Aurecon designing flood resilient ferry terminals: Brisbane ferry terminal network

Designing flood resilient ferry terminals

Brisbane Ferry Terminal Network

Modelling video included3 D

Many major cities around the world rely on ferry transportation to help reduce traffic congestion during peak times and to provide a fast link across bodies of water.

Water transportation

Cities built beside waterways are particularly vulnerable to future flood events which can have a paralysing effect on a city causing:• Limited or no accessibility to parts

of the city• Delayed delivery of goods and

extra cost• Commuter time delays • Costly rebuild of infrastructure

Flood vulnerability

What can a city do to increase its flood resilience?

Brisbane cityA case study

Brisbane Flood

The January 2011 Brisbane flood destroyed thousands of residential and commercial properties and one third of the passenger ferry terminals were destroyed or severely damaged, significantly compromising the river city’s public transport network.

Oh no! 8 out of

24 ferry terminals are out of service!

AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

To protect against the paralysing effect of future floods, Brisbane City Council undertook an AUD 100 million upgrade programme for the Brisbane ferry terminal network.

Aurecon and Cox Rayner Architects won an open design competition, which attracted 65 submissions from around the world, to design new ferry terminals that would be resilient to future flood events and accessible to all.

Taking action

What is innovative about the Brisbane Ferry Terminals?

The unique flood resilient design features allow for a terminal which can be returned to operation shortly after significant flood events.

Avoids visual ‘forest of piles’

1A single upstream pier structure replaces a series of conventional guide piles and provides for a highly sculptural solution to the architecture of the terminals.

AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

Structure deflects debris

2An upstream rubber fender serves to absorb the energy of and deflect heavy objects away during a flood event to prevent damage to the terminal.

AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

Reduces negative lift

3The boat-hull inspired pontoon shape reduces negative lift on leading edge and drag force during floods, as well as minimises the risk of debris impact.

AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

Automatically releasing gangway

4A gangway provides lateral restraint during operation then utilises buoyancy to automatically detach from the shore and rotate behind the pontoon during a flood to minimise damage.

AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

Support changes function during flood

5The downstream lateral restraint changes function during a flood to provide lateral restraint to the pontoon when the gangway has disengaged from its landside support.

Operating - fender

Flood - restraint

AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

Maintains accessibility

Unique gangway floor mechanics which maintain level intermediate landings throughout the tidal range provide what is believed to be a world-first solution for achieving compliant disabled access.

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AURECON ONFLOOD RESILIENCE

Design application

This technology to provide resilience in infrastructure can be applied to any ferry terminal network world wide.

The design ushers in a new generation of terminals which provideresilience and longevity even in the face of natural disasters.

Read more on our website!

Contact:

Arne NilsenTechnical Director +61 7 3173 8086Arne.Nilsen@aurecongroup.com