(Yicai) March 31 -- Artificial intelligence technology is profoundly transforming environmental monitoring efforts in China, driving disruptive changes while also significantly reducing labor costs, according to an official from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

AI and other digital tech have been deeply embedded in the entire ecological and environmental monitoring process in China, Wang Zhibin, director of the ministry's science, technology, and finance department, said at a press conference yesterday. With the application of AI, the previously intermittent manual sampling has been upgraded to continuous intelligent monitoring, bringing disruptive changes to environmental monitoring work, Wang noted.

For example, Jiangsu province installed 98 bird sound recognition devices across 20 biodiversity observation stations, collecting nearly 440,000 monitoring data points on 243 species of birds and leading to a 90 percent reduction in labor monitoring costs, Wang pointed out.

In addition, China has established an integrated air quality monitoring system combining satellite, aerial, and ground-based technologies, Wang said. The PM2.5 (fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) and ozone three-dimensional monitoring and early warning platform developed and used in the system enables precise forecasting at the "kilometer per hour" level, Wang noted.

The accuracy of 72-hour air quality forecasts has increased to over 75 percent, providing critical data support for quickly identifying pollution sources and implementing targeted emission reduction measures, Wang stressed.

"The application of AI has greatly enhanced the non-site enforcement capabilities of regulators," Wang stated. "By using AI intelligent recognition tech, they can effectively identify fraudulent behaviors during motor vehicle inspections, as well as illegal emissions from heavy autos. The tech has an accuracy rate of over 70 percent in detecting issues, significantly reducing the material and labor costs associated with monitoring work."

With the assistance of satellite remote sensing and smart sensing tech, regulators can proactively identify and promptly address violations such as illegal discharge and improper storage of solid waste, shifting environmental regulation from a "reactive response" to "proactive prevention and control," Wang pointed out.

"The green and sustainable pollution prevention and control tech system we have set has reduced governance costs and enhanced management efficiency, providing strong support for the improvement of the regional ecological environment," Wang said.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev