Characterisation is a broad term that applies to multiple assessment methods used to assess the nature or status of nuclear facilities, infrastructure and materials. Understanding the status and condition of such facilities can be extremely important when planning or undertaking Post Operational Clean Out (POCO), remediation and decommissioning activities as it permits more optimal decision making, removing the need for conservatism and adding value to the project.
The benefits to nuclear operators and site license holders of thorough and robust characterisation are clear and can be seen through improved hazard and risk reduction, reduced engineering complexity and cost savings.
The information required will vary depending on project requirements but may include a diverse range of characteristics such as physical state, particulate size, chemical form, radionuclide type, activity and associated dose rate information.
At Cerberus Nuclear we collectively have over 25 years of experience in the field of radiometric characterisation, radiation sensor deployment and the analysis of acquired measurement data.