Characterization of a deep radiological contamination

CEA Research Center at Fontenay-aux-Roses (Paris area): quality control and historical topography

This example deals with soils around facilities partially dismantled at the end of the 1950s. CEA performed a series of characterization studies before remediation. First studies confirmed the presence of a deep radiological contamination but failed at delineating the contamination extension. The origin of the contamination in depth could not be determined and could not be linked with the current surrounding buildings.

Further investigation helped CEA understanding that the contamination should be connected with the previous site configuration, which was the military fortification with the first generation of nuclear facilities. Thus the former site configuration has been integrated, highlighting that the contaminated samples were in fact located in the continuation of pools collecting contaminated water from the former plutonium recycling plant, along a bank and in the former moat.

Combining an old topography surface of the site and the modeled contamination inside the 3D view allowed understanding why it had such a shape and extension.