Upcoming Events

2026 NDC Workshop

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.

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Workshop on CTBT Technologies and Scenario-based Exercise for Arabic-speaking National Data Centres

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.

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International Noble Gas Experiment Workshop (INGE 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Next-Generation (NG) Systems
• Overview of next-generation systems and operational experience.
5. 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.
6. 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.