Leveraging Drones to Improve Nuclear Facility Security and Safety

nuclear.jpg

Hinkley Point B Power Station in Bridgwater, southwest England 

The growing uptake of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), brings both unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Drones simultaneously represent a threat to privacy and a potential commercial boon (e.g. for parcel delivery); they serve concomitantly as weapons and as vital tools of military intelligence. This same mix of threat and opportunity is apparent in the nuclear industry. Drones pose important security challenges to nuclear power plants. Yet if the technology is harnessed properly, drones might not only be able to solve the problems they have created but also provide additional security benefits.

Illicit drone flights over nuclear power plants in France and Belgium in recent months – along with similar incidents in the United States that were not made public – have revealed the lack of adequate defences against drones at nuclear facilities. Shooting drones down is difficult and jamming them risks interfering with nuclear plant operations. Conventional radar cannot detect small drones that fly low to the ground. Moreover, UAVs could carry payloads capable of damaging spent fuel pools.

However, news media reports on a prototype for an ‘intercept drone’ designed to take down other drones. The intercept drone has cameras pointing in all directions that scan for nearby drones. It then flies above a target drone, dropping a cord that tangles the target drone’s rotor blades and causes it to crash. While the company’s marketing strategy is focused on celebrities and others concerned with protecting their privacy, such devices could potentially also be used by the nuclear industry to prevent drone flyovers.

The technology is still in an early phase, and has a number of challenges to overcome. The speed, agility and real-time image processing required to catch the target drone drains battery power rapidly, giving the intercept drone a flight time of about two minutes. The technology is also ineffective against ‘fixed wing’ drones that lack rotor blades. And using them over nuclear plants would be risky. The target drone would need to be taken down before it reached the plant perimeter, as a crash over the plant itself could damage equipment on the ground. Nonetheless, the concept holds promise.

Beyond enabling the interception of drone flyovers, new drones fitted with devices such as cameras, radiation sensors and heat sensors have applications in perimeter monitoring, radiation detection and disaster response. They can provide a complement to current perimeter monitoring measures at nuclear facilities. Most nuclear plants use a combination of CCTV cameras and vehicle and foot patrols to monitor for unauthorized intrusions or other anomalies. However, CCTV coverage may have ‘blind spots’. Patrols cannot always be present given the size of nuclear facilities, or access certain areas either by vehicle or by foot. Several UK nuclear facilities are evaluating the use of camera drones to provide coverage to fill these gaps.

Drones can also supplement radiation monitoring at nuclear plants. Nuclear facilities currently use static monitoring points to detect radiation leaks.  However, they do not offer complete coverage and are susceptible to false alarms. For example, a static monitoring point recently detected radiation at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site in Britain, causing the facility to shut down temporarily. However, the radiation was later found to be from a naturally occurring source outside the site, having been blown in by the wind. In such an instance, using new drones equipped with radiation sensors could rapidly and more accurately identify the source, thus avoiding a costly shutdown.

Furthermore, UAVs can be used in disaster response and clean-up operations at nuclear facilities where it would not be safe to send a human. Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown, responders initially relied on manned helicopters to gather radiation, imaging and temperature data – the tsunami destroyed 23 of the plant’s 24 static monitoring points – to evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to cool the reactors. This exposed the crew to radiation. Drones outfitted with sensors and cameras were subsequently deployed, as unmanned aircraft can safely get much closer to the ground and thus provide more accurate and detailed readings and imaging. They can be operated from up to 10 kilometres away, and their relatively low cost also means they can be replaced if they become contaminated. Several new models are currently being tested in the ongoing clean-up operations.

Drones currently represent equal parts threat and opportunity for nuclear facilities. Given that drone capabilities are increasing rapidly, the effects of whichever predominates now will be amplified in the future. It is thus essential to tip the balance in favour of UAV technologies that will enhance nuclear security and safety.

Caroline Baylon is Research Associate, Science, Technology & Cyber Security,
International Security Department. 
Royal Institute of International Affairs
 
See more at: http://ow.ly/PGvej
 
 
« New Dutch Law Would Allow Bulk Surveillance
Bitcoins Berlin Launch for Cashless Greeks »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

LockLizard

LockLizard

Locklizard provides PDF DRM software that protects PDF documents from unauthorized access and misuse. Share and sell documents securely - prevent document leakage, sharing and piracy.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

Direct Recruiters Inc

Direct Recruiters Inc

Direct Recruiters is a relationship-focused search firm that assists IT Security and Cybersecurity companies with recruiting high-impact talent.

Allegro Software

Allegro Software

Allegro provide secure software for the Internet of Things.

Latvian Information & Communications Technology Association (LIKTA)

Latvian Information & Communications Technology Association (LIKTA)

LIKTA brings together leading Latvian companies, organizations and professionals in the field of Information & Communications Technology

Infosistem

Infosistem

Infosistem is a Croatian ICT company with extensive expertise and experience in enterprise and SMB ICT projects and solutions.

Jobsora

Jobsora

Jobsora is an innovative job search platform in the UK and more than 35 other countries around the world. Sectors covered include IT and cybersecurity.

IntaPeople

IntaPeople

IntaPeople are IT and engineering recruitment specialists. We have specialist teams for job sectors including Cybersecurity, IT infrastructure and DevOps.

BrandProtections.Online

BrandProtections.Online

BrandProtections.online offer end-to-end customer support solutions to help protect against threats which may affect your brand online.

Internet 2.0

Internet 2.0

Internet 2.0 is a Cyber Security technology company with a core focus on developing affordable but sophisticated cyber security solutions.

Two Six Technologies

Two Six Technologies

Two Six Technologies delivers R&D, innovation, productization and implementation expertise in cyber, data science, mobile, microelectronics and information operations.

Bitbone

Bitbone

Bitbone develop IT infrastructure and IT security solutions that create long-term value.

Althammer & Kill

Althammer & Kill

Althammer & Kill offers pragmatic solution concepts for data protection and digitization. We advise in the field of data protection, information security and compliance.

ELLIO Technology

ELLIO Technology

ELLIO Technology is a cybersecurity company that reduces alert overload, improves incident response, and helps security teams target serious attackers who pose a real threat.

Xact IT Solutions

Xact IT Solutions

Xact IT Solutions are a certified cybersecurity firm offering cybersecurity, compliance and managed services.

ConvergePoint

ConvergePoint

ConvergePoint is the leading compliance software provider on the Microsoft Office 365 SharePoint platform.

Resillion

Resillion

Resillion (formerly Eurofins Digital Testing) is a global leader in quality engineering and cyber security services with operations in Europe, US, UK, India and China.

Softsource vBridge

Softsource vBridge

Softsource vBridge are an ICT systems integrator providing specialist technology solutions, professional services, technical expertise and data centre services.