LOCATION
Garni, Armenia  


DATES
3-7 August 2026


LANGUAGE
The working language will be English

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this workshop, organized together with the Government of Armenia, are:

• Practice the whole workflow of event characterization from initial alert to national reporting.
• Demonstrate the utility of IMS data, national data, and fusion methods in a verification context.
• Strengthen regional cooperation and data exchange between NDCs.
• To harmonize the approaches of States' Signatories participating in and benefiting from the CTBT verification system.

AGENDA

Day 1: Interactive Event Analysis

• NDCs receive a a waveform-based event alert (SEL1 product).
• Each NDC will present its preliminary analysis using NDC-in-a-Box and IDC products.
• Analysts validate waveform parameters, determine location, depth, magnitude, and compare against historical seismicity.
• Participants enrich analysis using national data (if available) and initiate exchanges with other NDCs.

Day 2: Continued Analysis & Regional Collaboration

• NDCs simulate formal requests to neighboring NDCs for national data access.
• Regional data exchange occurs under a simulated protocol.
• Iterative analysis leads to progressive refinement of event characterization.

Day 3: Field Trip (Optional, TBC)

Day 4: Radionuclide Analysis & Atmospheric Transport Modelling

• NDCs prioritize review of radionuclide particulate and noble gas (xenon) station data for the event using the IDC Fusion methods.
• Webgrape tools are demonstrated to model atmospheric dispersion.

Day 5 – Fusion Methods & Final National Advisories

• IDC screening criteria and fusion methods are presented.
• NDCs consolidate all inputs into a draft technical advisory for their national authority.
• Final discussion on lessons learned and peer review of conclusions

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

• NDC technical and managerial staff and analysts, which are IDC Authorized Users;
• Technical staff with an advanced degree who operate or have access to regional and/or local monitoring networks based on any or multiple IMS Technologies (Seismic, Hydroacoustic, Infrasound, Radionuclide);
• Experience in data analysis of any of the IMS Technologies
• Involvement in nuclear test ban verification;
• Understanding of computer-based systems (basic knowledge of the Linux operating system and SQL is desirable). 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application deadline: 15 April 2026 

Applicants are requested to register online at the Commission’s CTNW platform (ctnw.ctbto.org) by the deadline of 15 April 2026. Applications will be reviewed and subsequently applicants will be notified. However, pending the official nomination, participants may email the registration form upon its approval by an institution director to allow the PTS to make timely travel and accommodation arrangements.

NDC technical and managerial staff are invited to submit their applications for this Workshop through established official channels (their Permanent Missions to the CTBTO or Ministries of Foreign Affairs).

FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
Applicable for PTS-funded participants only

In accordance with the Staff regulations and rules and Administrative Directives, the PTS will provide the following:

• A Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) that is sufficient to cover the related expenses during the workshop program will be granted to funded participants;
• The PTS travel agent will reserve, issue and forward the flight ticket to the participants for the most direct and economic route;
• Funded participants are not allowed to purchase their own tickets unless, under exceptional circumstances, be authorized to do so and only if this proves to be most cost efficient for the PTS;
• The PTS will book a hotel and cover the costs for the accommodation; and
• Health insurance will be provided for the duration of the workshop.

Requirement: A valid scanned copy of passport.

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Visas
Participants should apply for visas, if needed, as soon as possible, at the corresponding Embassy upon receipt of an Acceptance Note Verbale from the PTS, in order to ensure timely processing.