Chapter 404: Chapter 402 Overall Planning
While Chen Xin was planning how to upgrade his shelter, the engineers and technicians sent by the state had already arrived in the city and came to Chen Xin’s shelter to discuss with him how to construct the research base and barracks.
Theoretically, these issues didn’t require consulting Chen Xin; they just needed to ask for his opinion to ensure any necessary requests, and then they could proceed with construction step by step.
However, the situation on Chen Xin’s side was a bit different, so the engineers and technicians in charge of this matter, along with the researchers assigned to the research base, needed to connect and negotiate with Chen Xin to determine his exact needs and the main areas he intended to explore.
Only after confirming these could the specialized research base being built for him be properly constructed.
Besides, another crucial point was that Chen Xin proposed a new design scheme, which required further coordination with the engineers and technicians.
"So, Academician Chen, you want to construct this research institution into an enclosed structure and then build a miniature ecosystem inside?" The researcher, who came to liaise with Chen Xin, quickly grasped his idea and said approvingly, "This is a very meaningful research topic! Constructing a self-sustaining miniature ecosystem could be of great significance for rebuilding the Earth’s ecological cycle after the natural environment recovers in the future!"
"I haven’t considered it so far ahead; the research on a miniature ecosystem is mainly for studying ecological agriculture, considering how to increase the country’s grain production, and incidentally make my life a bit more comfortable, that’s about it. I haven’t thought much beyond that." Chen Xin hadn’t really considered the topic brought up by the researcher; the restoration of the Earth’s ecosystem seemed too far from his concern.
Even if such issues were to be considered, Chen Xin had better options available, not relying solely on a miniature ecosystem for studying how to restore the entire ecological cycle.
World engines, planetary terraforming, megastructural domes, ringworlds... innumerable technologies could be employed. Although a miniature ecosystem could be considered fundamental to these planet-affecting technologies, it certainly didn’t deserve undue focus.
"Restoring the global ecosystem indeed seems distant, but studying a self-sustaining ecosystem is still meaningful, not to mention the restoration of pre-disaster biological samples, which is very worthwhile," the researcher remained passionate, specifically telling Chen Xin, "Before the disaster, the state preserved large quantities of plant seeds and animal embryos, all of which are frozen in the Seed Banks in Kunlun Mountain and the Himalayas.
If a self-sustaining ecosystem can be built, we could use these preserved plant seeds and animal embryos to restore pre-disaster flora and fauna! This way, we can restore precious biological resources to leave our descendants with something other than a barren world."
Chen Xin appeared unmoved by the researcher’s excitement, and the engineer shared a similar expression.
It’s not that either of them didn’t care about the significance of this matter, but the topics brought up by the researcher seemed too far-fetched.
After all, people across the country are still grappling with basic survival issues, figuring out how to provide enough food for everyone. Talking about restoring flora and fauna resources and Earth’s ecosystem seems excessively remote.
No matter how meaningful this research might be, it’s meaningless unless there’s enough food and more people can survive before any major restoration happen.
However, Chen Xin didn’t want to dampen the researcher’s enthusiasm, as the subsequent research was still dependent on them. Discouraging their enthusiasm could adversely affect future research.
So, after the researcher calmed down, Chen Xin continued to speak to the engineer: "Once the dome construction is complete, its interior will primarily be used for research on miniature ecosystems and ecological agriculture. Additionally, the scientific department also needs to conduct reverse engineering on the things I’ve made and assist me in completing upgrades of projects transferred from other research departments.
Thus, the scientific facilities need to be all-encompassing since I don’t know exactly what will be researched or what resources will be needed."
"If that’s the case, it might be troublesome! Without a clear direction, constructing this research base could be very difficult," the engineer frowned at Chen Xin’s request.
Even though they knew this task was unlike previous ones, meeting such undefined and all-encompassing demands was indeed challenging for the engineers.
Different scientific directions have completely different requirements for research facilities. Some require dust-free environments, some require sterile environments, and others demand perfectly clean or even vacuum settings... Even with existing blueprints and integrated modular cabins, constructing them is extremely challenging.
Not to mention some large research equipment requires specially designed facilities to accommodate them.
At this point, however, the researcher seemed to grasp Chen Xin’s intent, thinking for a moment before saying: "This means we need at least a biological laboratory for miniature ecosystem research; a physics laboratory and a mechanical laboratory are needed as well. Other facilities can be deferred, leaving space to be added as necessary later."
"Hmm, I have no objections to this plan, but for miniature ecosystem research, besides a biological laboratory, I also need a greenhouse for agricultural research," Chen Xin added.
The engineer visibly relaxed upon hearing this, as it meant they finally had some concrete direction to guide their efforts.
"By the way, since this research facility will use a completely enclosed dome structure, how will the internal heating be solved? Should we use electric heating or boiler heating?" the engineer asked Chen Xin, as these were decisions that needed to be confirmed before construction could begin.
"For heating, I plan to use geothermal energy. The associated technology is the Deep Geothermal Energy Tower technique, which I proposed in Lin City." Clearly, Chen Xin didn’t intend to use either electric or boiler heating but instead the new technology he proposed in Lin City: "Building an Energy Tower nearby can provide heating for the entire research facility and the excess heat can also be used for power generation."