The transportation sector, with its diverse scenarios and rich data, is one of the key areas for the early application of artificial intelligence. Currently, Nanning is fostering a highland for AI cooperation with ASEAN, making it fertile ground for digital intelligence transportation innovation. Leveraging the South A Center as a platform, the city is driving breakthroughs in practice, aiming to harness the power of data to accelerate seamless passenger and freight flows, thereby activating a "new engine" for the capital's openness and cooperation.

### Building a "Smart Canal" to Empower China's Transition from "Construction" to "Intelligent Manufacturing" By the canal, intelligent inspection drones hover in the air, capturing construction details around the clock. In the command center, AI models analyze massive datasets at speeds far surpassing human capabilities, providing precise data support for engineering decisions. The Pinglu Canal Group, a leading enterprise among the first to settle in the South A Center, showcases dynamic data streams and real-time 3D visualization systems on its exhibition screens, vividly illustrating the "data deluge" flowing through the canal.

At the bustling Pinglu Canal construction site, nearly 20,000 workers toil day and night, with machinery roaring in a symphony of progress. Meanwhile, in the "cloud," the construction management team employs next-gen technologies like BeiDou, cloud computing, and AI to deploy sensors along the canal, creating an invisible "smart canal" where digital twins grow alongside physical infrastructure.

"We’ve conducted research on core algorithms for autonomous vessel navigation and intelligent lock scheduling, completing multiple rounds of simulation tests. These technologies will be officially deployed next year," said Wang Yulong, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Information Department at Pinglu Canal Group. "During construction, our 'smart canal' system established a hydrological forecasting and early warning framework, ensuring flood safety through four flood seasons. We’ve also built a carbon emissions monitoring platform to analyze patterns intelligently."

Post-inauguration, the focus will shift from "construction support" to "operational empowerment." Soon, lock scheduling systems will optimize passage sequences based on cargo tonnage, destination, and waterway conditions, drastically reducing waiting times. On the main canal, autonomous vessels will navigate, plan routes, and avoid obstacles with "smart brains." Maintenance will transition from scheduled inspections to on-demand operations, with underwater robots detecting silt buildup in real time, enabling AI to recommend dredging solutions for optimal navigation.

These innovations herald a safer, more efficient, and greener paradigm for modern canal operations. The Pinglu Canal Group aims to explore AI and digital economy applications along the canal, leveraging the Pinglu Canal Laboratory to export "smart canal" solutions globally.

### Streamlining the Golden Waterway: A Unified Smart Water Transport Network At the exhibition zone of another pioneer enterprise, the Beibu Gulf Port Group, the "Western Land-Sea Corridor (Guangxi) Smart Water Transport Network" takes center stage. This network, spanning the Xijiang River, the canal, and the Beibu Gulf, is underpinned by a robust "digital base," pooling data from ship locks, port berths, and interconnected road-rail systems.

"We’re accelerating the development of 'one base, one model, two systems, and one platform' to enhance multimodal transport efficiency and reduce logistics costs," said Wang Chihua, Deputy General Manager of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Big Data Technology.

The group’s two joint scheduling systems exemplify linear synergy: 1. The "Xijiang-Pinglu Canal Lock Cluster Joint Scheduling System" integrates river locks into a "unified waterway," optimizing vessel passage with a "one-time declaration,全程统筹" approach. 2. The "Pinglu Canal-Beibu Gulf Port Cluster Joint Scheduling System" tackles the river-sea transfer challenge by predicting vessel arrivals and aligning berths, tides, and resources for seamless handovers.

Additionally, the "Rail-Road-Water Multimodal Digital Platform" merges logistics data across transport modes, breaking traditional boundaries.

### Accelerating "AI+Transportation" for Smoother Mobility Under the South A Center’s influence, replicable "AI+transportation" solutions are proliferating in Nanning.

At the recent 2025 "AI Empowers Industries" Super League Transportation Innovation Competition, 52 teams competed in the "AI+Aerial Inspection" track, showcasing drone-based AI algorithms for bridge inspections—a technology already deployed by Nanning Expressway Construction & Development Co. on the Liubin Expressway, Guangxi’s first fully automated drone-patrolled highway.

Meanwhile, Nanning East Railway Station’s smart boarding system and Wuxu International Airport’s AI-enhanced passenger transfer services highlight the city’s strides in improving travel efficiency and experience.

Moving forward, Nanning will deepen the integration of next-gen IT across transportation planning, construction, and management, striving to make smart mobility tangible and beneficial for all.