GOVI - Gamma Optical Video Imaging
Loughborough University/Serac Imaging Systems
Gamma optical video imaging or GOVI (now Seracam®) is a hybrid gamma-optical imaging system that overlays radiation data onto live optical video, allowing operators to see radioactive contamination precisely where it exists and how it changes in real time. Originally developed for medical imaging, the technology has been adapted for nuclear decommissioning through the Game Changers programme. Trials at Sellafield demonstrated how the system can help teams locate hotspots, guide clean-up activities, and confirm end points faster and more confidently. The project highlights the power of cross-sector innovation and the critical role of Game Changers in accelerating technology transfer into nuclear operations.
The Challenge
Sellafield Ltd faces one of the most complex decommissioning missions in the world, including Post Operational Clean Out (POCO) across dozens of legacy nuclear facilities. POCO requires the safe removal of hazardous radioactive residues from vessels, pipework and heavily shielded cells – environments that are congested, inaccessible to people, and often impossible to see inside. Operators must work remotely, with limited visibility and strict containment requirements, making it difficult to identify contamination hotspots and confirm when cleaning is complete.
Traditional radiation detection tools provide readings but lack intuitive visual context, slowing decision-making and extending task durations. Sellafield Ltd needed technologies that could reduce uncertainty, minimise operator dose, and accelerate clean-up while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance. The opportunity called for innovative characterisation tools capable of working in harsh environments and delivering clear, actionable insight in real time.
The Solution
Through the Game Changers innovation programme, researchers at Loughborough University worked with close end-user input from Sellafield Ltd challenge owners to repurpose advanced medical imaging technology for nuclear use. Supported by delivery partner FIS360 and additional innovation funding streams, the team adapted Gamma Optical Video Imaging into what is now the compact Seracam platform from Serac Imaging Systems.
Game Changers funding enabled early feasibility work and proof-of-concept demonstrations, de-risking the transition from laboratory research to operational deployment. Engineering partner TTP plc helped refine prototypes into a robust, portable system suitable for demanding field environments. In 2026, Seracam and its GOVI prototype were successfully trialled inside an active Sellafield facility, proving the technology could visualise radiation spread across surfaces and support real-time operational decisions. The Game Changers programme created the pathway from academic concept to site-ready innovation.
The Impact
Live trials showed that Seracam can transform how contamination is identified, monitored and removed. By clearly displaying the size, shape and intensity of radioactive hotspots, operators gain immediate feedback on clean-up effectiveness and a confident visual end point – reducing task time, repeat work and operational risk. The technology has strong potential to enhance POCO activities across Sellafield and wider nuclear sites as more facilities enter decommissioning.
Beyond operational benefits, the project demonstrates the value of cross-sector collaboration. Medical imaging innovation has been successfully translated into nuclear application, broadening the clean-up toolkit and encouraging further technology transfer. For Serac Imaging Systems, the programme accelerated commercial maturity, validated new industrial markets, and strengthened partnerships across academia and industry. Game Changers proved instrumental – providing funding, access to end users, and structured support that turned promising research into a deployable solution with sector-wide impact.
