On the occasion of the 16th National Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day, the Beijing Institute of Geological & Prospecting Engineering (BIGPE) invited Yin Yueping, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief scientist of the China Institute of Geological and Environmental Monitoring (Geological Hazard Technical Guidance Centre of the Ministry of Natural Resources), to lead a team of experts in geological hazards prevention and control to Fangshan, a region key to China’s geological history, where attendees discussed fortifying strategies to mitigate geological hazards in Beijing. The investigatory trip was attended by BIGPE leadership, including Party Secretary Li Wenzhong, Deputy Secretary and President Liu Liangang, and Vice President Liu Shaomin.
The expert group visited key sites in Fangshan District: a mudslide disaster zone, a mine ecological restoration area, and a geological hazard monitoring station. Their focus was on-site evaluation of integrated remote sensing for hazard identification, early warning and forecasting systems, and risk mitigation strategies for the Dashihe River Basin during extreme rainfall events.
Yin Yueping and the expert panel deliberated on several crucial aspects during the trip, including the early identification of geological hazards, meteorological risk forecasting, establishment of field observation and monitoring stations, among other pivotal scientific matters. Liu Tongliang, President and Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Institute of Geological and Environmental Monitoring (Geological Hazard Technical Guidance Centre of the Ministry of Natural Resources), commended Beijing’s efforts in geo-disaster prevention and control. He particularly lauded the Beijing Institute of Geological & Prospecting Engineering for taking tangible actions safeguarding lives and properties. Liu also emphasized the necessity for enhanced collaboration and support between the two institutes, especially in response to evolving challenges such as extreme weather events, post-disaster changes in mountainous terrain, and shifts in tourism and urban development patterns. He advocated for the establishment of a novel mechanism facilitating closer coordination between the ministry and the municipality to address these emerging complexities.
Li Wenzhong expressed gratitude to Academician Yin Yueping for his valuable guidance and acknowledged the robust support from the China Institute of Geological and Environmental Monitoring. In light of the intricate and pressing challenges posed by post-disaster geo-hazards in Beijing, the Beijing Institute of Geological & Prospecting Engineering pledged to fulfill its obligations diligently. This entails undertaking post-disaster reconstruction efforts, enhancing the verification of spatial planning through regional assessments of the geo-environment, and prioritizing scientific research on geo-disasters, particularly through collaborative projects between the ministry and the municipality. Leveraging existing and forthcoming research platforms, the Institute aims to foster talent development in the field of geo-disaster prevention and control. Simultaneously, both institutions are anticipated to deepen their cooperation, establishing a regular and institutionalized mode of collaboration characterized by open sharing and synergistic advancement. Such concerted efforts are poised to ensure the geological safety of the capital city and facilitate its high-quality development.
Liu Liangang welcomed the arrival of the experts and expressed his gratitude to the China Institute of Geological and Environmental Monitoring for its significant assistance to the Institute. Liu expressed his hope that the two institutes would take the cooperation project between the Ministry and the city as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, so as to create the ‘first-rate standard’ and form the ‘Beijing experience’ and to make greater contributions to the geological and environmental safety of the capital.
The expert group also emphasized Beijing’s efforts in drawing upon the successful experiences garnered from effective response in the aftermath of the ‘23-7’ heavy rainstorm. They emphasized integrating and managing watershed geological hazards, enhancing fine-scale warning systems, and early response mechanisms for post-disaster events. The group also stressed the need for focused research on typical disasters, comprehensive management of geological hazards within river basins, and meticulous control of risks from engineering activities. They also called for a deeper investigation into “Risk prevention, control, and safe land use in the context of the mega mudslide in Xishan Mountain, Beijing.”
Attendee of the investigatory trip include Wang Lizhao, Vice President of the Beijing Institute of Geological & Prospecting Engineering, Zhang Mingzhi, Qi Gan, Zhang Nan, and Nan Yun, Director of the Geological Disaster Prevention & Control Department, as well as Zhao Yalin, Director of the Disaster Prevention & Control Department, and Cao Ying, Deputy Director.
Beijing Institute of Geological & Prospecting Engineering
May 13, 2024
