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October 14, 2019

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Drones help tackle deadly water plant

By Xu Lingchao | 00:00 UTC+8 October 14, 2019 | Print Edition

Shanghai water authority has deployed drones to locate and combat deadly water hyacinth in city waterways.

As the second China International Import Expo is coming up, it is vital to keep the waterways clean and fresh.

Water hyacinth is a free-floating aquatic plant native to South America, but as one of the fastest-growing plants known, it is a highly problematic invasive species here in Shanghai.

Uncontrolled, the weed entirely covers lakes and ponds, dramatically affecting water flow and blocking sunlight from reaching native aquatic plants which often die. The decay processes depletes dissolved oxygen, killing fish and other aquatic animals like turtles and crabs. 

November is usually the fastest growing time. By the end of September, over 128,000 tons had been removed from waterways in Shanghai, with more than 1.3 million people joining the campaign.

The drones are equipped with remote sensing technology and can fly up to 70 kilometers in a single trip. They can not only spot the water hyacinth but also map out the pattern of the spread.

Metro


 

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