The International Atomic Energy Agency is switching to satellite feeds to monitor sensitive materials at nuclear sites.
The first trial of the new system, which transmits images and other data to IAEA's computers in Vienna, Austria, began in April at a nuclear power plant in Slovakia, the agency reported Wednesday.
"The idea is to create secure global communication networks between IAEA headquarters, remote nuclear facilities and regional offices," said Massimo Aparo of IAEA Safeguards Technical Support.
Previously, IAEA inspectors had to travel regularly to nuclear facilities to inspect data from its surveillance systems and determine if the sites are operating as planned. IAEA officials hope the use of satellites will prove more efficient and cost-effective than on-site visits or transmitting data via telephone lines or the Internet, which has proven unreliable, particularly in less developed countries, IAEA officials said.
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