Knowledge-based interpretation of satellite data by object-based and multi-scale image analysis in the context of nuclear verification

The use of commercial satellite images for the verification of nuclear treaties has been suggested recently in the context of a new protocol extending the rights of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear activities within its member states. This paper investigates the application of a relatively new technology for image analysis, called "e-cognition", which is a procedure for object-oriented and multi-scale image analysis in semantic networks. The aim of this study is to examine the possibilities of (semi-)automatic object recognition in the context of nuclear safeguards. According to our results, object-oriented and knowledge-based image analysis are recommendable for the recognition of undeclared nuclear activities.