From Complexity to Clarity: Transform Nuclear Projects with DELMIA’s Virtual Construction & Asset Management

Improving safety with simulation and optimization

In the high-stakes world of nuclear power generation, safety, precision, and efficiency are non-negotiable. Whether it’s the construction of new nuclear power plants (Greenfield projects) or the expansion and modernization of existing facilities, the complexities and interdependencies involved demand cutting-edge solutions. However, despite the criticality of these projects, the nuclear sector still struggles with inefficiencies, delays, cost overruns, and safety concerns.

Statistics tell a sobering story at nuclear power plants:

1. 30% of construction work results in rework
2. Over 40% of projects are late or over budget
3. Planning errors contribute to 15% of total project costs due to rework
4. Up to 40% of manpower deployed on construction sites goes wasted

These inefficiencies not only inflate costs and timelines but also pose significant risks, especially in environments as sensitive as nuclear facilities. The limitations of current construction planning tools exacerbate the problem:

1. Little or no visualization of the site environment
2. Poor capture of physical behavior of construction activities
3. Limited ability to analyze construction processes
4. Difficulty in evaluating alternative construction methodologies or schedules
5. Challenges in appraising spending curves
6. Inability to simulate “what-if scenarios” in case of resource delays
7. Safety risks during simultaneous operations and construction
8. Lack of visualization tools to gain regulatory and public support

This is where DELMIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform by Dassault Systèmes steps in, offering a transformative approach through virtual construction, maintenance, and asset management with advanced simulation and optimization capabilities.

A paradigm shift for nuclear projects with virtual construction

The construction of nuclear facilities involves thousands of interconnected activities, handled by various stakeholders—contractors, engineering teams, safety inspectors, regulatory bodies, and plant operators. Traditionally, these teams operate in silos, leading to miscommunication, unforeseen delays, and duplicated efforts.

Virtual Construction with DELMIA addresses this fragmentation by integrating all construction activities into a single collaborative digital platform. It allows project teams to virtually plan, simulate, and optimize every aspect of construction before physically executing them.

Key features include:

1. Digital Mock-Up of Construction Sequence: Construction planners can digitally visualize each construction step, considering spatial constraints and plant operations.
2. Resource Allocation and Sequencing: DELMIA enables synchronization of multiple contractors’ schedules, ensuring that resources (equipment, manpower) are optimally utilized.
3. Scenario Planning: What-if simulations can assess the impact of potential disruptions, such as contractor delays, equipment unavailability, or safety risks.
4. Visualization for Stakeholders: Clear 3D visualization helps project owners, regulators, and the public understand the project scope, timelines, and safety measures.

Ensuring long-term safety and performance for maintenance and asset management

At a nuclear plant, efficient maintenance is crucial—not just for optimal performance but to maintain rigorous safety standards. Unexpected equipment failures or operational disruptions can have serious consequences.

DELMIA’s Virtual Twin technology empowers maintenance teams by providing a digital replica of the entire plant, including all assets and systems. This enables:

1. Predictive Maintenance: By simulating wear-and-tear patterns and environmental factors, teams can predict potential failures and schedule maintenance proactively.
2. Asset Lifecycle Management: DELMIA offers end-to-end visibility of asset histories, ensuring traceability and compliance with stringent regulatory requirements.
3. Safe Scheduling of Maintenance Activities: Maintenance can be planned without interfering with ongoing operations, ensuring zero compromises on safety.

Driving safety, efficiency, and cost reduction

The backbone of DELMIA’s value proposition is its advanced simulation and optimization capabilities. Nuclear power projects involve multi-layered dependencies—construction around operating reactors, strict regulatory controls, coordination across disciplines, and public scrutiny. The following DELMIA tools within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform make it possible to overcome these challenges:

1. Construction Simulation:

Through realistic simulation of construction activities, project teams can:

• Visualize site environments dynamically, even before physical construction starts
• Analyze construction behaviors such as crane movements, material logistics, space utilization, and worker safety zones
• Avoid collisions and resource conflicts through 4D simulation (3D plus time dimension)

2. Resource Optimization:

Scheduling algorithms within DELMIA can balance labor, machinery, and material usage to:

• Minimize idle time and resource wastage
• Streamline contractor coordination
• Optimize costs across the project lifecycle

3. Safety Scenarios and Risk Management:

Safety is paramount in nuclear projects. DELMIA allows:

• Modeling of hazardous scenarios (fire, equipment failure, radiation leaks) to test contingency plans
• Verification of safety protocols during simultaneous construction and plant operation
• Integration of regulatory requirements into simulation models to ensure compliance

4. Spending Curve Analysis:

With better visibility into all phases of construction, teams can accurately forecast costs, identify deviations early, and prevent budget overruns. Spending curves are dynamically updated based on project progress, helping stakeholders make informed financial decisions.

DELMIA in action provides real-world impact on nuclear energy

Consider a nuclear plant expansion project where construction must occur without disrupting ongoing plant operations. Using conventional tools, planners might rely on Gantt charts and siloed spreadsheets, leaving room for human error and unforeseen delays.

Now, envision the same project managed through DELMIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform:

1. The project is modeled virtually from end to end.
2. Planners simulate each construction sequence, identifying space constraints and safety hazards ahead of time.
3. Teams collaborate on a shared digital platform, updating schedules and resources in real-time.
4. “What-if” scenarios are run to mitigate delays and evaluate alternate strategies.
5. Regulatory bodies are shown a fully visualized model of the project, ensuring transparency and trust.

The result? The project is completed on time, within budget, and most importantly—safely.

Conclusion: What is the future of nuclear energy?

The answer is a digital future that provides safer, smarter nuclear projects. The nuclear power industry cannot afford inefficiencies, rework, or safety lapses. As projects grow in complexity, conventional construction and maintenance methodologies simply can’t keep pace.

Virtual Construction, Maintenance, and Asset Management powered by DELMIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform offers a revolutionary shift. It bridges communication gaps, enhances safety, optimizes resources, and ensures regulatory compliance—all while cutting costs and reducing delays.

By adopting DELMIA, nuclear project stakeholders can not only meet but exceed industry standards, bringing safe, efficient, and sustainable power generation to life.