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NEWSNew Indian Research Base at Larsemann HillsIMS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH has been awarded the planning of the new Indian Research Base at Larsemann Hills, Antarctica. After two years of acquisition and contractual negotiations IMS, member of NET with special expertise in the field of hydraulic and offshore engineering, received the signed contract in early January 2009. IMS is a leader of a consortium including two consulting companies and a group of architects. The assigned works cover all planning phases, asstistance to the international bidding process and construction supervision. The story began in 2006 with an international design competition initiated by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) of India. By that time, IMS had recently finalized the design of the new German Antarctic Research Station Neumayer III together with its partner m+p consulting and was invited to take part in the design competition. Within only two months the conceptual design was elaborated and handed in by IMS and its partners m+p consulting for the tasks of technical equipment and bof architects for the architectural design. The design concept includes a two-storey structure made of prefabricated containers that will be shipped to the site. To cope with the strong and cold winds, the station contour consists of an aerodynamically formed outer shell made from highly insolating sandwich elements. The station will be installed on piles above the ground to let the wind pass over and underneath the station and to avoid snow accumulation. The technical equipment includes essential infrastructure like energy and water supply, heating and air condition, sewage water treatment, and units for a hospital and cooking facilities. The equipment will be designed under consideration of the sensitive ecosystem according to the Antarctic Treaty. It is intended to offer a high level of comfort to the scientists also during the Antarctic winter. For that, the base will be equipped also with a praying room and a cinema. The challenge of the project is the adversity of the project location. The Larsemann Hills demand for a foundation of the research base on bedrock, a new boat landing several hundred of meters apart from the site, and a new vehicle access road in order to transport the prefabricated elements and construction equipment from ship to the site. The consortium was selected from a large number of international competitors as IMS obtained experience not only in offshore engineering tasks but also in the design and engineering for other complex structures that are to be installed, operated and decommissioned under extreme natural conditions. The planning services for Neumayer III have been an excellent reference. A team member of IMS is currently on his way to Antarctica to start establishing the basis of the project by data assimilation. Dr. Peter Ruland
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