Visualization of trouble spots for Decontamination Work and Decision Measurements with the help of BIM (ViSDeMe)

Following the shutdown of a nuclear power plant, the operator is obliged to dismantle the facilities. In order to remove plant components from nuclear power plants and release them in accordance with the Radiation Protection Ordinance, their activity must be below a limit value. Typical nuclear power plants in Germany have 100,000 m² to 450,000 m² of concrete surfaces [Gentes et al., 2015] that must be processed for clearance.

According to the current state of the art, the spatial data acquisition is performed manually in the previous process. Thus, no digital spatial models or similar are available for the further process steps.

The aim of the ViSDeMe project, which is funded by the BMBF, is to digitally record and visualize the rooms with the various fault locations in nuclear facilities using Building Information Modeling (BIM). This procedure for digitizing the entire process or at least relevant process steps is being investigated and evaluated using the Mülheim-Kärlich site as an example.
In this way, it should be possible to represent the premises on site in a 3D model that is as accurate as possible, which will, among other things, reduce the effort required for spatial data acquisition, measurement planning, execution and documentation of decontamination and decision measurements for users in nuclear facilities. One focus here is, among other things, the localization of anchor plates below the decontamination coating and the exact location of these in the digital model.

The following advantages are expected from the planned joint project:
- More effective and faster execution of the decommissioning work due to an improved work flow
- Relief of skilled personnel from radiation-exposed and physical work as well as increase of work safety
- Reduction of errors and increase in process quality
- Savings in resources and cost reduction