Digital twin of underground research laboratory as a valuable instrument at early stages of a geological disposal programme

Abstract

Numerical simulation tools have been a core part of the safety assessment process for deep geological repositories of high-level radioactive waste from the start, and their crucial role is undeniable. However, the modern landscape of digital technologies is much broader than specialized numerical simulation software, and many such tools could also be of great help in various aspects of information management for geological disposal programmes. One of the most promising trends in the digitalization of high-tech and knowledge-intensive fields is digital twins of complex natural and/or industrial objects at different stages of their lifecycle. The development of digital twins is a complex approach that can employ a multitude of technologies depending on the features of the prototype object, available data, objectives, and technical capacities.

In this paper, we would like to assess both the opportunities associated with digital twins and the available tools for their development in the context of the digitalization of information management during the construction of the underground research laboratory and the safety assessment process of the future geological disposal repository. From a practical point of view, we aim to establish a reasonable approach for digital twin implementation at the early stages of a geological disposal programme, particularly for the underground research laboratory currently under construction at the Yeniseysky site (Krasnoyarsk region, Russia).