Floating Construction

Published on 16 Apr 2022. Written by Salman Mohammed

Global warming is leading to a rise in sea surface temperatures which led to an increase in sea levels. Many people live by the sea and are dependent on it for their livelihood.

Read more..

Many of the world’s largest cities are on the coast. By 2050, the number of people living in the delta cities is set to increase as much as 70% indicating vastly increasing the number of those at risk.

The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) projected a likely sea level rise of 28-43cm this century. Impact of rising sea levels not only risks small island states. But also the important world cities vulnerable to rising sea levels are Kolkata, Mumbai, Dhaka, Miami, Jakarta, Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai, and many more. Most of these cities lie below sea level. As sea level is higher at most places the water has no way to go other than flooding the land.

One of the solutions to this is not building barriers to protect it but regulate it and make big water basins out of it. Nice urban development can be created on the water and at the same time creating a buffer at rainy times is important. The only limitation for the development is that it has to float otherwise the basins cannot have a buffer action. So floating construction is one of the solutions that will be adopted.

Basic principles for implementation

1. To make a solid platform that is lighter than the water.
2. The second principle is based on the ship, it is to construct a hollow concrete box which is open on the top, due to all the air which is in the open box it gets the ability to float.
As the water level climbs the floating structure itself can move up if necessary. Construction of this type is the future for the delta regions of the world, the ones which face the greatest danger.

Concepts of the environmental design process:

1. Access: There should be adequate means of access to and from the shore to the building to meet the people living in the house.
2. Floatation system: It must have a floatation system which maintains an acceptable level of stability to the likely use of the building.
3. Mooring piles: Mooring piles should be designed to safely resist all lateral loads on it.
4. Materials (generally): Materials used for floating construction must be suitable for the conditions to which they are exposed.
5. Materials (fastenings): All fastenings must be used taking into account their ability to be maintained or replaced if necessary.
6. Location: It must maintain an acceptable level of amenity between any other building and proposed building
7. Safety equipment
8. Fire-fighting equipment
9. Minimum water depth

Conclusion:

The technical knowledge we have got in our engineering college should be kept into full use not only for standard building projects but also for creating new possibilities and designs which results in innovative engineering.

Kit required to develop Floating Construction:

• No kit required

Technologies you will learn by working on Floating Construction:

• Floating
• Construction Management
• Techniques
• Design

Any Questions?