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2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Daniel W. Golden, Ronne W. Brower, James L. Anderson, Larry J. Fackrell, Robert D. McCormick
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 4 | December 1989 | Pages 897-906
Technical Paper | TMI-2: Decontamination and Waste Management / Nuclear Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27683
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Three Mile Island Unit 2 data are of great interest to the scientific community, since the March 1979 accident represents the only occurrence of a transient resulting in severe fuel damage in a full-scale commercial production reactor. The data sources available for accident analyses, techniques to qualify and quantify time series measurement and sample data that have been collected and evaluated, and data base products that have been developed for use by analysts in investigating the many aspects of the accident are discussed. Applications processing features have been incorporated into the software designs to provide the end user with many useful capabilities in sorting, viewing, and analyzing the data; the data base discussions emphasize these features.