The Yellow River, the second-longest river in China, has undergone a "smart" transformation in the Licheng district of Jinan, East China's Shandong province, where a series of cutting-edge technologies are being used in river management.

At the Huashan section of the Yellow River in Jinan, river management staff members who used to physically inspect the riverbanks can now access real-time video feeds and data at their fingertips.

"The section implements 24-hour video monitoring and inspection. The images on the large screen automatically refresh every 5 seconds, and the key parts can be seen at a glance," explained Liu Hang, the person in charge of the Huashan management section of the Licheng Yellow River Administration Bureau. "The monitoring lighting equipment is connected to a mobile app, and a timer switch can be set to ensure the lighting automatically turns on, which is very convenient."

The adoption of cutting-edge technology enables close river monitoring and swift responses to changing conditions.

Xie Yuqing, a drone operator from the Huashan management section of the Yellow River, stated that in the past, patrolling embankments relied on walking, but now drones provide a detailed view of the river's course.

Using drones to patrol the river compensates for the limitations of traditional manual inspections, reaches hard-to-access areas, and shortens inspection times, as Liu explained.

Additionally, video conferencing systems have been applied to streamline communication and enable experts and stakeholders from various regions to collaborate effectively, according to the bureau.