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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.
Haoyang Wang, Jianhong Hao, Qiang Zhao, Jieqing Fan, Fang Zhang, Zhiwei Dong
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 11 | November 2025 | Pages 2717-2729
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2440283
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The secondary effects of high-altitude nuclear explosions, such as neutrons, gamma rays, X-rays, and charged particles transported in the atmosphere, can cause radiation damage to important facilities and personnel such as airports. The Monte Carlo (MC) method can simulate the interaction between particles and matter, as well as the coupled transport of multiple particles in forming the nuclear radiation field, making it the most commonly used technique for the numerical simulation of nuclear explosion radiation environments. However, directly using MC program codes to model spatially complex three-dimensional geometries in large and intricate scenarios is a time-consuming and challenging task.
To address this bottleneck issue, this study investigates the modeling technique of converting large facility computer-aided design (CAD) geometric models into MC-computable codes. The method of combining CAD parametric modeling with MC computational models is applied for the first time. Additionally, a calculable MC code was constructed using the McCad conversion interface.
Finally, taking an airport as an example, a modeling of the airport control tower was conducted, incorporating parameters such as materials and structures, and a simulation of neutron radiation shielding was performed. This validated the feasibility of the proposed method and the constructed model, laying a foundation for further in-depth research on airport radiation protection.