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by Gloria Nobile

The Einstein Telescope project will have a fully digitalized copy that will track every phase. The aim of the experiment is to revolutionize our understanding of the universe by capturing infinitesimal signals of gravitational waves produced by ultra-energetic cosmic events, such as mergers of black holes and neutron stars. But, to carry out a work of this magnitude, which represents an unprecedented engineering challenge, it is essential to adopt an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. This is where the management of BIM (Building Information Modeling) processes comes into play. BIM refers to the organization and supervision of a project, from planning to construction and maintenance.

This methodology is based on the integration of different disciplines involved in the creation of a 3D virtual model, which includes detailed information on every component of the project and allows for the simulation of various aspects. This ensures an overall and precise view of the work, improving efficiency and quality in the construction sector.

As part of the NRRP ETIC project, led by the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), the National Laboratories of the South (LNS) are among the research institutions involved in activities related to the preparation, design, and implementation of feasibility studies and site characterization for Sos Enattos, the Italian site candidate to host the infrastructure.

«In a project like the Einstein Telescope, where multiple aspects and constraints need to be managed simultaneously, it is essential to build a BIM model to include and manage all the information at once»,  explains Elena Licciardello, INFN researcher at the LNS and BIM Specialist within the ETIC project.

This system indeed allows for the simulation of future scenarios, the analysis of behavior under different conditions, and the prediction of failures or inefficiencies. It helps identify potential interferences between different disciplines, facilitating the design and evaluation of various options before construction. A highly collaborative approach, therefore, that incorporates diverse expertise and enables the conception, management, and realization of such complex projects, giving all the research groups involved the possibility to keep pace with ET. Even now, despite being in a preliminary design phase, BIM is proving to be an essential tool for understanding the context and making key decisions: the 3D modeling of the terrain and its morphological, geological, and hydrogeological characteristics will allow the precise determination of the optimal location for the infrastructure.

Thanks to various sensors placed during the construction phase, ET will have a virtual replica, a “digital twin” that, in addition to representing the physical object, will also use real-time data to ensure that the “copy” accurately reflects the behavior and characteristics of the actual infrastructure. This will pave the way for potential optimizations.

«Einstein Telescope is a highly ambitious scientific experiment that will have a global impact on astrophysical research. The idea of being part of the group of people contributing to its realization is very exciting», concludes Licciardello. «I am currently collaborating and hope to continue contributing to the BIM modeling of this project, which will evolve alongside ET throughout its entire life cycle».

To learn more, watch the interview with Elena Licciardello on the ET Italy YouTube channel.