The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) announced that it has succeeded in developing a technology to visualize radioactive contamination conditions in the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
The JAEA said that the visualization technology combines virtual reality technology with data about contamination conditions, which are obtained with remote-controlled devices, at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. nuclear power plant.
With the visualization technology, it becomes possible to develop work plans after comprehending the distribution of pollutants. The JAEA said it can be useful for minimizing levels of exposure to radiation for workers in decommissioning nuclear reactors and other safety measures.
According to the JAEA, Nos. 1 to 3 reactors of the nuclear power plant suffered meltdowns and thus a huge volume of radioactive substances have been scattered inside the reactor buildings and are discharging strong radioactive rays.
Because radioactive rays are scattered about when they hit walls and floors, it has been difficult to pinpoint the locations that are contaminated with radioactive substances in a detailed manner, though it is possible to measure whether radiation levels are high or low by using dosimeters.
The JAEA developed a relatively lightweight camera that can analyze the levels and angles of radioactive rays and display locations in red where strong radiation rays are being discharged.
The JAEA placed the camera on a robot and operated it via remote control on the first floor of the No. 1 reactor building of the nuclear power plant. As a result, the camera succeeded in roughly identifying contaminated locations.
The JAEA also combined the information with three-dimensional graphics of the inside of the building that were produced with virtual reality technology.
The JAEA said the work was able to display which parts of the building were contaminated in a detailed manner in virtual spaces.
"We want to begin practical discussions with TEPCO over how to utilize the visualization technology," a JAEA official said.
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