On February 22, 2025, Chengdu University of Technology’s President Xu Qiang led a delegation to Beijing for the launch of the Urban Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection Research Center (hereafter referred to as the Research Center), a joint initiative between the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (hereafter referred to as the Laboratory) and the Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute (hereafter referred to as the Institute).
Unveiling Ceremony
Pei Xiangjun, Vice President of Southwest Petroleum University and Deputy Director of the Laboratory, as well as key figures from the Laboratory, the College of Ecology and Environment, and other related departments, were present. Liu Jiangtao, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Institute, Tian Meng, General Manager of the Institute, Liu Zijian, Vice General Manager and Chief Engineer, along with other experts and technical specialists, also attended the ceremony.
The collaboration, which brings together leading academic and engineering institutions, is designed to tackle the growing challenges of urban geological hazards through innovative research and practical applications. The center’s mission is to bridge the gap between foundational studies, technology development, and the real-world deployment of solutions—focusing on areas such as intelligent disaster monitoring, lifecycle risk management, and eco-restoration techniques like vegetation recovery and soil preservation.
Liu Jiangtao’s Speech
Liu Jiangtao emphasized that the Institute had made significant progress in new and specialized business areas beyond traditional ones, especially in the field of geohazard prevention. The establishment of the Research Center is an active response to the national strategy of strengthening geohazard prevention. It is also a key move to fulfill corporate responsibility and meet national needs. The Institute will take this opportunity to focus on expanding the market, promoting the transformation and industrial application of scientific achievements, and improving the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent to form an ecosystem that connects technology research and industrial transformation, thereby better serving society and national strategic projects.
Xu Qiang’s Speech
Xu Qiang highlighted the unique potential of the partnership between the Laboratory and the Institute, combining academic expertise with industry know-how. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, the center aims to address previously unsolvable challenges in the areas of urban intelligent monitoring and early warning, resilience prevention, and ecological restoration. The ultimate goal is to provide technological security for the construction of “smart, resilient, and green” cities.
Fan Xuanmei Giving Introduction
Fan Xuanmei, Director of the Laboratory, introduced the lab’s core goals: disaster recognition, identification, early warning, and prevention. The lab focuses on four major areas: the mechanisms of geohazard occurrence and chain reactions, the impact of engineering disasters on the environment, disaster risk identification and intelligent early warning, and disaster resilience prevention and disaster reduction. The lab aims to overcome key scientific and technological challenges in these areas to support the upgrading of China’s geohazard prevention and control system. She hopes that both parties will expand their cooperation through the Research Center to achieve fruitful results.
Liu Zijian Giving Introduction
Liu Zijian further elaborated on the planning of the Research Center, which will focus on key areas such as intelligent disaster monitoring and early warning, major engineering geological safety, and eco-geological environmental restoration. He underscored the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining disaster research with technological innovation and practical engineering applications. The center aims to foster a comprehensive platform for university-business cooperation, advancing both scientific discovery and real-world solutions.
Liu Zijian and Fan Xuanmei Signing Agreement
Xu Qiang, Liu Jiangtao, Fan Xuanmei, and Liu Zijian Unveiling the Research Center
The establishment of the Research Center marks a new phase in the collaborative innovation of “industry-academia-research-application” in the field of geohazard prevention. Looking ahead, the center will adopt an operational strategy centered on “innovation-driven growth, demand-oriented foundations, and open collaboration as a key link.” By focusing on cutting-edge international technologies, the center aims to play a significant role in major national projects, working in partnership with universities, enterprises, and government entities. Its goal is to develop a comprehensive technical system for disaster prevention, risk reduction, and ecological protection, injecting fresh momentum into efforts to safeguard urban safety and build harmonious communities where people live in balance with nature.
