Digital engineering workflow for effective management of ITAAC using text analytics and 4D BIM concept for construction of nuclear power plants

Abstract

Ensuring conformity to the Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC), as outlined in the combined license, is a prerequisite for the startup and operation of nuclear facilities within the United States. However, current ITAAC management practices are inefficient due to being voluminous document-centric, susceptible to omission, and laborious to maintain. To address these challenges, this study presents a framework for ITAAC management practices based on 4D Building Information Modeling (BIM) at the building elements level. The proposed framework integrates the building elements and corresponding ITAAC information by extracting properties associated with building elements from Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files, and the design commitments mentioned in ITAAC documents. This digital integration can then be visualized within the 4D BIM platform. The efficiency and feasibility of the proposed approach, for both the nuclear licensees and the regulatory bodies, are demonstrated in a specific prototype implementation. It allows for the effective identification and verification of the conformity of building components with ITAAC, facilitates real-time tracking of ITAAC completion processes, and improves communication dynamics by incorporating a collaborative environment between licensees and regulators. Additionally, by automating manual tasks such as data entry and documentation management, the framework reduces the time and effort required from personnel. The framework’s feasibility enhances its practicality and applicability in real-world scenarios, further contributing to its effectiveness in streamlining ITAAC management. This research contributes to the field by providing a practical and efficient method to streamline ITAAC management, thereby enhancing the overall reliability and efficiency of nuclear facility licensing processes.