Vienna,
VIC
28 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026
Objectives:
- Gain a good understanding of CTBTO’s ATM output (the SRS file).
- Establish a full comprehension of Webgrape’s potential to support both the verification regime and scientific applications in general by using IDC (SRS) data and IMS (sample) data.
- Refresh basic skills and explore and refine advanced skills of all (beginner and advanced) Webgrape functionalities available in both the desktop application (complementing the NDC-in-a-Box package) and in its online Webgrape app (Webgrape Internet-Based Services).
- Promote the exchange of experience and expertise in ATM and Webgrape among the NDCs.
Participation Profile
- NDC technical staff/authorized users (preferably Principal User or Regular User);
- Experts involved in applying and developing radionuclide monitoring, atmospheric transport modelling (ATM) and data fusion methods;
- Webgrape basic skills are desirable
Vienna,
VIC
04 Nov 2026 - 05 Nov 2026
The objective of this technical meeting is to continue the process of completing the IDC (Validation and Acceptance Test Plan VATP). The focus for this particular meeting is to:
Discuss the VATP Rev.6.0
Address comments received on the VATP
Discuss the 2026 Experiment, the associated VTs and the Test Implementation Plans (TIPs)
Discuss initial plans for the next Experiment
Vienna,
VIC
17 Nov 2026 - 19 Nov 2026
The workshop is targeted at scientific experts, NDC technical staff and analysts, and prospective scholars who seek a common goal in building a capacity for scientific knowledge exchange to strengthen the Atmospheric Transport Modelling community affiliated to CTBTO’s verification regime. The workshop’s objectives are:
- Advance understanding of recent technological developments in Atmospheric Transport Modelling (ATM) and their relevance to verification technologies under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
- Strengthen expertise in uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods for ATM and radionuclide (RN) analyses to enhance confidence in ATM applications for RN-related verification assessments.
- Investigate and introduce innovative data fusion methodologies to spatially and temporally integrate seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound (SHI), and radionuclide event data, improving event characterization across the CTBT verification system.
Topics of interest:
- Strengths, weaknesses, and future directions of different atmospheric transport models (ATMs)
- How do FLEXPART, HYSPLIT, and other models compare in terms of capabilities and limitations?
- What developments are expected in the near future?
- Scientific enhancements
- How can spatial–temporal source–receptor sensitivity be improved?
- What advances are needed in physical parameterizations?
- How should data representation be handled?
- Lagrangian versus Eulerian modeling frameworks
- Which approach is more suitable for long-range simulations, and under what conditions?
- Are backward and forward modeling truly equivalent for a given source–receptor pair in a Lagrangian framework?
- High-resolution ATM
- What strategies and configurations are most effective for supporting real-world deployments like field exercises?
- How to make hi-res ATM feasible for operational and time-critical modes?
- Uncertainty quantification
- What methodologies are best suited for ATM?
- How can ensembles be aggregated into a small set of clear, interpretable metrics or plots for expert assessments?
- How should uncertainty in general be distinctly communicated to policy makers.
- Machine learning (ML) versus physics-based models
- Could ML realistically replace physics-based models for computationally intensive tasks?
- How can we leverage ML in ATM?
- Source-term localization and background estimation
- What methods offer the greatest improvements in accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency?
- Do species‑specific or spatio‑temporal factors call for different methodological approaches?
- Data fusion across technologies
- How can ATM data be integrated with seismic, hydroacoustic, and infrasound observations?
- Impact of network density
- What does a denser spatio-temporal detection network imply for source sensitivity and attribution accuracy?
CTBT-related contributions on additional relevant topics are welcome.
Montevideo,
Uruguay
07 Dec 2026 - 11 Dec 2026
The 2026 National Data Centre (NDC) Workshop is being organized by the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in cooperation with the Government of Uruguay.
The NDC workshop provides an opportunity for participants from State Signatory NDCs to meet and discuss their activities and share experiences accessing IMS data, using IDC products, and operating as an NDC. The objectives of the workshop are:
1.
Provide an environment for NDC experts to share their experiences in fulfilling their verification responsibilities;
2.
Provide NDC feedback to the PTS on all aspects of the data, products, services and support provided to NDCs; under this objective, particular emphasis will be put on
•
NDC contributions to Performance Monitoring and Testing (through NDC Preparedness Exercises, or NPEs, and other means);
•
Discussions on NDC involvement in the IDC Progressive Commissioning;
•
Discussion of recent and ongoing IDC projects.
3.
Review NDC recommendations;
4.
The progress and initial results of the NDC Preparedness Exercise 2026 (NPE26) will be presented and discussed, including analysis of the NPE26 event using IMS Data and other data obtained by national means.
5.
Contributions on the interaction between NDCs and research and development-related topics will be discussed.
6.
Discuss progress on the NDCs4ALL initiative.
7.
Discuss challenges faced by NDCs.
Cairo,
Egypt
13 Dec 2026 - 17 Dec 2026
1. Practice the whole workflow of event analysis from initial detection to national reporting.
2. Demonstrate the utility of IMS data, national data, and fusion methods in a verification context.
3. Strengthen regional cooperation and data exchange between NDCs.
4. To harmonize the approaches of States' Signatories participating in and benefiting from the CTBT verification system.
Freiburg,
Germany
08 Mar 2027 - 12 Mar 2027
The International Noble Gas Experiment Workshop (INGE 2027) aims to support the CTBTO verification regime by providing a forum for scientific and technical knowledge exchange on six main themes related to noble gas monitoring. The workshop's objectives are to strengthen scientific understanding, share operational experience, and identify priorities for the further development of noble gas technologies and methodologies supporting the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) verification regime.
Topics of interest:
- Calibration and Certification of Noble Gas Systems
- Calibration approaches for next-generation (NG) IMS systems, including Xenon International, SAUNA III, SPALAX NG, MIKS and IMS laboratory systems.
- Verification and validation of methods and data.
- Review and update of certification requirements.
- Discussion of current best practices versus formal certification standards.
- Data Analysis Methods for Noble Gas Systems
- Noble gas analysis methodologies, including uncertainty estimation and critical limits.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods for noble gas data analysis.
- Expert Technical Analysis (ETA) methods for noble gas technology.
- Network Analysis and Source Discrimination
- Screening methods and approaches.
- Use of source term data for event interpretation.
- Noble gas event analysis, including the use of particulate information.
- Sample association methodology.
- Operations and network analysis from a regional perspective.
- Advances in event localization methodology.
- Next-Generation (NG) Systems
- Overview of next-generation systems and operational experience.
- Noble Gas Monitoring and On-Site Inspection (OSI)
- Argon-37 systems and measurement techniques.
- Experience with noble gas systems in On-Site Inspection (OSI) contexts.
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) and Laboratory Engagement
- Strengthening laboratory involvement as active partners in IMS QA/QC programmes.
- Lessons learned and best practices from laboratory-based intercomparisons.
Notes for submitters:
- Abstracts may address an entire theme or a specific sub-topic within a theme.
- Cross-cutting submissions addressing multiple themes are welcome.
- Sessions are expected to conclude with a moderated discussion to synthesize submitted work and identify priorities for future roadmaps.
