Advanced Construction Technologies for the Nuclear Construction Industry

On March 28, 1979, the most significant nuclear reactor accident in US history occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant. As a result, there have been no new nuclear power plants constructed in the US for over 30 years. Given the socio-political effects of this and other events in the history of commercial nuclear power, today the US industry faces an uncertain future. Consequentlythe US construction industry lacksnuclear construction experience and expertise in the use of advanced construction techniques necessary for successful delivery of nuclear construction projects. With the resurgence of nuclear power plants in the US, it is critical for US agenciesto develop a policy that willfoster and facilitate the development and utilization of advanced construction techniques in nuclear construction projects.Therefore, the objective of this research was toassess the current readiness of the nuclear construction industry, with respect to construction technologies. A questionnaire survey targeting experts from academia, industry, and government was conductedin order to investigate the current status of the US nuclear construction technologies. This paper presents an initial understanding of the current strengths and weaknesses of the US nuclear construction technologies intended to support US agencies in developingeffective policies regarding nuclear construction technologies.