New Sydney Fish Market

Solar-powered automated monitoring with total stations, inclinometers and piezometers, ensuring cofferdam stability and safety during Sydney Fish Market construction.

The New Sydney Fish Market Project

The new Sydney Fish Market, designed by renowned architects 3XN, will be a stunning showcase for the seafood industry. It opens up great opportunities for promoting seafood, education, and events. The project’s main objective is to modernize and enhance the beloved Sydney Fish Market while retaining its authentic charm. It aims to create a world-class cultural icon that will attract both locals and global visitors, showcasing the region’s fresh seafood and the city’s beauty to the world.

The situation

In order to build the market over Blackwattle Bay, two hectares of the seabed had to be exposed. This task was achieved by pumping hundreds of millions of litres of water from a temporary water-tight cofferdam. The cofferdam, specifically designed to hold up to 5 meters of water, played a vital role in ensuring the project’s safety. To maintain its effectiveness, a comprehensive monitoring system has been proposed.
Sixense Oceania has been engaged by the main contractor Multiplex and cofferdam builder JSteel to provide and install the monitoring system.

What we’ve delivered

Sixense Oceania installed a monitoring system with sensors connected to a wireless network. This system allows real-time tracking of the cofferdam’s water level and movement. It comprises two solar-powered automated total stations known as Cyclops, equipped with 60 structural monitoring prisms to accurately measure deflection at the top of the cofferdam.
Additionally, six strategically placed inclinometers monitor deflections at different depths, while eleven piezometers closely track water levels inside and outside the cofferdam, providing vital data on water pressure changes.
All the collected data is consolidated using Sixense’s monitoring software, Beyond Monitoring. This software enables users to interactively view graphs, manage automated alarms, and generate detailed reports.
In conclusion, this comprehensive monitoring system with various sensors ensures the cofferdam’s stability and safety, allowing timely interventions if needed.