Use of 3D scanning technologies to validate transport operations interfaces

International Nuclear Services (INS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and has extensive proven expertise in providing strategic assessments, consultancy services and feasibility studies relating to irradiated fuel management and worldwide nuclear material transportation by road, rail and sea. It has significant experience of package selection, design, finite element analysis, engineering and licencing; and operates a fleet of maritime vessels under a partially owned subsidiary company named Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL). In 2015, INS undertook a feasibility study of nuclear package transports using an NDA vessel. Due to the expectation of reduced clearances between this particular package and ship hold features, there was a requirement to understand the dynamic and static tolerances to significantly greater levels of accuracy than previous transports. Therefore, a new capability was adopted within the INS engineering team to address this, which allowed for manipulation and analysis of 3D laser scans of the ship holds in conjunction with 3D CAD models of the package and its lifting equipment. This provided a desk-top assessment without the risk of and costs associated with a physical interface check. This paper describes the process that was adopted to confirm the dimensional feasibility of transporting cargo in the hold of a maritime vessel using 3D laser scanning technologies and 3D CAD models. It also draws parallels with typical methods that could be used in the absence of such technologies, thus highlighting significant benefits in respect of costs, resource requirements, personal safety and asset availability. (author)