Advancing operations and maintenance: Highlights from CTBTO’s IMS technical meeting

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) hosted the “2024 Specialized Technical Meeting (STM) on Operations and Maintenance of the International Monitoring System (IMS) from 19 to 21 November in Vienna, Austria.

Marking a return to in-person collaboration after a fully virtual event in 2020, the meeting brought together over 100 participants, including 60 station operators and experts from 21 states, alongside 51 staff members from the CTBTO's Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS).

Aligned with the 2015 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Workshop's recommendation to alternate between full-spectrum and specialised events, this year's STM focused on addressing critical challenges in station operations and advancing innovative solutions to sustain the IMS network.

In her opening remarks, Xyoli Pérez Campos, Director of the IMS Division, encouraged participants to “engage in discussions with one another that could lead to ideas and recommendations” to enhance the IMS's capabilities.

The meeting featured interactive presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions, fostering collaboration on two key topics:

A highlight of the event was the introduction of the Station Operation Portal (SO-Portal), a new platform under development by the CTBTO. Designed to support IMS station operators and managers, the SO-Portal will feature customisable dashboards and advanced functionalities, such as State-of-Health (SOH) monitoring, predictive analytics, equipment standardisation, comprehensive documentation, and training modules.

Participants discussed existing tools and software, exploring how the portal could simplify and optimise station management. Paola García Peña, a senior representative from the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission, praised the initiative and suggested adding “a feature that allows us to find shipping tracking information in one place - saving time.”

Powering IMS stations in remote and challenging locations remains a complex task, especially in isolated islands, tropical jungles, and Antarctica’s harsh polar environment, where the climate can create unforeseen issues - be it extreme heat, severe cold, strong winds, dust, or salt exposure. Discussions delved into logistical and environmental hurdles, with participants sharing experiences and recommendations on renewable energy solutions, battery technologies, material durability, and energy distribution.

These insights underscored the importance of tailoring innovative solutions to the unique needs of each location.

Two engaging panel discussions - "Integrated Portals for Station Operations of the IMS" and "Power in Extreme Environments" - rounded out the agenda on days one and three. The panels addressed topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) integration, time management, and shipping logistics for remote operations.

Panellists emphasised the value of improved communication tools, offline access to information, and enhanced knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

The event also fostered informal networking, providing participants with opportunities to exchange ideas and build connections. Tony Ly, Software Integrated Product Teams (IPT) Lead at General Dynamics, noted, “Sharing best practices with peers during these meetings is essential for overcoming common challenges.”

In his closing remarks, Dounia Keda, Director of the International Data Centre (IDC) Division, highlighted the event's success, calling it “a valuable platform to showcase the collective ability to make a difference.”

The meeting concluded with a dinner hosted by Executive Secretary Robert Floyd, who expressed his gratitude to the participants, saying, “We rely entirely on the expertise of professionals from around the world, like you.” He highlighted their vital role in ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of the more than 300 stations that make up the IMS network.

Held every four years, the STM serves as a critical forum for collaboration and innovation. The IMS's next major event, the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Workshop, is scheduled for November 2026, reinforcing the network as a robust pillar of the CTBT verification system.