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A REPORT ON

ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

MR. JAGDISH MALLICK
(ASST. PROFESSOR IN CIVIL ENGINEERING)

SUBMITTED TO
DR. DEBABRATA GIRI
HOD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SUBMITTED BY

BIJAYANANDA ROUTRAY
(1221109005)
PARALA MAHARAJA ENGINEERING COLLEGE
A Constituent college of B.P.UT
Govt. of Odisha
Sitalapalli, BERHAMPUR-761003

PARALA MAHARAJA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

A Constituent college of B.P.UT
Govt. of Odisha
Sitalapalli, BERHAMPUR-761003
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
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CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work titled “ARTIFICIAL

ISLANDS” is a bonafied work done by BIJAYANANDA
ROUTRAY, Regd.no - 1221109005, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of degree of Bachelor of Technology and
submitted to Civil Engineering department, Parala Maharaja
Engineering College, Berhampur.

P.M.E.C, Berhampur Date: _____________

MR. JAGDISH MALLICK DR. DEBABRATA GIRI

ASST. PROFESSOR IN CIVIL HOD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Firstly, I would like to express my heartful pleasure for giving

me an opportunity to do a seminar work, apart from the other courses
offered in the college. This system of curriculum in the college,
significantly ensure the broadening of knowledge and experience of
the students.
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I shall not forget to give my special thanks to MR. JAGDISH

MALLICK, for his overall assistance and coordination in selection of
seminar topic and for his invaluable suggestions and encouragements
extended at all stages of seminar work.
In fact, this seminar would not have been successfully
completed without the constant supports and guidance of DR.
DEBABRATA GIRI. I wish to gratefully extend my deep sense of
gratitude and sincere thanks to him for his help particularly in the
field Foundation Construction of Burj Al Arab and its various
components.
I am also very thankful to all faculty members of civil
Engineering Department for sharing their precious knowledge and
support during the course of this seminar work.
Finally, I acknowledge all our classmates and friends for their
cooperation, help and encouragement during the execution of this
seminar work.

P.M.E.C, Berhampur Date: _____________

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ABSTRACT :

An artificialor man-made island  is an

island or archipelago (group of islands) that has been
constructed by people rather than formed by natural
means. An artificial island can be constructed at
anywhere in any size & shape. It can be used for
various purposes like industry, infrastructure,
agriculture & tourism development.
In this report there is a short description about the
construction process involved in artificial island like
land reclamation, dredging, soil bed preparation,
underwater concreting, advantages & disadvantages.
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION

2. REASONS FOR CONSTRUCTION

3. PREVIOUS USAGE

4. DESIGN CONSIDERATION

5. LOAD IMPOSED IN DESIGN

1. Permanent Load

2. Variable Load

3. Environmental Load

6. SOIL BED PREPARATION

1. Function of Sand

2. Processes Involved in Sand Placement

7. DREDGING

1. Dredging Basics

2. Common Dredging Methods

8. CONCRETING

1. Stages Involved

2. Materials Used For Underwater Concrete

9. OTHER PROCESSES
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1. Breakwater Construction

2. Vibro Compaction

10. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

11. FAMOUS ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS

12. REFERENCES

Introduction

An artificial or man-made island is an

island or archipelago (group of islands) that has been
constructed by people rather than formed by natural
means.
They are created by expanding existing islets,
construction on exiting reefs, construction on sea bed,
land reclamation or amalgamating several natural
islets into a bigger island.
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Reasons For Construction:

1. Industry
2. Infrastructure (ports and airports)
3. Extended runways
4. Recreation
5. Mining of natural resources
6. Oil drills and exploration platforms.
7. Tidal or wind energy generation.
8. Recreational structures like hotels or water
parks.
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Previous Usage:

1. Artificial islands have been used since the

seventeenth century for coastal defence and
as extensions of the land base.
2. Artificial islands are being used as oil
exploration and production platforms.
3. Japan has several artificial islands, with a total
area of over 1000 sq km .
4. Artificial islands are being used to provide a
platform for coal mine ventilation shaft
access, positively contributes to the safety,
effective ventilation and reserves of a coal
mine.
5. Technology of artificial island construction is
available to construct islands in water depths
of 70 m.
6. Artificial islands become a focus for sea life,
enhancing the marine environment.
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Design Considerations:
1. Water depth
2. wave height range climate
3. ice conditions
4. tidal range
5. currents
6. foundation conditions
7. earthquake risk
8. source of materials
9. shipping lanes
10. existing pipelines and cables
11. legal aspects
12. environmental considerations
13. fisheries considerations
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LOAD IMPOSED IN DESIGN:

1. Permanent loads
2. Variable loads
3. Environmental loads
Permanent loads :
1. The weight of the structure and superstructures
calculated from nominal values of dimensions
2. Equipment which cannot be removed
3. Hydrostatic external pressure and buoyancy in
calm sea conditions calculated for mean sea level.
4. Ballast including ballast water pressure
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5. Permanent earth pressure

Variable Loads:
1. Weight of equipments , materials and stores which
may be removed after the phase considered.
2. Variations in internal and external pressure from
water, oil, gas etc. caused by normal operating of
the structure
3. Loads due to movement of vessels, helicopter
landing, cranes or drilling operations.
Environmental Loads :
1. Wind
2. Weather loads due to heating and cooling
3. Sea loads like wave loads, tidal loads, currents etc.
4. Earthquake and tsunami loads.
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SOIL BED PREPERATION:

The functions of sand in the structure are as
follows :
1. Formation of a protection or isolation layer
2. Providing of ballast weight
3. Providing vertical support or load distribution
4. Providing of horizontal soil pressure
5. Providing of drainage capacity
6. Filling Voids
Processes Involved in sand placement:
1. The source of construction materials critical items in the
choice of island sites. Ideally, a good quality coarse
grained sand must be located within 5 to 10 km of the
island site.
2. The barges are towed to the island site and the sand
dumped directly from the trailer.
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3. When the water depth becomes too shallow, the sand is

dumped at a borrow pit and pumped by a stationary
dredge to the specified site.
4. The sand is protected by rock revetments and a layer of
armour rock.
5. The top layer of sand can be sprayed with a bitumen
emulsion and a layer of soil. Then a suitable grass is
planted to reduce erosion.
DREDGING:
Dredging Basics:
Dredging is the term given to digging,
gathering, or pulling out material to deepen
waterways, create harbours, channels, locks, docks
and berths, de-silt lakes and keep river entrances
and approaches to boat ramps clear. The material
removed during dredging can vary greatly and can be
any combination of rocks, clays, silts or sands.
In other words dredging can be
termed as Maritime Transportation of natural
materials from one part of the water environment to
another by specialised dredging vessels.
Common Dredging Methods:
Suction Dredging:
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Sand will be dredged by putting the suction tube

deep (> 10 m) into the sand layer. Under the
influence of gravity forces the sand departs from the
slope and flows downward in the direction of the
suction mouth.
Cutter Section Dredging:

With cutter suction dredging the

suction tube is provided with a rotating cutter
head. The swing movement is initiated by the
means of forward-side-winch wires directly
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behind the cutter head. A spud pole positioned

on the ships aft functions as centre of the swing
movement.

Factors in Selection of Dredger:

1. Kind of soils and operation area
2. Dredging depth, capacities
3. Degree of self-sufficiency, self-propelled or
stationary.
4. If self-propelled: which cutter ladder position (bow
or stern oriented)
5. Seagoing dredging capability.
6. Type and stroke of spud carriage (flexibility
required)
7. Spud handling and hoisting system(s).
8. Cutter type, diameter, speed, power.
9. Pump characteristics.
10. Requirements related to noise and vibrations (incl.
construction fatigue)
11. Degree of automation.
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Geometrical Properties :
Geometrical properties are related to the dredging
work itself.
1. Water depth at start
2. Water depth to be realized
3. Canal width, slope.

Soil Properties :
Soil properties of the material to be dredged strongly
influence the production of the dredger. Examples are:
1. Density
2. Hardness, strength
3. Grain size distribution
Soil properties can also influence the workability of the
dredger. Hard soil means small allowance of wave
induced ships movements.
Construction Process:
The material dredged from the seafloor is placed either
by the dredger itself by pumps on deck.
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CONCRETING:
The following stages are involved:
1. Temporary tube piles driven into sea bed
2. Temporary sheet piles and tie rods driven into sea
bed to support boundary rocks.
3. Permanent boundary rock bunds deposited on
either side of sheet piles
4. Hydraulic fill layers deposited between bunds to
displace sea water and form island
5. Permanent concrete armour units placed around
island to protect it from the waves
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6. Piles driven through island and sea bed below to

stabilize structure
7. Island interior excavated and temporary sheet pile
coffer dam inserted
8. Thick concrete plug slab laid at base of island
9. Reinforced concrete retaining wall built.
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Materials For Underwater Concrete :

1. Cement : OPC or Rapid hardening cement,
moderate to low C3A content, water cement ratio
less than 0.45, pozzolanic materials like silica
fume, blast furnace slag, etc of high quality may be
added for strength / workability, high alumina
cement should not be used. Minimum content of
400 kg / cubic metre
2. Aggregates : Natural sand or gravel, crushed rock.
Rough cubic or spherical shape, consistent quality
and grading, marine aggregates and those with
shell content should not be used.
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3. Water : Clean and free from harmful matter, sea

water must not be used in reinforced, pre-
stressed, or structural underwater concrete,
subjected to wetting and drying.
4. Admixtures : Air-entraining agents to counter
expansion contraction, workability aids and
retarding admixtures. Admixtures containing
more than 0.1% chloride content should not be
used.
5. Reinforcing Steel : Plain Bars, deformed bars,
welded fabrics may be used provided details of
size, mechanical properties and bond properties
supplied by manufacturer.
6. Sheathing : Rigid or semi-rigid water-tight metal
sheathing should be used. Should be spliced with
tightly fitting sleeves and the joints bound with
waterproof tape.
7. Grout : Usually OPC cement, aggregates if used in
large ducts should consist of siliceous granules,
finely ground limestone, pozzolan or fine sand ;
admixtures to be used after testing, sea water
should not be used.

OTHER PROCESSES:
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Breakwater Construction:
1. A breakwater is a structure which breaks the force
of the waves. It is constructed close to the island
and acts as a protection against strong currents
and winds.
2. The breakwater is constructed using multiple
layers of sand, a water permeable sheet, small
rocks, and layers of armour rocks.
3. The breakwater should be constructed out of rock
rather than concrete to encourage the creation of
an artificial reef.
4. At least two openings in the breakwater should be
created in order to prevent the water inside from
stagnating.
Vibro Compaction:
1. During an earthquake, water-saturated soils can
lose their strength and transform into a liquid-like
state. This process of liquefaction could cause the
reclaimed islands to settle or sink. To prevent this
vibro compaction is done.
2. Vibro Compaction is a process by which sand
particles are caused to float, and then they are
rearranged into a denser state. A vibration probe
penetrates the soil and moves down via a
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combination of vibration, and jets of water and/or

air.
3. The vibrations of the probe reorganizes the soil
particles, compacting them. More infill (sand) is
added until there is a column of compacted
material.
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Advantages Of Reclamation:
1. Any shape, any size & anywhere.
2. Land reclamation will definitely increase land area
for a certain country.
3. More lands, more buildings and better
infrastructure can be built.
4. Can reclaimed lot of lands from flooding.
5. Can be used for mass tourism as Palm Islands,
Dubai.
Disadvantages of Reclamation:
1. As the process is very costly this can lead to
financial crisis.
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2. Slow construction process due to limited

availability of dredgers.
3. Faulty construction process can cause settlement
of the island in deep waters, as in the case of
Kansai Airport, Japan.
4. Land reclamation can be damaging to corals and
marine life.
5. Excessive exposure to winds, tidal forces and
earthquake and tsunami loads hence special
provisions required.

REFERENCES:
1. Construction of offshore structures – Ben C.
Gerwick – John Wiley and sons
2. ARTIFICIAL SAND FILLS IN WATER – Centre for civil
engineering research and codes -
A.A.BALKEMA/ROTTERDAM/BROOKEFIELD.
3. FIP Recommendations for the design and
construction of Concrete sea structures– THOMAS
TELFORD LIMITED.
4. Conceptual design of large Cutter Suction
Dredgers; Jaap L. van Overhagen, Marcel Boor,
André Kik and Caspar H.M.Kramers
5. Brochure : European Dredging Industry
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6. Case Study : Burj Al Arab & Palm Islands ,Dubai

7. Man Made Land Features : The Palm Jumeriah and
Dubai’s Artificial Islands : Terry Austin.
8. Artificial Offshore islands : Patric J.F. Hannon,
J.Wayne LeBlanc.