Heilongjiang Province’s First “Air-Supported Structure for Excavation Pits” Begins Operation

　　As an emerging eco-friendly measure in construction, foundation pit air-supported structures offer significant advantages in dust control, noise reduction, and the ability to conduct continuous construction operations around the clock. Recently, Heilongjiang Province’s first “foundation pit air-supported structure” was put into use. This structure is also the world’s largest ultra-large air-supported structure in terms of height-to-span ratio, providing a new approach to urban infrastructure construction in extremely cold regions.

　　At the construction site for the new student dormitory project at Harbin Institute of Technology, a massive structure resembling a giant white balloon catches the eye—this is Heilongjiang Province’s first excavation pit air-supported structure. With the construction site located less than ten meters from nearby student dormitories and laboratories, can this “inflatable canopy” truly block out the noise of construction?

　　This air-supported structure acts like a pair of extra-large “noise-canceling earmuffs” and a “dust mask” for the construction site, effectively blocking noise, light, and dust pollution at the source. To ensure indoor air quality, six high-powered intake fans and two exhaust vents continuously circulate the air, while sensors monitor air pressure and air quality around the clock, triggering automatic alarms if readings exceed standards. It also allows construction crews to say goodbye to the days of “weather-dependent construction” once and for all.

　　Most standard construction air-supported structures are “short and wide,” with a height often only half their width. Limited by their internal space, they can only be used temporarily during initial earthwork operations; In contrast, this air-supported structure measures over 151 meters in length, over 46 meters in width, and reaches a maximum height of 42 meters. It currently holds the highest height-to-width ratio among the world’s super-large air-supported structures. This “tall version” can easily accommodate large construction machinery, such as pile drivers, allowing its service period to extend from the earthwork excavation phase to the pile foundation construction phase, thereby enabling a longer cycle of green operations. To make the most of this new type of air-supported structure, Harbin Institute of Technology overcame significant technical challenges.

　　The future of excavation pit air-supported structures extends beyond construction sites; they can also be used to contain dust and odors in mines, coal yards, and landfills, serve as community venues and emergency shelters, and be utilized for cold-chain storage and modern agriculture. Their application prospects are particularly broad in northern regions, where winters are long and construction seasons are short.