3
methane and hydrogen, alternative concepts such as under-
ground pumped-storage power plants should be consid-
ered. [10]
Mine workings, whether existing or newly constructed,
could be utilized for this purpose. However, the imple-
mentation of underground storage solutions necessitates
comprehensive documentation and monitoring to ensure
the stability of the mine itself and surrounding rock. 3-D
monitoring, employing image-based techniques such as
SFM, allows for the precise documentation and recording
of dynamic changes over several time intervals. (See [11].)
Repository Mine Sites
In addition to the storage of media such as water for
pumped-storage power plants or hydrogen as an energy
source, material storage and transportation also offer a wide
range of applications for 3-D acquisition, monitoring, and
documentation processes.
In Germany, the search for a final repository site for
highly radioactive waste is an important example for this use
case. This search has gained more momentum against the
backdrop of the repeatedly postponed phase-out of nuclear
energy, which finally took place in April 2023 according to
the German Atomic Energy Act. (See § 7 AtG [12].)
Germany has planned an extensive and multi-stage
process for this task, which is defined in the form of the
German Repository Site Selection Act. This very specific legal
norm defines both the technical and legal requirements for
such a repository. For example, the permanent protection
of humans and the environment from ionizing radiation
and other harmful effects of this waste must be guaranteed
for a period of one million years. In addition, the retriev-
ability of the stored waste must be guaranteed until the
end of the operating phase and the recovery of the residual
materials for a period of 500 years after closure of the repos-
itory mine. (See § 1, 26 StandAG [13].) These time periods
demonstrate an enormous need for long-term safety and
reliable documentation of underground activities. At this
point, holistic geodata management provides crucial sup-
port for sustainable underground spatial planning.
CASE STUDY: GEOBSERVATORIUM
AACHEN
As an example of interdisciplinary underground spatial
planning, a recent research concept for the reuse of a deep
geothermal mine is to be presented. The concept is based
on research that has taken place in the Aachen area since
2001 as part of the SuperC project.
History of the SuperC Project
The initial research was carried out at the beginning of the
2000s on the exploration and extraction of geothermal
energy in urban areas on the campus of RWTH Aachen
University. For this purpose, a well over 2,544 m deep
(RWTH-1) was drilled in the former “IfM GeoTherm” per-
mit field until 2004. The drilling of the borehole enabled
a comprehensive reassessment of the geological conditions
in the Aachen underground. Following the drilling, a ther-
mal utilization in a university building was to take place.
However, this use was discontinued after a trial run. Due
to the polypropylene probe used and the closed system
designed to protect the Aachen thermal springs, only an
insufficient heat output could be achieved.
As the borehole still exists but has not been actively
used for almost 15 years, it represents a very promising field
of interdisciplinary research in an urban environment from
a scientific point of view.
Research Concept
The current research work is carried out in a
“GEObservatorium Aachen” permit field approved in 2022.
This field covers the former research area and is extended in
a south-easterly direction. The field is also adjacent to other
permit fields in the Aachen area that intend to carry out
scientific research to secure the city of Aachen’s heat supply
in the long term.
A five-part work program is planned, including
research in the in the field and at the well, which has
already begun. Firstly, a survey of the borehole will per-
formed evaluate further potential uses, both for geothermal
and scientific purposes. Subsequently, a pilot operation of
the GEObservatorium Aachen is planned in order to make
the research work accessible to the public. In particular, it
is planned to install geophysical measuring equipment after
renewed access to the borehole and to link the measured
data this with further research work in the Aachen area.
[14] For example, with the currently discussed and pro-
posed Einstein Telescope project, there are plans to set up
an underground facility for detecting gravitational waves
in the border triangle of Germany, the Netherlands and
Belgium. [15]
The reprocessing of existing research data, together
with the acquisition of new data from instruments and
equipment yet to be installed, can thus enable compre-
hensive underground modeling. This is an interdisciplin-
ary form of geodata management that can be expanded to
include other quantitative and qualitative data. The inte-
gration of virtual reality and augmented reality methods
methane and hydrogen, alternative concepts such as under-
ground pumped-storage power plants should be consid-
ered. [10]
Mine workings, whether existing or newly constructed,
could be utilized for this purpose. However, the imple-
mentation of underground storage solutions necessitates
comprehensive documentation and monitoring to ensure
the stability of the mine itself and surrounding rock. 3-D
monitoring, employing image-based techniques such as
SFM, allows for the precise documentation and recording
of dynamic changes over several time intervals. (See [11].)
Repository Mine Sites
In addition to the storage of media such as water for
pumped-storage power plants or hydrogen as an energy
source, material storage and transportation also offer a wide
range of applications for 3-D acquisition, monitoring, and
documentation processes.
In Germany, the search for a final repository site for
highly radioactive waste is an important example for this use
case. This search has gained more momentum against the
backdrop of the repeatedly postponed phase-out of nuclear
energy, which finally took place in April 2023 according to
the German Atomic Energy Act. (See § 7 AtG [12].)
Germany has planned an extensive and multi-stage
process for this task, which is defined in the form of the
German Repository Site Selection Act. This very specific legal
norm defines both the technical and legal requirements for
such a repository. For example, the permanent protection
of humans and the environment from ionizing radiation
and other harmful effects of this waste must be guaranteed
for a period of one million years. In addition, the retriev-
ability of the stored waste must be guaranteed until the
end of the operating phase and the recovery of the residual
materials for a period of 500 years after closure of the repos-
itory mine. (See § 1, 26 StandAG [13].) These time periods
demonstrate an enormous need for long-term safety and
reliable documentation of underground activities. At this
point, holistic geodata management provides crucial sup-
port for sustainable underground spatial planning.
CASE STUDY: GEOBSERVATORIUM
AACHEN
As an example of interdisciplinary underground spatial
planning, a recent research concept for the reuse of a deep
geothermal mine is to be presented. The concept is based
on research that has taken place in the Aachen area since
2001 as part of the SuperC project.
History of the SuperC Project
The initial research was carried out at the beginning of the
2000s on the exploration and extraction of geothermal
energy in urban areas on the campus of RWTH Aachen
University. For this purpose, a well over 2,544 m deep
(RWTH-1) was drilled in the former “IfM GeoTherm” per-
mit field until 2004. The drilling of the borehole enabled
a comprehensive reassessment of the geological conditions
in the Aachen underground. Following the drilling, a ther-
mal utilization in a university building was to take place.
However, this use was discontinued after a trial run. Due
to the polypropylene probe used and the closed system
designed to protect the Aachen thermal springs, only an
insufficient heat output could be achieved.
As the borehole still exists but has not been actively
used for almost 15 years, it represents a very promising field
of interdisciplinary research in an urban environment from
a scientific point of view.
Research Concept
The current research work is carried out in a
“GEObservatorium Aachen” permit field approved in 2022.
This field covers the former research area and is extended in
a south-easterly direction. The field is also adjacent to other
permit fields in the Aachen area that intend to carry out
scientific research to secure the city of Aachen’s heat supply
in the long term.
A five-part work program is planned, including
research in the in the field and at the well, which has
already begun. Firstly, a survey of the borehole will per-
formed evaluate further potential uses, both for geothermal
and scientific purposes. Subsequently, a pilot operation of
the GEObservatorium Aachen is planned in order to make
the research work accessible to the public. In particular, it
is planned to install geophysical measuring equipment after
renewed access to the borehole and to link the measured
data this with further research work in the Aachen area.
[14] For example, with the currently discussed and pro-
posed Einstein Telescope project, there are plans to set up
an underground facility for detecting gravitational waves
in the border triangle of Germany, the Netherlands and
Belgium. [15]
The reprocessing of existing research data, together
with the acquisition of new data from instruments and
equipment yet to be installed, can thus enable compre-
hensive underground modeling. This is an interdisciplin-
ary form of geodata management that can be expanded to
include other quantitative and qualitative data. The inte-
gration of virtual reality and augmented reality methods