Siting the Cosmic Explorer Observatory

Cosmic Explorer (CE), a proposed next-generation gravitational-wave facility is searching for observatory site. This interdisciplinary suitability analysis for site selection incorporates the need to make accurate scientific observations and the needs of the staff to have a good home to commute from nearby. We are searching for two observatory sites: the first will span 80 kilometers in the shape of an L with each arm of the L spanning 40 kilometers and the second will be an L that spans 20 kilometers along the teo L arms. This collaborative project uses a mixed methods Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach to do a national site suitability analysis.