On September 9, China’s first multilayered three-dimensional tower-based observing platform (hereinafter referred to as “observing platform”) undertaken by its EPCI contractor COOEC was completed in Qingdao, Shandong Province.

The observing platform weighs 4,530 tons, and consists of three parts, namely, a jacket, modules, and an observing tower. The tower has a highest point of approximately 103 meters above the sea level, which is China’s highest ocean observing facility. After completion, the observing platform will carry at least 66 types and 195 sets of observation equipment, which demonstrates the strongest ability to practice comprehensive scientific observations across the world. The observing platform can realize all-round, comprehensive, long-term and real-time high-resolution stereoscopic observation of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, and carry out integrated monitoring of comprehensive marine environmental information, to provide all-round and accurate marine big data services for the research of marine climate evolution, warning and forecasting of marine disasters, and marine economy development in China.

The observing platform is configured with a life-cycle structural health monitoring (SHM) system, and equipped with a total of 147 monitoring devices, including corrosion sensors, fiber Bragg grating sensors, acceleration transducers, inclinometers, static force level gages, etc., allowing to implement real-time monitoring for the structural status of the observing tower and conduct reasonable assessment for the structural conditions of the tower. Digital engineering enables the project to realize safety risk management and control and life-cycle maintenance management of the platform structure.

The construction of the platform lasted for 5 months. The jacket is innovatively built vertically with upper and lower sections, which can save the investment of a water injection system and reduce the construction period of the offshore installation operation. At present, the loading operation of the jacket is completed, and the jacket will be soon installed offshore.