The Yellow River is the cradle (摇篮) of China’s civilization. And flood control and prevention have always been key to the well-being of the people living along it. Now, scientists can better work on these issues by giving the river a digital twin.

黄河是中华文明的摇篮。防洪和防灾一直是保障黄河沿岸人民生活幸福安康的关键。如今，在数字孪生的赋能下，科学家得以更好地研究和解决这些问题。

 

The digital twin of the Yellow River uses various technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. Devices set up along the river collect and transmit information to the command center. Based on the information, a 3D model of the river is presented on the computer screen. It’s like the Yellow River has a twin that reflects its real conditions.

黄河的数字孪生使用了多种技术，包括大数据、人工智能和物联网。沿河设置的设备会收集并传送信息至指挥中心。基于这些信息，指挥中心的计算机系统会呈现一个黄河三维模型，就像黄河拥有一个能反映其真实情况的双胞胎一样。

 

One big breakthrough in the river’s digital governance (治理) is “smart stones”. According to Wang Qin, a lead researcher at the Information Center of Yellow River Henan Bureau, a smart stone is a water-proof stone-shaped device with chips, a battery, and a signal transmitter. They are buried in important dike (堤坝) locations to record and report the movement of dike stones. “Upon feeling movement of the dike stones, the smart stone sends an alarm to the command center for quick response,” Wang said.

“智能石头”是黄河数字治理中的一个重大突破。河南河务局信息中心相关项目主要研究员王琴介绍，“智能石头”是一种防水的、石头形状的装置，内置芯片、电池和信号发射器。它们被埋在堤坝的重要位置，用于记录和报告坝石的移动情况。“只要坝石、坝体稍有异常，就会发出预警并自动推送至有关部门，实现对河道工程险情全天候实时监测预警，达到抢早抢小的目的。”王琴说。

“In the past, researchers had to learn the conditions of the dike on the spot by themselves, putting their lives at risk,” said Zhao Xiaoxiong from the bureau. “Now the smart stones can do this for us, more safely, quickly, and accurately.”

“过去，研究人员必须亲自到现场采获堤坝的情况，但这样非常危险”，河南河务局信息中心赵潇雄说道。“现在‘智能石头’可以协助我们进行现场采样，更安全、更快速、更准确地完成这项工作。”

 

And in the sky, drones (无人机) are flying. On the routes designed by engineers, the drones become expert patrollers (巡逻员) of the river, looking at its dikes and flood prevention projects. According to Shen Lin from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, thanks to the drones, researchers at the command center can get first-hand photos and information. “Researchers then update the 3D model according to the changes the drones reported. The newly updated model helps us test our floodwater release plans in case we ever need to batten down the hatches,” said Shen.

不仅如此，空中也有无人机设备。在技术专业人员设计的路线上，这些无人机成为了河流的专业巡逻员，监督查看黄河堤岸和防洪工程的情况。黄河水利委员会的沈林表示，多亏了这些无人机，指挥中心的研究人员能够获得一手照片和信息。“研究人员随后根据无人机报告的变化更新三维模型。新的模型帮助我们测试泄洪计划，以备不时之需，”沈林说道。

 

Under the water and up in the sky, intelligent systems are helping to protect the Yellow River Basin on all fronts. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, in the future, we can expect to see the construction of an even more comprehensive digital system for this important river.

无论在河之底还是天之上，智能系统正全方位赋能黄河流域保护治理工作。水利部表示，未来，黄河上还将建成更具综合性的数字系统。

 

以上文章内容选自《21世纪英文报》高三825期