28 June 2021 to 2 July 2021
Europe/Vienna timezone

Operation of the IMS network during the COVID-19 Pandemic - Challenges and Solutions

O4.5-710
30 Jun 2021, 11:51
15m
Location 1 (Online)

Location 1

Online

Oral T4.5 - Resilience of the CTBT Monitoring Regime, including Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic T4.5 - Resilience of the CTBT Monitoring Regime, including Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Speaker

Mr Thomas Ludwig Hoffmann (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria)

Description

The CTBTO Provisional Technical Secretariat is responsible for supervision and coordination of the IMS network operations, and for providing assistance to assure proper functioning of IMS facilities. Station Operators are responsible for the operation of the IMS facilities, in accordance with the Operational Manuals, while complying with facility specific contracts, agreements and arrangements. The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about numerous unprecedented challenges for the operation of the IMS network. Station Operators have faced challenges in accessing and operating their facilities during lockdown phases, and logistical problems such as spare parts shipments have increased during elongated periods with severe travel limitations.

This presentation will detail on those challenges, including difficulties with visits to IMS stations, RN QA/QC sample shipments, scheduled calibrations, and troubleshooting of unstable communication links. Through several monitoring tools and the COPC Operations Centre, the PTS carries out comprehensive analyses of the network to provide practical solutions to Station Operators. Continuous communication, availability and flexibility in supporting Station Operators are the key to manage such critical conditions. Further enhancements of PTS monitoring tools are under development to support IMS Station Operators in their intent to improve data availability, data quality and data surety.

Promotional text

The presentation highlights operational challenges and solutions during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the IMS/OPS view

Primary author

Mr Thomas Ludwig Hoffmann (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria)

Co-authors

Ms Rizkita Assef Parithusta (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Ms Paola Campus (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Mr Paolo Tristan Cruz (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Mr Petr Ekimov (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Mr Michael Guenther (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Ms Dongmei Han (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Ms Marina Malakhova (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Ms Hlompho Malephane (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Ms Elisabetta Nava (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Ms Marina Nizamska (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Mr Rodrigo Exequiel Villarreal (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Mr Shaun Kennedy (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria) Mr Mario Villagran-Herrera (CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Vienna, Austria)

Presentation materials