Installation of interlocking green ultra-lightweight foamed fibre-reinforced floating concrete pavement (4 m x 4 m x 60mm) on site
In the aquaculture industry, where sustainability and efficiency are
paramount concerns, a groundbreaking project has emerged as a beacon of
innovation. Spearheaded by a team of academics and researchers from UTAR Lee
Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES), the project titled
“Installation method of interlocking green self-consolidating
ultra-lightweight foamed fibre-reinforced floating concrete pavement for
fish farm in Pangkor Island”, aims to bring a transformative solution to the
fish farm industry.
This
breakthrough project is led by Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Yew Ming Kun,
along with other team members, namely LAr Ts Dr Beh Jing Han, Assoc Prof Ir
Ts Dr Yew Ming Chian, Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Bernard Saw Lip Huat, Assoc Prof
Ir Dr Lim Siong Kang and Ir Ts Dr Lee Foo Wei.
Group photo with fish farm owner Mr Chow Cha Leng (third from left) at Pangkor Island after the fish cage installation
The innovative project undertaken by the LKC
FES team has transitioned from the laboratory scale to meet the real-scale
demands of the aquaculture industry at Pangkor Island, Malaysia.
This project offers
a solution to meet the increasingly stringent requirements for
environmentally friendly products. This patented invention fulfils the
principles of recycling, reusable, and renewable (3R), and it complies with
the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. It holds potential
benefits for various industries, particularly the aquaculture industry in
Malaysia.
Compared to conventional chengal wood commonly used in the local aquaculture
industry, this invention has proven to be more time and cost-saving, safer,
eco-friendly, lighter, floatable, durable, and sustainable. Moreover, it can
be entirely manufactured locally. A knowledge transfer programme and
training activity focused on the installation method of the interlocking
system of ultra-lightweight foamed concrete pavement was held among UTAR,
the Marine Products Association, and Pangkor Dolphin Fish Farm in
Pangkor Island from 15 to 16 December 2023.
This
specific installation method demonstrated significant efficiency, allowing
completion within 2.5 hours, compared to the traditional method, which took
up to 12 hours per unit (4 m x 4 m fish cage) as stated by the fish farm
owner Mr Chow Cha Leng. The training aimed to streamline the fish cage
installation process, providing a more time-efficient and cost-effective
approach to fish farming industries. Mr Chow expressed strong enthusiasm in
collaborating with UTAR and the local aquaculture industry for
commercialisation. This invention has demonstrated a decrease in density of
up to 50% and cost savings of over 30% in materials cost as compared to
conventional chengal wood fish cages.
Large scale (4 m x 4m x 70mm) ultra-lightweight foamed floating test in UTAR
Kampar campus lake
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