A singular research facility, taking advantage of and old fish plant structure, is presented in this paper. The current project describes the objectives, the possibilities and the main scientific applications of this future oceanographic research facility.Peer Reviewe

Guasch Gutsens, Jaume

Manuel Lázaro, Antonio

UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC

Instrumentation ViewPoint. Autumn 200570Oceanographic Research PlatformAntoni Mànuel, Jaume GuaschSARTI – CTVG. Rambla Exposició, s/n08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) SPAIN.+3493 896 72 00 -1. AbstractA singular research facility, taking advantage ofand old fish plant structure, is presented in thispaper. The current project describes theobjectives, the possibilities and the main scientificapplications of this future oceanographic researchfacility.2. AntecedentsAt the beginning of 2004, the cession of an oldfish plant suggests the possibility of using it as ascientific platform. The structure was built 13years ago, formed by 30, 12m height stainlesssteel pilasters. It has a 27m edge hexagon shapeholding seven 9m hexagonal cubicles and it’sfixed by four anchorages to the bottom of the sea,currently placed at 30m. The platform, by meansof a hydraulic pumping system, changes its degreeof floatability up to 6m height adjusting the ballastof the pilasters. Figure 1 shows the basic structure.The conversion of this structure to anOceanographic Research Platform (ORP) isplanned. The result, due to its size, would be ahighly stable oceanic base. A unique opportunityto perform different kind of high resolution marinescientific studies (oceanography, marine biology,marine geosciences, etc.) and also to carry outtests on different kind of marine sensors and atreal conditions, enabling a better and greaterdevelopment of several marine technologies asgeophysics, acoustics, telecommunications, etc.Another crucial factor is the possibility to obtaintemporary series of oceanographic parametersin a stable and precise way.3. The ORP ProjectThe project interest is based on the opportunityof having a versatile facility that is easily adaptedto deploy a large variety of devices and scientificsensors allowing the installation of researchspaces, laboratories and rooms to stay for a shortor long period of time. The modular concept offersa significant flexibility in the facilities and equipmentinstallation and the majority of applications maybe easily accommodated. Sensors may beattached to the structure or to the existing pilasters.Alternatively, they may be deployed using thestructure or the pilasters to reach the sea.The exclusive capacities of ORP as a marineplatform suggest a wide range of usage modesand applications. Many research projects wouldbe multidisciplinary programs, as follows:-Validation, characterization and calibrationof local and remote marine sensors andapparatus.-Study of materials exposed to marineconditions and medium [1].-Fixed point of observation and correlationfor biologic and meteorological measures,for short, medium or large periods of time.-Study of propagation or dispersionphenomenon, ambient noise, turbulence andits relationship with ambient, marine oratmospheric parameters.-Energy transfer between the sea and theatmosphere.-Biological experiments with marine species,population studies, ambient conditionsinfluence and fish feeding optimization.-Studies on the climatic change and its effectson the ecosystem [2].4. Objectives to achieveThe main concern now is the refurbishment ofthe structure. The refurbishment and adaptationproject for the ORP elements must be orientedto fulfill the following conditions:a. The accomplishment of the current legislationmust me assured. The facility has to enforcethe aspects related to the Spanish Shore Law[3] and its development as Royal Decree [4],regarding the use of the marine public domain.b. It has to assure the accomplishment of safetyregulations and requirements regarding ascientific or industrial facility.  Structural andpersonal protection elements must be put inFigure 1.  Base structure of ORPInstrumentation ViewPoint.Autumn 200571place to guarantee people security during thestay and the access to the facility.c. It has to provide the required elements toallow people and tools onboard, as elementsto facilitate access from or to a boat and thefixture to provide mooring capacity. Elementsto reach the water, where places may be definedto access the sea, should also be provided.d. Load and transportation elements availability.Lifting weights from a boat to the platform loadarea and vice versa has to be possible.e. Basic habitability and control elements mustbe in place as: toilets, showers, office, kitchen,storage room, engine room, etc. It is assumedthat ORP may hold independent andmultidisciplinary teams up to 15 or 20 peopleworking at the same t ime onboard.5. Working progressWith a partial fund that has been assigned asa complementary action by the Spanish Ministryof Education and Science, several structuraland preservation studies has been performedat the platform current location of l’Ametlla deMar, near Tarragona. From one hand, thicknessmeasurements of stainless steel columns andother structural elements have been obtained.From the other hand, a complete submarinerevision has been carried out looking for anydefect in valves, locks, fixtures, floating elementsor structural elements.Based on the obtained results, a final project isbeing written to define the reconstruction andpreservation of the structure taking into accountthe previously indicated objectives. This projectis, as well, in the frame of the documentationand official steps to legalize and to transportthe facility from its current location to Vilanovai la Geltú. Additionally, an exploitation plan isbeing studied and prepared in order to definethe operation and maintenance procedures.6. ConclusionsProviding that the necessary investment andresources to adapt and to exploit the structureare approved, an unprecedented occasion willbe presented allowing the scientific communityto access a station prepared to host real marineexperiments at a national and international level.There is no similar facility in Europe dedicatd toscientific or technical purposes. Therefore, theORP would signify, without any doubt, a verysingular facility having the capacity to receivemultiple multidisciplinary research and technicalteams.7. References[1] Miyano, Y, et al. Corrosion behavior ofStainless Steel Welds by Microbes in MarineWater. Quarterly Journal of the Japan WeldingSociety. Vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 443-450. Aug. 2004[2] Aiken, J, et al. Remote sensing of oceanicbiology in relation to global climate change.Journal of Phycology [J. PHYCOL.]. Vol. 28, no.5, pp. 579-590. 1992.[3] Ley 22/1988, de 28 de julio de 1988, decostas. BOE 181 de 29/06/88.[4] Real Decreto 1471/1989 de aprobación,desarrollo y ejecución de la Ley 22/1988.Figure 2. A current image of the platform

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