FLOATING OFFSHORE AIRPORTS IN TAIWAN: FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Abstract

Offshore facilities like floating airports are emerging as viable infrastructure for urban and industrial purposes. Floating airports, built on pneumatic or light materials, can be positioned in deeper waters or farther offshore, offering advantages over traditional coastal airports. An offshore airport  provides certain advantages for the planning of sustainable infrastructure: (1) reduced air pollution and noise effects for adjacent neigh borhoods; (2) safe operation during difficult weather conditions; (3) an airstrip away from other urban structures to prevent accidents during take-off and landing; (4) the extension of city centers that are built near the coast; (5) the possibility of green planning at areclaimed plot.  If the airport is floating, this allows to position it even further away from the city center, to prevent noise and air pollution and to provide safety to city inhabitants in the event of accidents on the airport and during take-off and landing. We present here a detailed analysis on the feasibility for the construction of an offshore airport at above site from a planning and engineering perspective. This study synthesizes literature (1930–2025) to evaluate the planning paradigms, engineering feasibility, and environmental impacts of floating offshore airports. Utilizing a systematic review methodology, we analyze projects (e.g., Japan’s Mega-Float, Dalian Jinzhou Bay) and case studies (e.g., Taiwan’s South Star Project). Key findings indicate: (1) Pneumatic Stabilized Platforms (PSP) offer deep-water adaptability but face cost-accessibility trade-offs; (2) Reclamation-based airports reduce wave instability yet accelerate coastal erosion; (3) Taiwan’s experience highlights stakeholder conflicts in coastal development. We conclude that floating airports require multi-criteria feasibility frameworks balancing technical innovation with ecological safeguards.