The ELT Telescope: Designing on a Grand Scale

ELT, Cerro Armazones, Chile

At over 3,000 metres high, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is being constructed, a structure destined to become the largest optical telescope in the world. Cimolai SpA, the company that won the contract for the construction, has tasked DVA with the design of the civil and architectural works for the telescope's base, as well as the maintenance walkways inside the dome, which, once completed, will be taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa

In this context, DVA developed the final design review, a project at an intermediate level between the executive and the construction phases, which required an in-depth study of local materials and construction techniques, to meet the needs of the client, ESO, and to address the specific characteristics of the site. The use of the BIM methodology also allowed for precise control of the design process and the final outcome, ensuring regulatory and functional compliance and resolving any interferences between the dome, the systems, and the structures. Today, DVA continues to support Cimolai SpA in the development of the construction design of the ELT, addressing the technical and logistical challenges related to the complexity of the work and the strict requirements of the ESO (European Southern Observatory).

More + Less -

Group companies

DVA

Category

Infrastructure

Assignment

Working drawings and construction design

Client

Cimolai

Year

2016 - ongoing

ELT Telescope, Chile. Aerial view of the construction site of the project in the desert, with a circular structure under construction, surrounded by winding roads and work equipment, in an arid landscape.

ELT Telescope, Chile. 3D digital model of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), showcasing the intricate steel dome structure, support platforms, and internal mechanical systems. The rendering highlights the integration of architecture and advanced engineering for astronomical observation.

3.400

TELESCOPE WEIGHT

[t]

150

VALUE OF DESIGNED WORKS

[M €]

50.000

MODELLED BIM ELEMENTS

100+

COORDINATED MODELS

ELT Telescope, Chile. Close-up view of the ELT telescope structure under construction at sunset, with details of the metallic dome and support elements visible in backlight, set against the desert landscape of the Chilean Andes.

©ESO/G

“When Cimolai requires support with geometric analysis, architecture, or BIM design, DVA is the first partner of choice.”

Ennio Picco,
Head of the Cimolai Technical Department

ELT Telescope, Chile. Silhouette of a dome-shaped telescope structure under construction, framed by towering cranes against the setting sun, creating a striking contrast between industrial geometry and the bright orange solar disk.

©ESO/G

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