PUBLIC INFORMATION SERIES
REPRESENTATIONAL PLANNING, ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL & TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITS
PRESENTATION 2012
PROTOTYPICAL KNOWN OFFSHORE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FACILITIES
COMPARATIVE STUDIES
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Since little of the ocean's surface is currently being used for human activity, growth and alterations in configuration would be relatively easy to achieve with minimal impact to the environment or to local residents who would utilize the airport. Water taxis or other high speed surface vessels would be a part of an offshore mass transit system that could connect the floating airport to coastal communities and minimize traffic issues.
A floating structure, such as a floating airport, is theorized to have less impact on the environment than the land-based alternative. It would not require much, if any, dredging or moving of mountains or clearing of green space and the floating structure provides a reef-like environment conducive to marine life. In theory, wave energy could be harnessed, using the structure to convert waves into energy to help sustain the energy needs of the airport.
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PROTOTYPICAL BUILT STRUCTURE
"Mega-Float" is a word made by combining "mega" meaning in Greek gigantic, with the English word "float"; and it means a very large floating structure [VLFS].Length: 1000m x Width: 60m |
Mega-Float involved building and artificial body of "land" [structural component] in a calm, shallow oceans water test environment of approximately thirty-three [33m] meters in depth, by connecting a series of steel boxes called floating units".
Compared to landfill methodology, Mega-Float is less noisy, has fewer safety problems, is less environmentally impacting, and cost much less.
Existing facilities may be easily expanded while the facilities are fully operational and they are almost always unaffected by seismic activity.
The Mega-Float concept may support the development of "land bodies" of any length, and being moored to the sea bed remain in a specific site location.
REPRESENTATIONAL MEGA-FLOAT PLAN VIEW
Open Ocean / Open Seas may be utilized regardless of the water body depth or seabed soils conditions.Seismic Activity has virtually no impact upon VLFS.VLFS have negligible impact upon the natural environment.Construction cost and time elements are not affected by the sea depth.Existing facilities may be easily extended and expanded, and it is feasible to relocate a VLFS to another site. |
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VLFS STUDY EXHIBIT
CURRENT PROJECT IN PLANNING - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE PORTUNUS PROJECTFuture U.S. ports could be located in the ocean, 20 to 40 miles from shore, under the proposed Portunus project. The off-shore port concept would allow cargo to be inspected far away from cities as one way to increase homeland security.
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https://newsline.llnl.gov/_rev02/articles/2010/jul/07.02.10-ports.php
By Stephen Wampler
Newsline Staff Writer
In another decade or two, ports in the United States may never be the same.
While today’s ports that serve huge ocean-going ships are located near major coastal cities of the United States, tomorrow’s ports may be strategically sited in a new location — in the ocean 20 to 40 miles away from shore.
The concept of cargo inspections at off-shore ports in the middle of the ocean has arisen since 9/11 as one way to increase homeland security and to counter the threat of radiation dispersal devices [RDDs] or improvised explosive devices [IEDs]. Ships could be inspected or unloaded before they steam near U.S. cities.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550
Operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration
Kansai InternationalOSAKA - JAPANWith the opening of the second runway in August 2007, Kansai International is fully operational twenty-four [24] hours a day.With the opening of the second runway Kansai International Airport is assured of providing around the clock and unlimited service. |
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Due to its origins as a town of merchants, Osaka has always attached special importance to "hospitality" towards customers and visitors. This is also true for Kansai International Airport, a gateway to western Japan serving many people.
Since its opening in 1994 Kansai International Airport has continued to serve visitors from all over the world. Today, the airport is connected to seventy-one [71] cities in thirty-one [31] countries and regions of the world, serving over sixteen million [16mil] passengers annually.
TBNC OFFSHORE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT STUDIES
REPRESENTATIONAL EXISTING FACILITIES
2010 - 2012
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