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[On the Scene] Park Launches Disinfection Efforts, Drones Take Center Stage

发布时间:2022-05-07

Summer is here, and pests have emerged to "cause trouble." Everyone’s seen trees being sprayed with pesticides—especially if the trees are tall, people might even use high-pressure water cannons or even aerial work platforms. But Shenzhen, armed with cutting-edge technology, is truly in a league of its own. This morning, citizens enjoying leisurely strolls and scenic views in Honghu Park witnessed a uniquely innovative pest-control operation.

Honghu Park covers an area of approximately 600,000 square meters, with the water surface and land areas each accounting for about half. In the past, controlling pests and diseases on the park's towering trees and the lotus leaves covering the lake was a major headache for management staff. The trees were simply too tall for high-pressure sprayers to reach, while the vast lake made it inefficient—and downright unsafe—to manually apply pesticides by boat. A few years ago, the park sent staff to the Shenzhen High-Tech Fair for study and observation. It was there that they first became intrigued by agricultural drone application services.

The park authorities explained that the biggest threat to the lotus flowers comes from a tiny insect called thrips, which hides and breeds on trees along the shoreline during winter and spring. By early summer, as the lotus plants begin to sprout, these pests swarm en masse onto the lake surface, spreading the infestation—and once they strike, it can quickly devastate large areas of the lotus beds. Additionally, the park’s mosquito population also spoils the enjoyment of visitors exploring the grounds.

This agricultural drone can carry up to 14 kilograms of liquid pesticide at a time and fly for more than 10 minutes. In open areas like parks, it can even perform automated navigation and spraying. According to technicians, a modified version of the drone can also be effectively used in residential areas and on streets.

In just over a month, it’ll be time for Shenzhen’s annual Lotus Culture Festival. Honghu Park has announced that, in the lead-up to the event, they’ll conduct multiple drone-based pesticide and fertilizer applications. Meanwhile, crowd management measures will be in place on-site, so visitors are asked to show their support and understanding. By then, the lotus flowers at Honghu Park will be in full bloom, ready to welcome guests from near and far!