For years, nuclear imaging – through X rays and more – has helped industries inspect inside equipment without causing damage. However, industrial nuclear imaging has not kept pace with the rapid advances seen in medical imaging. To address this gap, the IAEA is launching a new research project to bring advanced nuclear imaging techniques from the laboratory to large-scale industrial applications such as pipelines, storage tanks and machinery.?

The coordinated research project (CRP) aims to combine powerful imaging methods with modern software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help industries improve equipment design, speed up maintenance, enhance safety and reduce environmental risks. By making these technologies more accessible and affordable, the project aims to enhance industrial process analysis and optimization worldwide.?

Key Technologies and Methods?

This project will explore the use of advanced imaging technology like computed tomography (CT) with gamma rays and X rays to scan large industrial components. One of the key imaging methods included in the project is laminography, a technique suited for imaging flat surfaces. By adjusting the positions of the imaging source and detector, laminography captures clear, detailed images and provides accurate depth information, allowing technicians to inspect specific areas of equipment without dismantling it.?

Bringing Lab Innovation to Industry?

Although methods like CT, laminography and radioactive tracer techniques have demonstrated strong potential in research environments, they have yet to be widely adopted in everyday industrial settings. This CRP seeks to scale and adapt these approaches for practical use in the field. A key focus will also be on leveraging recent advancements in AI and image processing software to improve the speed, reliability and precision of data analysis.?

By exploring the combination of imaging innovations with intelligent digital tools, the CRP aims to assess how these technologies could support more accurate diagnostics, better-informed engineering decisions, reduced downtime and improved operational safety — potentially making nuclear imaging a more valuable and reliable asset across a wide range of industries.?