GEO-EXCEL

GEO-engineering EXChanges between Europe and Latin-America

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The aim of the project is to use the complementary expertise of researchers from Latin-American and European Universities working in the area of geo-engineering to contribute to excellence in research, training of postgraduate researchers and the research experience of researchers working in geomechanical aspects of geohazards and climate change. The main focus will be on problems such as earthquakes, landslides and flooding, considering problematic soils and the effect of climate change on soil degradation. The main “tools” to be applied to tackle the problems above are soil modelling and numerical analyses, soil dynamics, mechanics of unsaturated soils and soil improvement techniques. The project is aimed at advancing both experimental and numerical studies of soils submitted to mechanical, hydraulic and thermal coupled actions via joint research activities between the partners. The project is based on ongoing research programmes and research interest at the Universities forming the consortium, taking into account the complementary expertise between the partners. The staff exchanges funded by the IRSES programme will be crucial for Early Stage Researches (ESRs) to expand and enhance their research knowledge during their stays at the partner institutions, which will be complemented by the knowledge transfer activities. They will also benefit from mentoring by ERs and the research visits by Experienced Researches (ERs) at their home institutions. The planned bi-annual schools and workshops are crucial project activities oriented to human resource development and dissemination of the research performed within the consortium. The programmed activities are oriented to develop and upgrade the expertise of the researches involved in the exchange programme in the complex multiphysics problems described above, and to share their local geo-engineering knowledge and innovation.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Geo-engineering, ways of modifying Earth's environment via technological tools to control global warming, is gaining steam in tackling the climate emergency. An EU initiative gathered researchers to contribute to the state of the art.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Scientists have been employing mechanics, mathematics, physics, chemistry and geology to understand and shape our interaction with Earth. They are intervening in the climate to bring down temperatures through the discovery, development, production and use of sub-surface earth resources, as well as the design and construction of earth works. There is however a lack of scholarship and unproven research for this relatively new science.

Thanks to the EU-funded project 'Geo-engineering exchanges between Europe and Latin-America' (GEO-EXCEL), more than 40 PhD and postdoc researchers and about 20 senior researchers from European from Latin American universities joined forces to help advance geo-engineering through mobility.

Research centred on earthquakes, landslides and flooding by taking into account problematic soils and the influence of climate change on soil degradation.

To deal with these natural disasters, joint activities explored the use of tools such as soil modelling and numerical studies, soil dynamics, mechanics of unsaturated soils and soil-enhancement methods.

The knowledge transfer that was acquired through courses, seminars, workshops and conferences helped develop and expand researchers' know-how. This led to the exchange of novel techniques and methodologies. The complementary expertise also enabled the development of innovative experimental approaches in examining geological materials.

Project outcomes have already been put into practice on the tunnelling infrastructure for a Barcelona underground railway. They can also be applied to other structures, including dam, road and railway embankments.

Europe and Latin America teamed up to ensure excellent and innovative research training as well as knowledge exchange opportunities in geo-engineering. GEO-EXCEL has thus helped to ensure the competitiveness of their respective geotechnical engineering sectors.