China's first real-time ecological monitoring system covering the sea, land and air has been put into service in Dapeng New District.

At the monitoring center, staff members operate the system as if they are sitting in a driver’s cabin, with several screens displaying various figures delivered in real time from sensors installed around the district.

Xie Fang, head of Dapeng’s ecological protection monitoring station, said devices monitoring the air for negative oxygen ions, cooking smoke, vehicle emissions, construction dust, noise and radiation, and aerial cameras monitoring surface water, coastal waters, and polluting sources, were installed by the end of June. These devices have formed an all-inclusive monitoring system that provides a full view of the “health” of the new district's ecological environment. The real-time reports provide Dapeng leaders with the latest data to aid their decision-making.

Traditional environmental monitoring systems cannot meet today's demand, Xie said. As a result, Wang Jingdong, Dapeng Party chief, decided to upgrade the new district's monitoring system. A total of 22 software platforms and 49 sets of monitoring equipment have been installed since the project started in January.

Traditional water tests of rivers and the sea take three days. The new water quality monitoring equipment that Dapeng has installed in three rivers and two beaches — including Xichong and Jinshatan beaches — conducts tests 24 hours a day and sends a report every two hours. The seawater tests also suggest whether the swimming areas near the beaches are suitable for swimming.

An air quality monitoring device installed on the Fengshushan section of Pingxi Road conducts tests on each passing vehicle and displays its test results on an LED screen some distance ahead. The data is also transmitted to Dapeng’s monitoring station. In the future, information about vehicles that fail emissions tests may be sent to Shenzhen’s traffic police.

Dapeng's new monitoring system also utilizes satellite images. “Our satellite images are precise within 50 cm. So we can monitor every ancient tree in the new district,” Xie said.

Rich in tourism resources and boasting one of the country's most beautiful coastlines, Dapeng has prioritized environmental protection and sustainable development.