Kreislauforientiertes Ausbruchmaterial-Management für eine internationale Großforschungsinfrastruktur untertage: Struktur, Prozesse und Umsetzungsrahmen

The present paper proposes a scientifically sound and application-oriented framework for an excavated material strategy in the early planning and design phase of large underground research infrastructures. The following discussion will utilise the Einstein Telescope as a case study to illustrate the proposed framework. The investigation is based on the premise that the storage, transport, processing, and utilisation of material excavated from tunnels have a significant impact on the approvability, environmental impact, costs, and public acceptance of the project. It is therefore essential that these processes are systematically managed as early as possible in the face of uncertainty. The methodology of this work follows a process- and criteria-based approach. The overarching principle of risk management is inextricably linked to the consistent implementation of quality management. Furthermore, utilization planning is defined as a portfolio and matching task. In this context, material properties, quantities, and temporal availability are mapped against use case requirements and site restrictions. The case study under scrutiny here analyses the site-specific utilisation pathways and boundary conditions for the candidate regions of Euregio Meuse-Rhine, Lusatia, and Sos Enattos. These are then related to the geological and legal framework conditions. The central result of this work is the development of the basis for an integrated quality management plan, which will subsequently serve as a control instrument. The plan delineates material segmentation, unique batch management, sampling, acceptance criteria, monitoring, and escalation paths in the event of non-compliance, thereby ensuring the reliable and legally compliant decision-making process regarding reuse, treatment, or disposal. The implementation of the project necessitates the establishment of requirements for logistics, market studies, and environmental assessments. A survey concept is proposed, with the objective of testing measurement and classification approaches in realistic environments, such as the Zentrum am Berg.