‘Spot’ to carry out remote survey of Cold War weapons testing facilities

The buildings at the National Trust’s Orford Ness Nature Reserve were used to test the atomic bomb during the Cold War but have been off-limits to visitors and staff for several years because they fell into disrepair. 

Angus Wainwright, National Trust archaeologist, said: “The buildings used to be quite safe so we could go in and out as much as we liked, but now they are getting more risky as the concrete decays. That’s why we are doing this survey in this remote way, without anyone going into the buildings. 

“It’s all very experimental, to see if it’s possible to do a really detailed building survey with no human operator in the building.” 

BAM is working in partnership with the National Trust to deploy advanced surveying technology at the site using drones and Spot, which can be equipped to gather a wide range of data, generate detailed 3D maps, and identify anomalies. At Orford Ness, Spot has been fitted with a Trimble X7 laser scanner and a camera. The robot’s four hinged legs allow BAM to control it remotely from a safe distance.

The work is the first stage of a longer-term National Trust project, involving partnerships with Historic England, BAM and UCL’s Bartlett School for Sustainable Construction. 

The two laboratories, known as pagodas or Labs 4 and 5, are classified as scheduled monuments. Constructed in 1960, the buildings were two of six Cold War laboratories used as test cells to carry out environmental tests on the atomic bomb. The tests were designed to mimic the rigours to which a weapon might be subjected before detonation, including vibration, extremes of temperature, shocks and G forces. 

The National Trust acquired the site from the Ministry of Defence in 1993, but no measured surveys have been completed of the buildings before.

Colin Evison, innovation technical lead at BAM, said: “At BAM, we are constantly seeking to evolve the ways in which we capture and process survey information, so the unique nature of Orford Ness is a fantastic opportunity to put into action our agile mobile robot ‘Spot’.

“The robot is an ideal method to deploy surveying equipment in and around the decaying structures sited in an environmentally sensitive location and the mission will provide us with valuable experience and feedback on using the survey technology, as well as the opportunity to exchange knowledge with the National Trust and other participants.” 

In the last few years, the pagodas have become part of the National Trust’s ‘curated decay’ policy and have been left to nature, including the effects of Orford Ness’ exposed coastal location.