On August 28, a reporter learned from the Changjiang Chongqing Waterway Authority that the authority has built and deployed its first video AI flow measurement device near the confluence of the two rivers in the main urban area of Chongqing, marking the first use of video AI technology to achieve real-time monitoring of the surface flow velocity of the river.
Video AI flow measurement integrates various technologies such as computer vision, video denoising, optical flow algorithms, and neural networks. It continuously tracks the movement trajectories of water surface vortices, bubbles, or floating objects in a designated area through video surveillance to intelligently calculate the average surface flow velocity.
“Compared to traditional flow measurement methods, the video AI flow measurement equipment does not need to be immersed in the river, protecting it from the scouring of water currents, entanglement with floating debris, and interference from ship navigation. The measurement process also requires no manual participation, ensuring the safety of both the equipment and the staff,” said Zhu Mengwei, Deputy Director of the Surveying and Mapping Department of the Changjiang Chongqing Waterway Authority.
Furthermore, video AI flow measurement offers advantages such as convenient installation and deployment, visual real-time monitoring, and high safety. It can be installed at riverbank locations and is universally applicable to various flow measurement scenarios, providing data support for waterway maintenance management and public services in the jurisdiction. “The flow measurement data can provide flow velocity reference services for passing vessels, allowing them to prepare in advance for whether traction assistance is needed when traveling ‘upstream’ (referring to vessels moving against the current), thereby ensuring their navigation safety,” Zhu Mengwei explained.
In recent years, the Changjiang Chongqing Waterway Authority has focused on the high-quality development of waterways, taking the construction of smart waterways as an opportunity to continuously explore innovative applications of video AI technology in waterway management and maintenance. It has established the first video AI gauge and AI extreme daylight monitoring, achieving real-time water level monitoring “without a gauge” and clear monitoring of the waterway scene at night. The authority is gradually building a comprehensive intelligent sensing and monitoring system for waterway elements, contributing to the exploration and construction of smart waterways in its jurisdiction.
By Quanmei Reporter Xu Yuan, Correspondents Zhu Mengwei and Wang Min
