On the Application and Benefits of an Integrated Geophysical and Geotechnical Digital Ground Model to Optimize a Site Investigation Survey for an Offshore Wind Farm Project

Site investigation is an integral and critical part in the development of any offshore wind farm (OWF) project. Due to the very large area of site coverage (tens of km2) and to the high cost associated with the investigation, coupled with the challenges of working in an offshore environment and changing priorities in terms of budget, schedule and design/ construction/ operation decisions, it is important to optimize the site investigation based on sound engineering principles, existing best practices and by making the best use of the existing ground condition understanding. This paper describes the use of a digital ground model, which integrates geophysical and geotechnical data, as a powerful tool to help create a fully justified strategy for the next phase of site investigation of an OWF project in Taiwan. The principal components of a ground model are described and discussed, following up with the important task of reviewing existing data and evaluating the reliability of the datasets. The benefits of establishing and using a digitized ground model are well understood in the UK and Northern Europe, and the Authors are looking forward to the proper usage of this tool in Asia, where recent developments are taking place on an impressive scale.