Crews have launched an unmanned aircraft system drone program at the Hanford Site, offering a new capability to improve operating processes in the field.
Office of Environmental Management
July 5, 2022
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RICHLAND, Wash. – Crews have launched an unmanned aircraft system drone program at the Hanford Site, offering a new capability to improve operating processes in the field.
The program was developed and tested by EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) for use by DOE and its site contractors. An HMIS subcontractor will pilot the flights, which can capture surface imagery or video and may be used to evaluate a building’s exterior or conduct utility or land stewardship inspections.
During development and testing of the new program, a drone was used to inspect Hanford’s historic B Reactor, the world’s first full-scale plutonium-production facility. The B Reactor National Historic Landmark is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, managed jointly by DOE and the National Park Service.
The national park mission requires DOE to preserve and protect B Reactor and the other historic Hanford facilities in the park. While DOE has been performing routine maintenance on B Reactor, more extensive preservation work is needed on the nearly 80-year-old structure. DOE arranged for the drone deployment to help determine the best approach to long-term preservation of the reactor, including addressing issues with its roof.
“We needed to get eyes on the many levels of the roof to help us make the best decisions about how to protect the reactor from continued water intrusion,” said Colleen French, program manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at Hanford. “The drone provided spectacular views that we could never have gotten without it and eliminated the hazard of putting workers on the roof to perform an inspection.”
The small aircraft was also used to look inside the exhaust stacks and take images of the walls, providing limitless access to the structure.
“While the capabilities are not new technology, having a drone at Hanford creates the opportunity for infrastructure inspections throughout the site that will save time and reduce risk,” said Todd Synoground, HMIS senior vice president of infrastructure and site services.
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