Palm Island Construction Construction on the palm islands began in 2001.

Divers surveyed the seabed and workers constructed a crescent-shaped breakwater from blasted mountain rock. The Crescent of Palm Jumeirah stands a little more than 13 feet above low tide sea level and sits in 34 feet ofwater at its deepest point. Sand, covered by an erosion-preventing water-permeable geo-textile, makes up the breakwater's lowest layer. One-ton rocks cover the sand, and two layers of large rocks weighing up to six tons each cap the structure. A "toe" placed by a floating crane sits inside the Crescent. The breakwater also has two 328-foot openings on each side to eliminate stagnation in the 16 narrow, deep channels. These gaps allow water to completely circulate every 13 days. Although five workers were swept away by a wave and one drowned, the designers at Nakheel believe the breakwater will protect the palm island from average gulf weather and even an enormous storm. They even suggest that villas barely 10 feet above sea level will be safe from the rising seas of global warming. The palm islands themselves are constructed from sand dredged from the sea floor. Palm Jumeirah is made from 3,257,212,970.389 cubic feet of ocean sand vibro-compacted into place [source: The Palm Jumeirah]. Vibro-compaction increases the density of loose sand by saturating it with jets of water and vibrating it with probes [source: TerraSystems]. To get the complex shape just right, designers and contractors use Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) to plot the palm and ensure the sand placement within 0.39 of an inch. Palm Jumeirah is already packed with villas and hotels, with some early buyers complaining that the plots are more closely spaced than they were led to believe. Buyers are a mixture of long-term residents, vacationers and speculators hoping to cash in on skyrocketing prices. When the island is complete, Nakheel expects 120,000 residents and workers plus as many as 20,000 tourists a day. Construction workers lived on the fronds and in anchored cruise ships while building the island. To facilitate tourism and make life easier for residents, the six-lane Sub-Sea Tunnel connects Palm Jumeirah to the mainland. Workers used a dam to drain the area and excavate the seabed before rereleasing the water. Developers have plans for a four-stop monorail that will race the length of the palm. To learn more about the Palm Islands and Dubai, look over the links on the next page. THE PALMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Although the development company, Nakheel, took steps to minimize the environmental effects of construction by transporting fish and marine animals outside of the palms' breakwaters, the islands have still harmed the area's marine environment. Rocks and sand

buried oyster beds and coral reefs and altered currents eroded the mainland shore. Meanwhile, the owners of once-desirable shore properties complain that the islands destroy their view.

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/dubai-palm1.htm

Sources "Dubai's palm island being readied for first residents." USA Today. August 7, 2006.http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-08-07-dubai-palm_x.htm "Dubai's palm island hit by blaze." BBC News. May 6, 2007.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6630805.stm Krane, Jim. "Arab Island Resorts are Reshaping Geography." MSNBC. March 8, 2005.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7051051/ "Meet the first resident of Dubai's palm-shaped man-made island." Daily Mail. June 22, 2007.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html? in_article_id=463694&in_page_id=1811 Molavi, Afshin. "Sudden City." National Geographic. January, 2007 "The Palm." Nakheel Co. http://www.thepalm.ae/ Reina, Peter. "Palm-Shaped Islands Symbolize Dubai's New Wealth." ENR. November 6, 2006. http://proquest.umi/com/pqdweb? did=1161838961&Fmt=3&clientld=30451&RQT=309&VName=PQD "UAE unveils mega-waterfront plan." BBC News. January 29, 2005.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4219017.stm Weiner, Eric. "Building 'The World' off the Coast of Dubai." NPR. June 13, 2005.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4700950

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Introducing the worlds longest underwater gas pipeline As the global demand for energy continues to rise, so does the demand for bigger and longer conduits for the transportation of gas. One such conduit is the new 745 mile-long Norways Ormen Lange natural gas pipeline. This pipeline is constructed for exporting of gas from the Norways Ormen Lange, one of the largest natural gas reserves of the world to the national Transmission system in the United Kingdom. Built at a total cost of 1.7 billion pounds ($2.6 Billion), the pipeline is about 725 miles (1,166 km) in length and has a carrying capacity of 26 billion cubic meters per year. As in any other project of similar grandiosity, construction of this pipeline presented some unique challenges. One particular hurdle was the drilling conditions which comprised of rocky and uneven seabed beneath the North Sea. These conditions, coupled with the ever-present tectonic movements, ridges and existing pipelines also added to the factor of disadvantage. To access the gas reserves in the Ormen Lange, ground breaking work was required with developer having to use unmanned modules and building equipment to place the platform on the ocean floor. With a projected output of 70 million m3, the gas extracted from the Ormen Lange is entirely for transport, mostly through a network of seabed pipelines laid in rugged seabed terrain. Super Pipeline Super Pipeline Gas pipeline from Norway to Great Britain Gas pipeline from Norway to Great Britain

Located on the west side of Landscape Avenue in the Olympic Green and to the west of National Stadium (Bird's Nest), it contains the official 2008 Olympics swimming facility. The construction started on December 24th, 2003 and was finished on January 1st, 2008. It measures 177 meters (194 yards) long, 177meters wide, and 30 meters (98 feet) high and covers an area of 62,950 sq meters (75,287 sq yard). It has four floors: one at street level, two above, and one below. Its floor space reaches 79,532 sq meters (95,119 sq yard), while the below street level area is no less than 15,000 sq meters (17,939 sq yard). The one below served as the service area during the Olympics. The first floor is for

tourists. The auditorium is on the second floor with 6,000 fixed seats (2,000 of which are movable), and 11,000 temporary seats. The third floor is strictly for business. Design Idea

National Aquatics Center The design combines modern technologies with Chinese traditional values. In tradition, Chinese conceptualized a square Earth and a round Heaven, and this formed the design's central theme. Moreover, the cube shape dominates ancient urban buildings. Its design is of traditional style to meet all its functional requirements. The Blend of Architecture & Advanced Technology Designed by Chinese and Australian, it is the first building in the world built upon "the soap bubble" theory, and sports a polyhedral steel-framed structure.The ETFE (the ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) membrane insulates it. This advanced membrane structure is formed by 3,065 bubble-like pneumatic cushions of all sizes. It becomes the first large-scale public project coated with the membrane, and it also has set up a new world record for its massive deployment. It looks like a huge blue box, from which it takes its nickname: the Water Cube. It is blue in order to reflect sunlight. It shines in the sunlight like a pearl in water. From the inside, you may discover that the pneumatic cushions of all sizes are just like sea bubbles. Various high technology and green technology are present in its construction. Popular Science magazine chose it the Best of Whats New of 2006.

Swimming Pool Post-Games Uses

Inside Water Cube

During the 2008 Olympic Games, it hosted swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming competitions. After the Games, it turns into the international advanced center of swimming, sports, health-building services, and leisure activities. Functional Zones inside

Water Cube at Night The Water World You will be charmed by the Water World. You want to make a long pause. The Watercube Waterpark Open on August 8, 2010, this themed indoor waterpark is open after ten month's renovation. It is in the south part of the aquatics center. There are various of places inside

the park to have fun: Tornado Rides, Bulletbowl, AquaLoop, Speedslide, Kid's Pool, Ride House, Pipeline, Wave Pool, Spa Pool, Lazy River and Passion for Stage. The SPA Zone The SPA zone is equipped with international advanced SPA facilities and technology. It is a good place to relax. Restaurants and Bars Restaurants and Bars share the characteristics of its design. You can enjoy gourmet meals in water-theme restaurants. The Business Section Wandering in the business section, you can see various souvenirs. You will also know more about it and swimming events in the Olympic Games here, and the latest information about water. Admission Fee: CNY 30 Swimming in the training pool: CNY 50 for two hours (13:00-21:00 from Mondayto Friday, 09:00 - 21:00 from Saturday to Sunday) Waterpark: CNY 200 including admission fee to enter Water Cube (Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00; ticket-selling time: 09:00 - 20:30); CNY 160 for kids (1.2-1.4 meters tall). *CNY140 for Through Tickets of Beijing Landmark Tour, including the National Aquatics Center, the National Stadium, the National Centre for Performing Arts and the CCTV Tower; the ticket is valid for one month. 9:00-21:00 (Monday-Sunday); 1. Take bus 510, 81, 607, 82 and get off at Beichenxi Qiao Bei Station; 2. Take bus 611, 689, Yuntong 113, 939, 944, 656, 740 (Outer Line), 983, 658, 660, 386, 407, 753, 740 (Inner Line) and get off at Beichen Qiao Xi Station; 3. Take bus Zhuan 40, 913, Yuntong 110, 630, 419, 379, 328, 617, 628, 751, 484 and get off at Wali Nankou Station. 1. Subway line 8: get off at Olympic Sports Center Station 2. Subway line 10: get off at Beitucheng Station, transfer to subway line 8 and get off at Olympic Sports Center Station Beijing Bus / Subway Search

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http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/water-cube.htm Aug 31, 2013