Intelligent Subsurface Structures / Intelligent Geosystems: AI-Enhanced Geoengineering Tools for Decision Support in Energy Transition, Mitigation of Climate Change Effects and Geo-Risks in former Mining Regions

Term: 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026

Supervisors: Prof. Benndorf (Institute of Mine Surveying and Geodesy), Prof. Nagel & Prof. Butscher (Institute of Geotechnics), Prof. Sprungk (Institute of Stochastics), Prof. Aland (Institute of Numerical Mathematics and Optimization)

The transformation of still active lignite mining regions into ecologically and economically sustainable lake, forest, industrial, energy and recreational landscapes as well as the management of underground abandoned mines in the Erzgebirge are among the major social challenges in Saxony. While the focus is currently very much on existing geohazards, post-mining landscapes also offer opportunities to mitigate the damaging consequences of extreme hydrological events and make landscapes more resilient to climate change. The need for solutions is high and will continue to increase. Implementation requires intelligent utilisation of existing and new underground structures. Intelligent underground spatial planning requires informed decisions that take into account all currently available and relevant data and previously generated knowledge and link them in a targeted manner. This in turn requires skills development in the future areas of environment, raw materials and digitalisation. The aim of the project is to qualify the necessary specialists in the fields of geoengineering and digitalisation.

As part of the Intelligent Underground Structures project, the Chair of Engineering Geology and Environmental Geotechnics is working on the creation of a hydraulic-hydrogeological model of the Reiche Zeche research and training mine. This involves simulating the mine's reaction to hydrological extremes (floods, droughts) and its use as an underground water and energy storage facility.