Gough Island

The project involved carrying out a feasibility study into the siting of temporary buildings on the remote Gough Island, which is a dependency of Tristan da Cunha and part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island’s only human habitation is a small meteorological station operated by the South African government, but is a World Heritage Site due to being one of the world’s most important seabird nesting sites.

These temporary structures were required as part of a large-scale mouse-eradication programme, led by RSPB. This non-native species is killing critically endangered seabird chicks.

The feasibility study involved both a desktop study and site visit to this remote island. The desktop study involved gaining information on the site from the Tristan da Cunha government as well as the British Geological Survey.

The site visit included a trip onboard a South African Antarctic research vessel ( S.A Agulhas ii) that stops at Gough Island twice yearly. A full topographical survey and geotechnical site investigation were undertaken in order to determine the site levels / features and ground conditions to allow foundations to be designed.

Click to expand the photos below