China State Construction (CSCEC) has announced it will build a new 1,020sqm helipad at a Chinese research station that is located on the coast of the Ross Sea in Antarctica.
The structure will be delivered using more than 400 pre-cast concrete panels manufactured from high-strength concrete developed by CSCEC. The panels have already been transported to Antarctica in containers, the firm added.
Once the helipad is complete, it will facilitate the transportation of supplies and scientific research equipment for various research stations on the Antarctic.
According to the firm, the helipad will be designed to withstand the freezing temperatures of the region. CSCEC said that its pre-cast panels demonstrated better overall stiffness, crack resistance, and durability than conventional panels.
A spokesperson for the firm noted, “The prefabricated helipad, characterised by fast construction, minimal material turnover, and a high degree of mechanisation, is better suited to the construction requirements of the station.”
Chinese officials have said the country has already completed the main building of a scientific hub on the coast of the Ross Sea. The whole station is expected to take two months to complete and will house 84 internal modules, with 16 for winter accommodation and 26 for summer.
China has already built four other Antarctic research stations, two serving as all-year stations and two as summer stations. The newest station with be a third all-year facility in the region.
