Three Dimensional Scanning for Decommissioning Project planning UNTF Conference 2010 UNTF Conference 2010 Lancaster University - Paul S Cornish -

Background to Research ● The nuclear Industry is going through a renaissance ● New Stations are under construction ● While the older stations approach the end of their useful lives ● Decommissioning provides exciting opportunities for research and development

What does my research involve? ● The research involves the creation of a system that takes 3D scans from scanner in a radiation environment for the purpose of planning decommissioning projects.

Objectives ● The scans produce point clouds which are 3D representations of an objects. ● Each point in the cloud is an XYZ coordinate. ● The objective is to take the point clouds and reconstruct them in the computer aided design package Solidworks, with information on radioactive sources. ● So what does a point cloud look like???

Here's an example

What needs to be scanned? ● One of the environments that needs to be scanned is called a Cave, what is a Cave? ● A Cave is a place where High Level Waste (HLW) is handled for the purpose of disposal, also such Caves can be used for experimentation. ● Naturally the HLW will emit significant levels of Gamma Radiation that prevents Human access for the purpose of survey. ● Inside the Cave is a complex environment of pipes and various components. ● Here's a couple of good cases...

The Cave

Getting the scanner to the objects ● In the case of the cave the scanner will be taken to objects and structures with a remotely operated arm. ● The scanner will orientated by this arm into various positions. ● The scans from these positions will be combined together to form a complete 3D picture.

The Research challenge (The exciting and fun part!) ● The development of software that will extract the objects three dimensional definition from its point cloud. ● Elimination of unwanted points to save processing time while retaining critical points that define the objects shape. ● Use of artificial intelligence in design to create an efficient piece of software

Also... ● There will be areas that the remote manipulator arm will not be able to reach with the scanner... ● Radiation fluences may exist that could damage the delicate electronics of the scanner... ● Some pipes and components in the room will stand in the way of other objects thus hiding these objects from scans... ● These are some of the many and exciting challenges that lie ahead...

References ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

ANY QUESTIONS??? ● All research work is financed by and for the use of the National Nuclear Laboratory ● Research supervisor – Dr Steven Monk