Partnership Agreed with JAEA for environmental research in Fukushima

Dr Peter Martin and Professor Tom Scott from the Interface Analysis Centre recently travelled to Fukushima in Japan, to secure a five year partnership with the Japanese Atomic Energy Authority (JAEA) to work on isotopic and environmental aspects of the fallout material contaminating the area resulting from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

The week-long trip included visits to a number of facilities and institutions across Japan. First there was a visit to IHI in Yokohama to discuss nuclear robotics research, hosted by Dr Takahiro Shimada.

Professor Scott and Dr Martin were also able to visit the Toshiba R&D Centre in Kawasaki to discuss nuclear robotics, sensors and the diamond battery technology developed at the University of Bristol. 

Finally the researchers returned to the CLADS facility in Tomioka they were principally hosted by Dr Yuki Sato and Dr Tadahiro Washiya, with whom they had previously collaborated on the last visit in November 2017  where fieldwork using UAVs for contamination research took place.

Photogrammetry Modelling

As part of their trip they trialled a new photogrammetry instrument capable of generating, in the field, centimetre accurate 3D models of terrains, buildings and objects. They tried it at a storage site for nuclear wastes in the fallout zone and even at an abandoned Shinto shrine!

The researchers also modelled a 3D photogrammetry model of a small nuclear waste dump near Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Japan Geoscience Union Conference

The trip also included attendance at the Japan Geoscience Union Conference, where Professor Scott presented the University of Bristol capabilities relating to radiation mapping and 3D modelling of contaminated environments.

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