*** THE WORKSHOP WAS POSTPONED TO A DATE TO BE DETERMINED***
This Workshop concerns the Workpackage 9, of the Einstein Telescope (ET) Preparatory Phase EU funded program, concerning ET Carbon footprint assessment and mitigation.
It will work on an
- Accurate evaluation of the ET carbon footprint during both its construction and initial operation stages. All power consumptions of the infrastructure will be considered (instruments, service plants, computing facilities) as well as those linked to the transportations (commuting, supplies, travels) by analysing all the scientific scenarios envisioned. Surveys made by large research infrastructures like CERN , other large Astroparticle and Astrophysics Infrastructrues will be used as well, both for their methodology and as inspiration for our actions for ET.
- The definition of a responsible energy consumption policy. Optimization will be done separately for the three main elements of the on-site infrastructure – underground constructions, surface buildings and the local computing center – that all have different requirements to fulfil and challenges to meet.
- Assessment and minimization of the ET impact on its environment. Study the impact of different scenarios for the design of the underground structures (tunnels, shafts and caverns) to minimize interference with external surface infrastructure networks, urban and natural areas; the development of layout concepts for the foreseen surface infrastructures taking into account technical requirements, environmental constraints and connection with existing infrastructure and service plants; how to optimize the surface transportation network and design an underground transportation system for personnel and materials, by identifying the paths, the types of users, the vehicles needed, and also by considering the highest safety standards; the planning and management issues related to the definition of critical areas (safety and environmental) and to the necessary investigations to obtain the associated risk assessments; the development of integrated processes for environmental assessment evaluation in agreement with local regulations; study of the impact on biodiversity and on the hydrologic cycle; finally, a global approach for non-hazardous and hazardous waste management and recycling both during the construction and operation phases.
- A contribution to sustainable goals. ET will extend its sensibility down to the Hz range. It will be necessary to deploy surface and underground distributed or mobile monitoring networks to measure: low frequency seismic activity and other vibrations (e.g., sea waves); electromagnetic noise and atmospheric pressure variations that may have an impact on GW measurements; anthropogenic noise. ET as an interdisciplinary and technological hub open to geoscientists, atmospheric scientists, and data science experts, will contribute to the studies on natural hazards and climate change.
