IN-DEPTH / IN-DEPTH
From regular patrols to abnormality resolutions, how AI technology is contributing to China’s river management
'AI river chief'
By and Published: Jun 30, 2025 07:34 PM
Editor's Note:
Large models, robots, intelligent manufacturing, autonomous driving... In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made headlines around the world.
In real life, AI has permeated all aspects of human society, helping with scientific research in laboratories, assisting in the restoration of mysterious ancient scrolls at archaeological sites, and helping to find abducted children in the vast sea of humanity. The development of technology has also brought challenges in various aspects in ethics and law. Many experts advocate that humans should see technology as a tool created for the ultimate purpose of serving humanity, making life and work more efficient and comfortable.
In light of this, the Global Times has launched the "AI empowers industry and improves people's livelihoods" series, showcasing the tremendous energy and broad prospects that AI brings across every aspect of society. This is the eighth installment in this series, featuring the practical involvement of AI tech in China's river management.
By the riverside, a drone autonomously patrols along a predetermined flight path. As it reaches a bend in the river, an alarm suddenly sounds: "Anomaly detected in the river; suspected debris on the surface." Moments later, local officials arrive at the reported coordinates to address the issue.
This scene exemplifies the daily operations of the "AI river chief" in Anji county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. The system comprises drones, storage facilities, charging stations, and an online AI data platform, all integral components of this innovative approach to river management. About every three days, the drone conducts a thorough inspection of the main channel of the local Huxi River, completing its task in about a day. Manual inspections of this 24-kilometer stretch, in contrast, used to take an entire month.
In China, a "river chief" is a local official tasked with the management and protection of a specific river section, overseeing pollution control, water quality, and environmental cleanup efforts. Nowadays, with rapid advancements in technology, AI has been increasingly deployed in river monitoring and management in some regions across China.
The "AI river chief" has proven to significantly enhance efficiency and reduce the need for manual labor, said some first-line river managers reached by the Global Times. "We have now eliminated manual inspections of Huxi River, which have been replaced by the 'AI river chief,'" said Ye Liang, director of the river chief office under the Anji government. "The 'AI river chief' has greatly assisted us in our work."
Enhancing efficiency
The "AI river chief" commenced operations in Anji's Huxi River in April. Ye explained to the Global Times its general workflow. As soon as the designated working hours begin, a drone takes off and follows a pre-set route to patrol above the Huxi River basin. When the drone detects any anomalies, such as debris on the river surface or illegal constructions along the riverbanks, it captures images and sends them to an online management platform, which is accessible on computers and mobile phones of the relevant river management officials.
According to Ye, they have established eight charging stations along the river, allowing the drones to automatically return to the nearest station for recharging when their battery levels run low.
The introduction of the "AI river chief" has significantly enhanced the efficiency of river patrols. Ye noted that previously, human river chiefs would conduct inspections by combining driving and walking, which took about a month to cover the 24-kilometer main stretch of the river and its banks. "This process was very labor-intensive and time-consuming, and it was inevitable that there were blind spots that were difficult to inspect thoroughly." he said.
Now, the "AI river chief" conducts automatic patrols every three days (or at least once a week), to complete a comprehensive inspection of the Huxi River's main channel within just a day. "This efficiency has improved by over 70 percent, compared to the traditional manual inspections," Ye told the Global Times.
In Tongxiang county, another region with a well-developed water system in Zhejiang's Jiaxing, local human river chiefs are also pleased with their AI colleagues.
Gu Hongli, head of the Tongxiang river management station, oversees more than 70 kilometers of river channels in the area, as well as the over 140 kilometers of riverbanks. Used to conduct river inspections himself, Gu is well aware of the inconveniences associated with manual patrols.
"In some areas inaccessible to vehicles, we had to rely on foot patrol," Gu recalled. "During the 'plum rain' seasons with continuous rainfall in June, it becomes even more challenging to patrol," he said.
This situation has greatly improved since Tongxiang introduced the "AI river chief" for river management in June 2024. The county designated a primary section of the local rivers for a pilot program, installing high-altitude cameras ranging from 35 to 50 meters in height along the riverbanks, which are capable of covering a radius of approximately three kilometers. Working in conjunction with an online AI data platform, these cameras enable 24-hour monitoring of the designated river area. When anomalies are detected, they immediately send alert notifications to the managers' mobile phones via the AI platform.
The involvement of the "AI river chief" has largely boosted the efficiency of river management, said Gu. "In Tongxiang, the river network is dense and intricate, making it very time-consuming for people to patrol every single river," he told the Global Times. "But with AI tech and high-altitude cameras, the entire target area is now fully visible, making our work much more convenient."
'Eyes' and 'brain'
If the drones and cameras represent the "eyes" of the "AI river chief," then the online AI platform serves as its "brain."
In Anji, river management authorities have developed an AI large model in collaboration with local enterprises, which is capable of identifying various conditions along the waterways. This large model can preliminarily assess suspected anomalies captured by drones, and submit initial reports to managers for reference. Currently, the large model mainly focuses on identifying issues such as illegal construction, occupation, mining, and dumping along the riverbanks, Ye introduced to the Global Times.
This process is both rapid and efficient. When Ye receives a report of a suspected anomaly from the AI platform on his phone, he can make a quick judgment within minutes and forward the information to the relevant department for prompt action.
Ye said that now, the total of 19 human river chiefs overseeing the Huxi River no longer need to conduct manual inspections, allowing them to devote more time and energy to the post-handling of river-related issues. Coupled with the efficient reporting of the AI platform, "the average cycle for rectifying our river-related problems has been shortened by more than 10 days."
In May, the "AI river chief" captured images of unauthorized construction by residents along the Huxi River, identifying that some foundations had encroached into the river management boundary. The system immediately captured this violation and transmitted the photos to the back-end platform. Local officials quickly contacted the homeowner, requesting modifications to the construction plan.
"When our 'AI river chief' detected the issue, the foundation had just been dug. We acted swiftly," Ye explained. He added that without AI technology, the entire process - from manual inspections to reporting - could take over a month, during which time the illegal construction might have been completed.
"But now, early detection and prompt action with the help of AI, not only enhance river safety, but also minimize losses for the residents involved," Ye told the Global Times.
In Tongxiang, the "AI river chief" can automatically identify potential illegal activities involving vessels, such as lingering in no-parking zones or illegally dumping waste, and promptly send alerts to on-duty staff. This "brain" operates around the clock, good at managing emergencies that may arise during the night.
Gu recalled an incident from last winter. One night, a vessel loading cargo near a dock began leaking due to an improperly secured hatch, ultimately running aground. This incident was quickly captured and monitored in real-time by the AI cameras.
"With AI's assist, our staff members only need to keep one person on-site, while others could monitor the situation online 24/7," Gu told the Global Times.
With the precise cooperation of its "eyes" and "brain," the "AI river chief" can also complement existing river management techs and equipment, such as water quality testing and safety assurance. The "AI river chief" in Anji, for instance, can utilize drones for water quality sampling, while its "peers" in Tongxiang can monitor the location of individuals who may have fallen into the water, aiding potential rescue efforts.
Charting new territories
In some other regions, the "AI river chiefs" are also being integrated into local river management efforts. For instance, in Shaoxing's Yuecheng district in Zhejiang, the "AI river chief" has been involved in river patrols, reducing the need for manual inspections by grassroots river chiefs by over 2,200 instances each month, according to a recent article on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources.
Chen Xidi, an expert from the Institute of China Institute for Marine Affairs at the Ministry of Natural Resources, told the Global Times that low-intelligence AI has been used for some time in applications like river cleaning and water level monitoring. However, high-intelligence AI - capable of risk identification, system coordination, and decision-making support - is now being explored for river management and large-scale deployment. Examples include "AI river chief" projects and real-time inspection analysis systems.
Currently in Tongxiang, AI technology is only being used in a limited number of river sections, according to Gu. In Anji, the "AI river chief" just covers the main channel of the Huxi River and another river, and the accuracy of its AI large model in identifying river-related issues is still not very high. "We are continuously training this large model, and expect its accuracy to exceed 90 percent in the near future," said Ye.
Overall, AI technology is transitioning from monitoring and inspection to analysis and response, showing great potential. This involves developing and improving AI-supported equipment, such as risk level analysis, response plan generation, harmful algae removal, intelligent dredging, and smart rescue equipment for open waters. It also relies on integrating AI systems, such as combining monitoring, decision-making, and response systems, including the detection of drowning incidents, deploying smart rescue equipment, along with pollution monitoring and response, Chen noted.
Looking ahead, AI technology holds vast potential in biodiversity monitoring and protection, ecological restoration, spatial planning, and navigation control. This requires significant investment in funding and manpower, as well as further advancements in large-scale AI model technology, the expert said.
Large models, robots, intelligent manufacturing, autonomous driving... In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has made headlines around the world.
In real life, AI has permeated all aspects of human society, helping with scientific research in laboratories, assisting in the restoration of mysterious ancient scrolls at archaeological sites, and helping to find abducted children in the vast sea of humanity. The development of technology has also brought challenges in various aspects in ethics and law. Many experts advocate that humans should see technology as a tool created for the ultimate purpose of serving humanity, making life and work more efficient and comfortable.
In light of this, the Global Times has launched the "AI empowers industry and improves people's livelihoods" series, showcasing the tremendous energy and broad prospects that AI brings across every aspect of society. This is the eighth installment in this series, featuring the practical involvement of AI tech in China's river management.
An "AI river chief" patrols Huxi River in Anji county, East China's Zhejiang Province. Photo: Courtesy of Anji County Water Resources Bureau
By the riverside, a drone autonomously patrols along a predetermined flight path. As it reaches a bend in the river, an alarm suddenly sounds: "Anomaly detected in the river; suspected debris on the surface." Moments later, local officials arrive at the reported coordinates to address the issue.
This scene exemplifies the daily operations of the "AI river chief" in Anji county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. The system comprises drones, storage facilities, charging stations, and an online AI data platform, all integral components of this innovative approach to river management. About every three days, the drone conducts a thorough inspection of the main channel of the local Huxi River, completing its task in about a day. Manual inspections of this 24-kilometer stretch, in contrast, used to take an entire month.
In China, a "river chief" is a local official tasked with the management and protection of a specific river section, overseeing pollution control, water quality, and environmental cleanup efforts. Nowadays, with rapid advancements in technology, AI has been increasingly deployed in river monitoring and management in some regions across China.
The "AI river chief" has proven to significantly enhance efficiency and reduce the need for manual labor, said some first-line river managers reached by the Global Times. "We have now eliminated manual inspections of Huxi River, which have been replaced by the 'AI river chief,'" said Ye Liang, director of the river chief office under the Anji government. "The 'AI river chief' has greatly assisted us in our work."
An unmanned grass cutter automatically trims water plants on the surface of a river in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. Photo: VCG
Enhancing efficiency
The "AI river chief" commenced operations in Anji's Huxi River in April. Ye explained to the Global Times its general workflow. As soon as the designated working hours begin, a drone takes off and follows a pre-set route to patrol above the Huxi River basin. When the drone detects any anomalies, such as debris on the river surface or illegal constructions along the riverbanks, it captures images and sends them to an online management platform, which is accessible on computers and mobile phones of the relevant river management officials.
According to Ye, they have established eight charging stations along the river, allowing the drones to automatically return to the nearest station for recharging when their battery levels run low.
The introduction of the "AI river chief" has significantly enhanced the efficiency of river patrols. Ye noted that previously, human river chiefs would conduct inspections by combining driving and walking, which took about a month to cover the 24-kilometer main stretch of the river and its banks. "This process was very labor-intensive and time-consuming, and it was inevitable that there were blind spots that were difficult to inspect thoroughly." he said.
Now, the "AI river chief" conducts automatic patrols every three days (or at least once a week), to complete a comprehensive inspection of the Huxi River's main channel within just a day. "This efficiency has improved by over 70 percent, compared to the traditional manual inspections," Ye told the Global Times.
In Tongxiang county, another region with a well-developed water system in Zhejiang's Jiaxing, local human river chiefs are also pleased with their AI colleagues.
Gu Hongli, head of the Tongxiang river management station, oversees more than 70 kilometers of river channels in the area, as well as the over 140 kilometers of riverbanks. Used to conduct river inspections himself, Gu is well aware of the inconveniences associated with manual patrols.
"In some areas inaccessible to vehicles, we had to rely on foot patrol," Gu recalled. "During the 'plum rain' seasons with continuous rainfall in June, it becomes even more challenging to patrol," he said.
This situation has greatly improved since Tongxiang introduced the "AI river chief" for river management in June 2024. The county designated a primary section of the local rivers for a pilot program, installing high-altitude cameras ranging from 35 to 50 meters in height along the riverbanks, which are capable of covering a radius of approximately three kilometers. Working in conjunction with an online AI data platform, these cameras enable 24-hour monitoring of the designated river area. When anomalies are detected, they immediately send alert notifications to the managers' mobile phones via the AI platform.
The involvement of the "AI river chief" has largely boosted the efficiency of river management, said Gu. "In Tongxiang, the river network is dense and intricate, making it very time-consuming for people to patrol every single river," he told the Global Times. "But with AI tech and high-altitude cameras, the entire target area is now fully visible, making our work much more convenient."
'Eyes' and 'brain'
If the drones and cameras represent the "eyes" of the "AI river chief," then the online AI platform serves as its "brain."
In Anji, river management authorities have developed an AI large model in collaboration with local enterprises, which is capable of identifying various conditions along the waterways. This large model can preliminarily assess suspected anomalies captured by drones, and submit initial reports to managers for reference. Currently, the large model mainly focuses on identifying issues such as illegal construction, occupation, mining, and dumping along the riverbanks, Ye introduced to the Global Times.
This process is both rapid and efficient. When Ye receives a report of a suspected anomaly from the AI platform on his phone, he can make a quick judgment within minutes and forward the information to the relevant department for prompt action.
Ye said that now, the total of 19 human river chiefs overseeing the Huxi River no longer need to conduct manual inspections, allowing them to devote more time and energy to the post-handling of river-related issues. Coupled with the efficient reporting of the AI platform, "the average cycle for rectifying our river-related problems has been shortened by more than 10 days."
In May, the "AI river chief" captured images of unauthorized construction by residents along the Huxi River, identifying that some foundations had encroached into the river management boundary. The system immediately captured this violation and transmitted the photos to the back-end platform. Local officials quickly contacted the homeowner, requesting modifications to the construction plan.
"When our 'AI river chief' detected the issue, the foundation had just been dug. We acted swiftly," Ye explained. He added that without AI technology, the entire process - from manual inspections to reporting - could take over a month, during which time the illegal construction might have been completed.
"But now, early detection and prompt action with the help of AI, not only enhance river safety, but also minimize losses for the residents involved," Ye told the Global Times.
In Tongxiang, the "AI river chief" can automatically identify potential illegal activities involving vessels, such as lingering in no-parking zones or illegally dumping waste, and promptly send alerts to on-duty staff. This "brain" operates around the clock, good at managing emergencies that may arise during the night.
Gu recalled an incident from last winter. One night, a vessel loading cargo near a dock began leaking due to an improperly secured hatch, ultimately running aground. This incident was quickly captured and monitored in real-time by the AI cameras.
"With AI's assist, our staff members only need to keep one person on-site, while others could monitor the situation online 24/7," Gu told the Global Times.
With the precise cooperation of its "eyes" and "brain," the "AI river chief" can also complement existing river management techs and equipment, such as water quality testing and safety assurance. The "AI river chief" in Anji, for instance, can utilize drones for water quality sampling, while its "peers" in Tongxiang can monitor the location of individuals who may have fallen into the water, aiding potential rescue efforts.
A river section monitored and managed by AI technology in Tongxiang county, East China's Zhejiang Province. Photo: Courtesy of Gu Hongli
Charting new territories
In some other regions, the "AI river chiefs" are also being integrated into local river management efforts. For instance, in Shaoxing's Yuecheng district in Zhejiang, the "AI river chief" has been involved in river patrols, reducing the need for manual inspections by grassroots river chiefs by over 2,200 instances each month, according to a recent article on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources.
Chen Xidi, an expert from the Institute of China Institute for Marine Affairs at the Ministry of Natural Resources, told the Global Times that low-intelligence AI has been used for some time in applications like river cleaning and water level monitoring. However, high-intelligence AI - capable of risk identification, system coordination, and decision-making support - is now being explored for river management and large-scale deployment. Examples include "AI river chief" projects and real-time inspection analysis systems.
Currently in Tongxiang, AI technology is only being used in a limited number of river sections, according to Gu. In Anji, the "AI river chief" just covers the main channel of the Huxi River and another river, and the accuracy of its AI large model in identifying river-related issues is still not very high. "We are continuously training this large model, and expect its accuracy to exceed 90 percent in the near future," said Ye.
Overall, AI technology is transitioning from monitoring and inspection to analysis and response, showing great potential. This involves developing and improving AI-supported equipment, such as risk level analysis, response plan generation, harmful algae removal, intelligent dredging, and smart rescue equipment for open waters. It also relies on integrating AI systems, such as combining monitoring, decision-making, and response systems, including the detection of drowning incidents, deploying smart rescue equipment, along with pollution monitoring and response, Chen noted.
Looking ahead, AI technology holds vast potential in biodiversity monitoring and protection, ecological restoration, spatial planning, and navigation control. This requires significant investment in funding and manpower, as well as further advancements in large-scale AI model technology, the expert said.
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