CNL Team Recognized by Canadian Nuclear Industry for Innovation in Decomissioning & Environmental Remediation
June 25 2024 - 11:15AM
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear
science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that
its Innovation team has been recognized by the Canadian Nuclear
Society (CNS) and Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) for excellence
in innovation. The team was honoured to receive the 2024 Innovation
Achievement Award at the 43rd annual CNS Annual Conference in
Saskatoon last week, for pushing the boundaries of digital
technology in the field of decommissioning and environmental
remediation, including the creation of a comprehensive digital
“twin” or model of the sites that are managed by CNL on behalf of
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).
Established in 1991, the Innovation Award
recognizes significant innovative achievement or the implementation
of new concepts, which display clear qualities of creativity,
ingenuity and/or elegance, and embody an impressive accomplishment
in the nuclear field in Canada. Consisting of CNL employees Andrew
Toomey, David Gaunt, Jeffrey Fortin and Kuwar Dalal, the Innovation
team has helped to revolutionize planning and improve efficiency
and safety in decommissioning and environmental remediation at CNL,
while incorporating improved flexibility into these activities.
“At CNL, we are always striving to develop and
integrate innovative technologies, capabilities and practices into
our program of work, whether it is advancing clean energy
technologies, pursuing next-generation medical isotopes, or
restoring and protecting Canada’s environment,” commented Monica
Steedman, Vice-President of Environmental Remediation Management
(ERM) at CNL. “In this case, Andrew, David, Jeffrey and Kuwar had a
vision that would allow CNL to transcend many of the physical
limitations we face in decommissioning and environmental
remediation. Through creativity, hard work and determination,
they’ve now transformed the way we perform this work, and I am
thrilled that the CNS committee recognized their brilliance with
this award.”
On behalf of AECL, CNL manages all of Canada’s
nuclear legacy liabilities, which includes carrying out
decommissioning and site remediation activities at various sites
across the country, as well as the delivery of some of the nation’s
largest and most complex nuclear clean-up projects. In support of
that work, the Innovation team at CNL set out to conduct some 3D
modeling of key project facilities and features to help the team
better visualize and plan their work. That project would evolve and
grow to encompass the use of drones, robots and diverse camera
technologies, ultimately going beyond traditional modeling
boundaries to create a 3D replica of various CNL-managed sites that
seamlessly integrate with existing site data.
That work has offered CNL profound and
meaningful benefits in the delivery of their decommissioning and
environmental remediation work, including the detailed analysis of
radiological and conventional hazards without risking human
exposure; the revolution of the planning process, which has
improved efficiency; and the real-time modification of work
environments, offering precise visualizations of proposed project
changes. Overall, the modelling has enhanced performance in the
delivery of CNL’s ERM program of work, which is something that the
CNL also recognized as part of its own employee awards program.
“On behalf of the entire organization, we are
tremendously proud of the resourcefulness and drive demonstrated by
this team,” added Steedman. “They went above and beyond to improve
our decommissioning capabilities, enhance productivity, and ensure
worker safety.”
To learn more about the team, you can view a
video highlighting their work at
www.cnl.ca/about-cnl/cnl-awards-of-excellence.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and
technology laboratory, and working under the direction of Atomic
Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the
development of innovative nuclear science and technology products
and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as
Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national
importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing
clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of
Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also
serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the
broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in
collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian
products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free
energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation
technologies and waste management solutions.
To learn more about CNL, please visit
www.cnl.ca.
CNL Contact:Philip KompassDirector, Corporate
Communications1-866-886-2325media@cnl.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92db5228-985e-433a-887b-9b3b629403a7