OPG goes 3D: Innovative virtual scans of generating stations paying major dividends

Staying at the forefront of innovation

“By embracing this innovative technology and leveraging the expertise of our own employees, OPG has demonstrated our commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements,” said Dax Patel, a First Line Manager at OPG and one of the leaders behind the program. “The success and continued development of the 3D Laser Scanning and Modelling Strategy continues to enhance our operations and optimize resources throughout our various facilities.”

Patel helped launch the initiative back in 2017, when OPG first tapped into 3D laser scanning technology to help plan for the installation of a scaffolding replacement at the Emergency Service Water pumphouse at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station (GS).

After the successful pilot project, OPG established a dedicated department for 3D scanning in 2018. The department now has a team of eight employees.

Over six years, the team has completed scans at more than 200 locations, including at Darlington and Pickering Nuclear GS, as well as several hydroelectric sites across Ontario, the company’s Nuclear Sustainability Services facilities in Bruce County, and various office locations. Each scan can range from a single room to an entire area like a nuclear vault or a turbine generating floor.

How the technology works

To capture these locations, the 3D laser scanning team uses cameras that use lasers to take in two million points per second, resulting in crisp, high-quality scans rich in detail and ready for use in a range of applications. Through multiple scans, millions of data points are collected over days, or sometimes weeks.

After hundreds of scans and millions of measurable data points are collected, the work on the ground is complete. Next, high-performance computers take the hundreds of scans, and millions of data points, to transform the data into complete three-dimensional images and “fly-thru” renderings – a 3D laser scan which is accurate to less than a millimetre.

The impact of the team’s important work has been far-reaching and has garnered acclaim and recognition from within OPG as well as from industry peers.

Today, all OPG employees and contractors have access to the 3D database, and its use has led to increased collaboration, efficiency, and informed decision-making.

And the future looks bright for even more innovation.

3D scanning’s future at OPG

In addition to producing detailed layout drawings and immersive 360-degree videos with their scans, the OPG team is exploring the realm of 4D modeling, which involves creating 3D models that depict equipment installation at different points in time.

The team expects to be busy in the coming years as they capture OPG’s planned Small Modular Reactor fleet at Darlington Nuclear, from its initial construction phases all the way through to service and beyond, and support the potential refurbishment of Pickering Nuclear.

“We’re excited about this technology’s growth in visibility and its future uses,” said Patel. “3D scanning has evolved from a curiosity to now a modern method that will soon be an industry best practice, to help build a brighter future efficiently and sustainably.”