WUHAN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Drone docking stations have been set up in some of the geologically hazardous zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, enabling automated surveys and monitoring of geological conditions in China's biggest reservoir basin.
Each station has an effective coverage radius of about 5 kilometers, with a single round trip taking roughly 20 minutes for a drone, said the Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey.
The Three Gorges Reservoir region, along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, is known for its steep mountains, sheer slopes and complex rock formations, along with periodic changes in reservoir water levels. These factors make it one of China's most disaster-prone areas for geological hazards.
With this technology, geological risk inspections can be completely automated, so professional drone pilots no longer need to be stationed in remote mountainous areas, according to the center.
"This move enhances the monitoring and emergency response capabilities at hidden geological danger points and risk zones in this region," said Huang Jue, a senior engineer at the Wuhan center.
According to the center, multiple drone docking stations will be deployed to operate in the steep canyon zones of the Three Gorges region, working alongside satellite-based remote sensing, surface displacement monitoring equipment and rain gauges to form an integrated monitoring system.
Leveraging low-altitude intelligent remote sensing technology to bridge gaps in conventional inspection methods, the drone system helps build a more efficient, safer, and more precise integrated "space-air-ground" geological risk monitoring system there, according to Huang.
"The rise and fall of reservoir water levels is one of the factors influencing the stability of mountain slopes. Some landslides in the reservoir region have special soil-rock structures, and require intensive monitoring," Huang said.
Geological hazard inspections in the region previously relied mainly on manual patrols and ground monitoring equipment. Steep, uneven terrain, dispersed monitoring points and limited road access hampered those operations, with high-risk areas inaccessible, inspections infrequent and emergency response delayed.
"In recent years, drone-based patrol and monitoring have emerged as a new technology in geological risk prevention thanks to technological progress and widespread applications," Huang added.
Since missions can be launched and monitored through a remote management platform, with only one technician remotely managing multiple drone nests, this approach, especially for remote geological hazard sites in mountainous areas, cuts deployment costs, and saves time.
"Notably, it eliminates the safety risks of sending inspection personnel into high-risk areas such as high, steep, unstable rock masses and landslide bodies, preventing rockfalls and secondary landslides from threatening on-site staff," Huang added.
The drone docking stations enable frequent, real-time hazard monitoring -- stepped up in flood season -- shifting risk tracking from periodic inspections to continuous surveillance, with live drone feeds to command centers improving coordination and emergency response, Huang said.
"Thanks to these significant advantages, drone docking stations have become the promising technical support for safeguarding people's lives and property and for advancing ecological conservation and high-quality development," Huang added. ■
