolution of the reengineered system to meet NDC needs from the onset, by supporting the NDC requests for software and related updates, and functionalities for performing NDC activities.

  • Offer a low-barrier access for State Signatories to support, assess and validate the progress of the IDC Reengineering project.

  • Enhance the engagement of the NDC community in Phase 3 of the IDC Reengineering project

  • Evaluate the feasibility of a future ‘NDC-as-a-service’ offering, using cloud technology.

Deliverables

  • A cloud-based evaluation and testing platform for NDCs, to review the functionality as well as non-functional requirements of the reengineered SHI system.

  • Multiple hosted instances of the platform to allow non-interference of different NDCs.

  • A prototype ‘NDC-as-a-service’ system, hosted in the cloud.

Outcome

The main benefit of the project is to allow low-barrier access for State Signatories and NDCs to the current state of the reengineered system, especially for NDCs without extensive computing capacity and system support knowledge. Based on this work, the feasibility as well as the cost implications of a potential future ‘NDC-as-a-service’ offering will be provided.

Project 3: Enhancement of High Resolution Atmospheric Transport Model

Background

For the purpose of long-range transport modelling, CTBTO uses an advanced Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM) system based on the Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model FLEXPART. This system allows for modelling on a global scale. However, for special events, there is also the need to perform simulations on a local scale (high resolution). Funded by the Union under previous Council Decisions, the basic version of the High Resolution Atmospheric Transport Model (HRATM) based on FLEXPART-WRF was developed. The initial tests revealed which features have to be enhanced or implemented differently to have a fully reliable system.

Objectives

Enhance an existing high-resolution atmospheric transport model (EHRAT) and develop an interface for its launch.

  • Familiarisation with the current version of the HRATM installed at CTBTO and the list of suggested enhancements.

  • Familiarisation with the ATM pipeline, specifically with the format of meteorological data.

  • Propose, develop and test solutions to address these enhancements;

  • In view of the fact that the current version works only with National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) data, propose and implement changes that would allow running the HRATM with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) data.

  • Test different cases.

  • Develop an interface for launching EHRAT in the existing ATM pipeline; if agreed, it can be part of the current launching interface used to run ATM simulations for expert analysis at CTBTO.

Outcome

The EHRAT will become one of the ATM tools used by the ATM experts and NDCs to test and validate hypotheses related, for instance, the estimation of the source-term location.

Project 4: Study in Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) acceleration of FLEXPART (FLEX-GPU)

Background

For the purpose of long-range transport modelling, CTBTO uses an advanced Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM) system based on the Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model FLEXPART.

Taking into account that, in the future, ensemble modelling may also be part of the operational runs performed by the ATM pipeline a new way to accelerate the simulations is being explored.

The CTBTO has acquired a NVIDIA DGX STATION with 4X Tesla V100 GPUs delivering 500 TFLOPS (mixed precision). It runs Linux and comes with a FORTRAN compiler from PGI, which supports OpenACC, which is used to parallelise suitable algorithms such as loops, and matrix calculations designed for GPU systems.

Objectives

A study to ascertain what possible performance improvements in FLEXPART simulations could be made by GPU acceleration and deliver a ready and documented FLEXPART code package with OpenACC support.

  • Familiarise with the current version of FLEXPART (9.3.2.) installed at CTBTO and evaluate if it is possible to compile it with the PGI Fortran compiler; evaluate the advantage of using FLEXPART 10 instead of FLEXPART 9.3.2.

  • Profile FLEXPART running to find which algorithms/loops are most suitable for an initial attempt at parallelisation and for using the GPUs.

  • Evaluate the performance improvement.

  • Deliver a ready and documented FLEXPART code package with OpenACC support that should be easy to integrate with the ATM pipeline.

Outcome

If the result of this study is positive, the modified FLEXPART could provide a new way to accelerate the ATM simulations. In the next step, this could be integrated with the ATM pipeline and results could be made available to NDCs.

Project 5: Xenon Background Estimator Tool (XeBET)

Background

The presence of a noble gas background in constant evolution in the atmosphere makes the positive identification of a sample associated with a nuclear test challenging. An estimation of the radio xenon contribution from known sources to every sample collected by noble gas systems at IMS stations will be generated by the Xenon Background Estimator Tool. This estimation will help decide if the detection can be explained by known sources.

Objectives

Develop a background estimator tool (BET) to quantify the radio xenon contribution from known sources to the detections at IMS stations. This tool will be based on IMS detections, knowledge of known sources and CTBTO SRS. The new tool must be reliable, optimised, timely and easy to test, maintain and upgrade. It will run at first on Development-LAN.

  • Perform a literature review to identify the best approach to categorise and quantify civil xenon detections at IMS stations and prepare a project plan for prototype development.

  • Collect information from known sources and make it available through SWP.

  • Elaborate an on-line database for collecting information from known sources.

  • Develop and test a prototype on a sub-set of IMS stations. Prototype must be developed for easy transfer to the CTBTO IDC Development-LAN and made available to NDCs.

  • Run prototype on selected challenging detections (e.g. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s tests or other cases) and propose visualisation options.

  • Adjust and run BET on a large number of IMS stations.

  • Contribute to IT transfer to CTBTO.

  • Documentation will describe all assumptions made to develop and run the tool.

Outcome

BET will provide objective information for every IMS noble gas sample to help decide to which extent a specific detection is more likely to be associated to a nuclear test or to known sources. This information in turn will be used as input to a source term reconstruction tool. The results and conclusions of the studies carried out could be based or shared with the WOSMIP (Workshop on Signatures of Man-Made Isotope Production) community.

Project 6: Source-Term Estimator

Background

Several promising approaches to estimate the source-term parameters (location, temporal release profile and total amount of radioactivity released) from detections have emerged in the last several years. This information about the parameters of a source is very important for the CTBTO in case of a Treaty-relevant event. The proposition is to adapt one of those approaches to CTBTO’s needs. The new tool must be reliable, optimised, timely and easy to test, maintain and upgrade. It will run at first on IDC Development-LAN.

Objectives

The Source Term Estimator (STE) will generate a first automatic estimation of source term parameters using detections and non-detections from IMS stations. An interface will be developed for IDC and NDCs experts to interactively test different sets of hypotheses.

Deliverables

  • Perform a literature review to identify the best approach for source term localisation and quantification, and prepare a project plan for development and testing of the STE.

  • Develop and test a prototype on different cases, propose and develop visualisation and interface options. Prototype must be developed for easy transfer to the CTBTO IDC tools and made available to NDCs.

  • Contribute to IT transfer to the CTBTO.

  • Documentation will describe all assumptions made to develop and run the tool.

Outcome

The STE will provide objective information to help locate a possible test location and estimate its strength. Such a tool has the potential to indicate a more limited area that can contain the source, and can help to estimate the probability to detect radionuclides over time, which is a significant advantage if an On-site Inspection (OSI) is required.

Project 7: Helpdesk support to Virtual Exploitation Data Centre (vDEC)

Background

The vDEC platform allows access to CTBTO archived data for research and academic institutions working on scientific projects. The access is restricted to the data specifically needed for the purpose of the project and a contractual framework defines the mutual agreement between CTBTO and the vDEC user. In particular, publication of scientific work is permitted, provided that the CTBTO is acknowledged as the source of data in the publication.

The platform has been in existence for eight years, and vDEC users have published many peer-reviewed papers in reputable scientific journals.

While a lot of the technical aspects of support for the vDEC platform have been absorbed into the general support activities of IDC staff, there is a need for additional, more specific support. This includes a helpdesk function covering not only access to the computer platform on which the archive is installed and access to the database containing the data, but also the more domain-specific aspects, for instance, help with understanding the data model, the stations specifications, the calibration of the stations, and the like. Support also includes upgrading the configuration of the vDEC platform and of the software installed on the platform.

Since users expect the platform to evolve with time, and the archived data is growing in size, a planning function is also needed that would develop a vision for the near-term evolution of the platform. Finally, the support will provide maintenance of the public database of publications based on CTBTO data obtained through vDEC access.

Objectives

  • Support daily activities of vDEC users through a helpdesk function.

  • Plan for upgrades and new functionalities to be installed.

  • Maintain a public database of publications based on CTBTO data obtained through vDEC access.

Deliverables

  • Quartely report on support activities.

  • Plan for upgrades and enhancements.

  • Public database of publications based on CTBTO data obtained through vDEC access.

Outcome

  • Enhanced support for vDEC users, increasing their satisfaction.

  • Enhanced vDEC platform.

  • Documentation of vDEC scientific outcome.

Project 8: Continuing the radio xenon mobile measurement campaigns in different regions of the world

Background

The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO is carrying out radio xenon measurements with very sensitive systems. With the contribution received from the Union within the framework of Joint Action 2008/588/CFSP, the Commission developed and purchased two transportable systems: the SAUNA TXL-2 and the SPALAX-DR for measuring 133Xe, 135Xe, 133mXe and 131mXe. Within the framework of Decisions 2012/699/CFSP, (CFSP) 2015/1837 and (CFSP) 2018/298, several mobile radio xenon measurement campaigns were conducted worldwide.

With the contribution received from the Government of Japan in 2017, the Commission purchased a third transportable system. This system is currently deployed at Horonobe, Japan. The two-year period of operation under Japanese funding ends in January 2020.

In the framework of Decision (CFSP) 2018/298, one measurement campaign is being held at Mutsu, Japan. The second system has been refurbished and will be deployed at Fukuoka, Japan.

Objectives

With the third mobile system deployed at Fukuoka, the high-density configuration around the IMS noble gas system JPX38 at Takasaki is complete. The CTBTO is planning to continue operating the systems at their current location, upon agreement with the local host, until the data set collected is considered scientifically and statistically profitable for future studies by the experts’ community and the NDCs. The three mobile systems in Japan shall be operated in this configuration for at least one year. Then the mobile systems would be relocated, according to a clear deployment strategy. A possible new location will be considered for each of these three systems based on what scientific output can be expected that is needed for calibration and performance of the IMS noble gas systems as described in the CTBT.

Any upgrades or refurbishments will be performed at the end of the campaign as required. Cooperation agreements with future host countries are under discussion.

To continue these measurement campaigns, funds are required for the shipment of the mobile noble gas systems to new locations, and to run and maintain the three systems for two years. Funds will also be available for organising expert meetings for a review of the results. Special effort will be made to use these expert meetings as an opportunity for capacity building and discussing future studies based on measurement campaign data. Upon request of the host country, the project will also support capacity building regarding noble gas monitoring including related civil and scientific uses.

Outcome

The main benefits of the temporary measurement campaigns with mobile radioxenon systems are the development and advance scientific methods focused on calibration and performance of the verification system as described in the CTBT and, where appropriate, related capacity building.