Virtual reality and augmented reality as a cutting-edge technology for modelling of nuclear waste repositories

The German Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) is searching for the location of a repository for Germany's high-level radioactive waste (HLW) that will guarantee the possible safety for 1 Ma. Surveying, exploration, construction and design stages of repositories have been supported by 3D models in Germany for decades. In addition to 3D models, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications have recently been used to visualize repositories. The 3D models have been generated using several computed-aided design (CAD) software solutions based on direct and indirect data sources such as 3D laser scanning measurement campaigns or vectorized data, respectively. This work aims to provide an overview of the current VR and AR methods used in German nuclear repositories. Various CAD software programs for meshing point-cloud data are compared, and the repository-scale VR and AR modelling workflows are presented briefly. VR and AR devices offer a realistic, first-person experience. These devices have recently been used by the Asse II and Konrad repositories. In 2024, BGE personnel tested a very promising AR system in the maintenance area of the Konrad repository, which allowed them to visualize 3D objects simultaneously using headsets. This revolutionary development enables direct control during mining operations, thereby reducing costs and preventing accidents.