NFI demonstrates investigation techniques

By combining the expertise of companies, knowledge institutes, and government authorities, nuclear and radiological incidents can be identified and investigated more quickly, or can even be prevented. How this works will be shown by the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), TNO, CapGemini, Fox-IT, E-Semble, Siemens, Trigion, HotZone Solutions, and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies on Thursday morning 20 March in the Field Lab of the NFI.

In the run-up to the Nuclear Security Summit, the above-mentioned participants will demonstrate how public-private cooperation increases nuclear security. They will demonstrate this to several parties like the police.

Cooperation strengthens security

The companies, knowledge institutes, and government authorities have been working on innovations and knowledge development in the area of security within The Hague Security Delta (HSD) - the largest security cluster in Europe. This cooperation, facilitated by HSD, stimulates economic development and contributes to a safer world.

Simulation of a radiological incident

A shipping container with radioactive material enters a Dutch port and is placed in quarantine. The bill of lading on the container leads to a shed with a chemical lab in it. A car, that had recently been spotted near the shed, is involved in a traffic accident. It turns out that a backpack with a dirty bomb in it is lying in the car. The car with the replica of a dirty bomb is physically present in the hall.

Experts of the NFI, wrapped up in protective forensic suits, give an impression of how such an investigation of evidence is carried out. The scenario, that is partly played out and partly shown as a film, has been developed by the NFI in cooperation with E-Semble. All participants have one minute to demonstrate at which moment their product and/or service is used in the scenario.

From security gate to serious game

Siemens, for example, will show how the nuclear security gates developed by them operate, and Trigion will explain how a quarantine zone is guarded. What procedure is required to establish what type of chemical lab is involved? This question will be answered by HotZone Solutions. Fox-IT will tell what data is retrieved from searches of the laptop and the GSM found in the shed. CapGemini provides insight into their border control system, which is able to trace the car sought. TNO will show how detection equipment tested by them can be used to detect hidden explosives and radioactive material.

The NFI will be paying attention to the added value of forensic investigation in cases of nuclear and radiological incidents. E-Semble will conclude the demonstration by showing how serious gaming increases the knowledge and expertise of the emergency agencies in the area of radiological and nuclear incidents.

Before the scenario starts, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies will provide insight into the time line they have made, which includes the most important events in nuclear history.

Points requiring attention in the future

Kees Möhring, Director of External Relations at the NFI, will open the programme. Rob de Wijk, Director of HSD, will subsequently explain the importance of public-private cooperation in the area of security. NFI employee Ed van Zalen, expert in the area of Forensics in Nuclear Security, will then explain which developments in the area of investigation (in particular forensic investigation) of radiological and nuclear incidents deserve attention in the next five years.

Information market and interviews

Next, the simulation of the radiological incident will be played out. After this demonstration, those present will have the opportunity to visit the stands of the participating parties in order to have themselves informed in more detail about the activities of these parties or to conduct interviews with them.