Waste Inventory Database
Implementing and testing a new software system to host the data on the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory
Client
UK Nirex Ltd
Project
Migration of the UK Inventory
Services Provided
See below
Execution Period
1995
Project Description
The UK Radioactive Waste Inventory resides on a computer database, which was created in 1987. The pace of technological change and the emergence of new products and trends in industry standards dictated that the initial database software be re-evaluated. This resulted in the selection of a new product and a migration project.
Particular Services
From 1987 until 1995, the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory data had resided on a Micro VAX II minicomputer. The relational database management software selected for this application was BASISplus, marketed by Information Dimensions. The system displayed complete reliability and availability at all times.
However, technological developments in hardware, operating systems and database software had been proceeding at great pace. In parallel, the requirements for distribution of the database grew considerably, to the point where all organisations needed the database.
As a result, Nirex decided to upgrade the system. The Pöyry Energy business group installed a new server and a network of six client machines, new high speed printer and CD writer. This PC based system was used to install the ORACLE database software, and each machine provided with a modern operating system. A database structure was created, based on BASISplus. This was followed by data transfer to the new system. The project was also required to produce detailed design information (approximately 500 pages) and an acceptance test. The latter was particularly rigorous and encompassed data verification, full functional tests and documentation.
The two systems (BASISplus and ORACLE) were maintained in parallel until the end of the 1994 Inventory project. This provided insurance against failure of the new system. In the event, the new system performed flawlessly, the old system was never used again. The new system later became the Inventory module of BRIMS, the UK's standard software for radioactive waste management. |
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