Growth, Layout and special structures
The following is a postulated first growth design.
Key:
| Green | Float cell |
| Red | Firebreaker |
| Blue | Trap cell |
| Pink | Cellular heavy lift |
| Yellow | Semi-float |
| Black | Extra structures |
| Filled Blue | Tree |
I.
In the initial stages, cheap and easy to handle all-plastic float stages would be used, with just a few fireproof concrete and sand/water filled cells to reduce the chance of fire spreading (1). Dangerous or very vibratory work would be done on ship, or on a smaller pontoon separated by a gangplank and tethers (2). The basic docks are on the left of the diagram.
II.
The growth patterns would be set by the initial designs, some of which are semi-permanent, and others which are transitory. Note the addition of a "beach" (3) where people can relax, and the waters are mirror-like and just a few feet deep. Hey, we could even ship in some sand! Note (4) which is a sea-break, using both flexible and heavy units for shelter. The filled blue blocks are upturned floats for use as tree "pots" in which trees will have several metres of soil to grow in, and these would be permanent sites as unattached to their neighbours they would sink like rocks!
(5) serves a useful function, as a fishing spot, for both pleasure and food, due to fish tending to congregate under outposts such as this. (6) are fire proofed areas, in that even in the event of a flaming oilslick, they will be relatively safe, protected by the fire resistant cells around them, or the water traps (5) & (7) which can not be reached by oil or spilt fuels due to the depth and height to which the float cells reach. Note that the beach is also separated, by further back, so that wave action running up the shore cannot carry burning oil beyond the firebreaks. Non-essential features such as the sea-break are not given such protection, and only use some heavier concrete cells in order to improve their function.
III.
In this diagram, the engineering area has been moved in to attach directly to the main area for support, and additionally some blocks have been replaced by heavy lift blocks (8) using the cellular construction bottle technique outlined earlier. In order to provide a catchment area for fuel storage or chemicals which could harm the environment, the upturned concrete cells (9) are used to surround the area. Greater protection could be provided if they were all lowered on their mating sides, in order that they would all need to be filled before leakage could occur providing a true bunded area. These cells would be covered by a grill to allow passage. These are then fenced off by fire cells to ensure full protection.
The main other change is that the areas (10) have been opened up to further growth, on the sides away from the beach and the docks.
Obviously, all of the features shown here would be more dilute on the real installation due to it's increased size. However, the protections shown here are needed to provide piece of mind. Note that some cells would be lost to water storage, etc. for emergencies and lost of supply. Power would also be distributed. The rules shown here are largely scalable, and with wear sensors, water pipes and communication cables routed under the surface, the systems and cells would soon become too complex for simple chopping and changing. Order, of a form, is needed from the beginning. A central plan will be needed to say "Yeah" or "Nay" on grounds of stability, as well as for control of the underwater workers, who will have to be used to handling many different types of cable and system underwater, without damaging existing systems and repairing faults, whilst being surrounded by tubes, wires and pipes. This central office would also be responsible for mapping the system, and checking and installation of the TDR fibre sensors, water, power, pneumatic tubes and, presumably, a central waste processing area for both rubbish and excreta.