During the height of summer, at the construction site of the Three Gorges枢纽 new channel project, the intelligent control center of the Wayao Small-Scale Sand and Gravel Processing and Concrete Production System is buzzing with activity. Mixing station operator Zhang Xiang sits before a large screen; with a light click of his mouse, the entire process of gravel crushing, screening, and concrete mixing and transport begins in an orderly fashion. Data streams in real-time across the screen, interspersed with dispatching information from tanker trucks outside over the walkie-talkie. The entire "supply hub" operates smoothly under his command.

Yang Xiaolong, the on-site manager for the Three Gorges Waterway New Channel Company, introduced the system, stating, "This is the 'nerve center' of the entire mixing operation. From raw material feeding to concrete discharge, the entire process is remotely and intelligently controlled, all on the screen." Relying on this digital intelligent control system, the quality and efficiency of concrete supply have been significantly improved.

From 'Running Legs Off' to 'One-Click Access'

"The current production and dispatching conditions are a world apart from the past!" Zhang Xiang exclaimed, watching the data dance on the screen. He recalled that in the past, operating the mixing station meant working outdoors all day during the scorching summer heat. If a piece of equipment made an unusual noise, workers had to inspect the entire site to find the problem, wasting time and effort. More troublesome was the approval process for material requests and vehicle dispatching, which relied entirely on paper documents. This multi-level approval process was cumbersome and often delayed construction progress.

Today, the digital intelligent control system has completely revolutionized the workflow. A dedicated online application handles the entire material request approval process with a single click, sending production instructions directly to the workshop. The concrete production area is under 24-hour visual monitoring. If issues such as unusual equipment noises, material shortages, or mechanical failures arise, the system immediately triggers a pop-up warning, greatly improving the efficiency of fault handling. "It used to be 'running our legs off,' now it's 'one-click access,'" Zhang Xiang said with a smile. "It's worry-free and efficient."

Unleashing Potential for a 'High-Efficiency Supply Battle'

As the "supply hub" for the Three Gorges new channel project, the Wayao Small-Scale Sand and Gravel Processing and Concrete Production System is tasked with the critical role of ensuring material supply for multiple simultaneous construction fronts. The project requires a massive amount of concrete and adheres to strict construction standards, making stable and efficient supply the key to its progress. Leveraging the fully automated production line, the design capacity of this sand and gravel system has been fully realized. It is understood that a typical small mixing station can only produce 800 to 1,200 cubic meters of concrete per day, while the Wayao Small Concrete Production System consistently delivers over 1,400 cubic meters daily. During peak construction periods, the station operates 24/7, with daily concrete output exceeding 2,500 cubic meters and hourly output surpassing 100 cubic meters, meeting the transport needs of over 200 concrete tanker trucks per day. By reducing redundant processes and improving equipment utilization under the same site and equipment conditions, the system has achieved a significant leap in supply efficiency.

From 'Experience-Driven' to 'Digital Ingenuity'

Data flows across the screen, but the craftsmanship remains unchanged. Beyond the intelligent dispatch in the control room, Zhang Xiang and his colleagues maintain a routine of inspecting core facilities such as the mixing host, storage bins, and conveying equipment. They meticulously check for potential operational hazards, upholding the baseline of safety production. "The older generation of hydropower builders, with their rigorous, realistic, and hardworking spirit, built the magnificent Three Gorges Dam," Yang Xiaolong said. "Now, by taking the baton from our predecessors to safeguard the construction of the new channel, we must not only inherit this spirit of hard work but also use digital technology to empower this national mega-project."

From traditional mechanical control to today's digital intelligent dispatching, and from paper document circulation to cloud-based collaboration, two generations of Three Gorges builders are connected across time. What has changed are the technical methods and production efficiency; what remains unchanged is the spirit of continuous improvement in craftsmanship and the foundational character of overcoming difficulties.