Overview
IEC 62755:2012 (consolidated with AMD1:2020) specifies a uniform data format for radiation measurement instruments used in the detection of illicit trafficking of radioactive materials. The standard defines how instrument output - including spectra, count rates, dose/exposure rates, alarms, calibration data and metadata - is structured so that data can be interpreted without reference to a manufacturer’s documentation. IEC 62755 adopts the N42 data format model to promote interoperability between radiation instruments, data acquisition systems and analysis software.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Data model and schema: Defines an XML-based N42-style schema outlining elements, types and structure for instrument output (e.g., , , , , , , ).
- Standard and derived data types: Specifies required data types and derived types for counts, rates, energies, timestamps, uncertainties and units to ensure consistent interpretation.
- Code lists and controlled vocabularies: Includes enumerations such as AnalysisResultStatusCode, MeasurementClassCode, RadDetectorCategoryCode, FaultSeverityCode and ImagePerspectiveCode to standardize meanings.
- Nuclide name format: Prescribes a consistent format for radionuclide naming to enable automated identification and reporting.
- Timestamps, geolocation and metadata: Standardizes date/time (inspection/analysis), geographic points and device metadata for traceability and event reconstruction.
- Calibration and performance metadata: Captures calibration dates, efficiency calibrations, FWHM values and other characteristics required to interpret measured spectra and derived results.
- Multimedia and binary objects: Defines how images, detector logs or binary attachments are encoded (MIME, base64/hex/UTF-8) and referenced.
- Faults, alarms and status reporting: Structures alarm categories, severity and fault descriptions for rapid operational response.
Practical applications and users
IEC 62755 is targeted at:
- Instrument manufacturers - to produce interoperable radiation detectors and data outputs.
- Software developers and system integrators - for building alarm management, analysis and database systems that consume instrument data.
- Customs, border security and law enforcement - to aggregate and interpret detection events across mixed fleets of devices.
- Emergency responders and regulators - for consistent incident reporting, chain-of-custody and forensic analysis.
Practical use cases include port/airport screening, mobile surveys, cargo inspection, centralized monitoring, incident response and data exchange between agencies.
Related standards
Performance and functional requirements for radiation detectors referenced by IEC 62755 are specified in standards such as:
Using IEC 62755 ensures interoperability, consistent radiation measurement data formatting, and reliable automated analysis for countering illicit trafficking of radioactive materials.
Open preview (PDF)Radiation protection instrumentation - Data format for radiation instruments used in the detection of illicit trafficking of radioactive materials
