LiDAR scans decommissioned nuclear reactors at Hanford for safety

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management at the Hanford Site has employed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to conduct detailed inspections of six cocooned, decommissioned nuclear reactors. Unlike previous annual drone inspections that focused on the exterior of the storage enclosures, this new approach uses LiDAR to create precise 3D models of the reactors’ interior structures. This advancement allows engineers and safety specialists to better assess the condition of the enclosures, identify potential issues, and enhance long-term safety and risk reduction measures. The inspections are part of ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of these structures as Hanford continues its decades-long cleanup mission. Hanford Site, established in 1943 for plutonium production during the Manhattan Project, played a critical role in the U.S. nuclear weapons program until its last reactor shut down in 1987. Since then, the site has focused on environmental remediation, including soil and groundwater treatment and waste management. The introduction of