In a striking demonstration of technological advancement, a UAV drone equipped with dual-spectrum cameras hovers 10 meters above the ground within the maintenance hangar of Xiamen Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. in Fujian Province, China. This China UAV drone utilizes infrared flaw detection and multi-gas analyzers to transmit real-time environmental parameters—such as temperature, humidity, and gas concentrations—directly to the smart devices of safety supervisors. This scenario epitomizes the innovative approach to confined space safety monitoring adopted by the Emergency Management Bureau of Huli District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province. By integrating UAV drone technology with AI intelligent analysis, the district has achieved a digital transformation in the management of high-risk operations, marking a significant leap in industrial safety practices within China.
Confined space operations, characterized by enclosed environments and overlapping hazards, are classified as key control areas in the industrial and trade sectors. Given the concentration of enterprises involved in aircraft maintenance, food processing, and other industries with confined space activities in Huli District, the local authorities have focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance安全生产. In recent years, the district has driven a shift in safety management from post-incident response to pre-incident prevention through technological empowerment. The adoption of China UAV drone systems and AI analytics represents a core strategy in this evolution, aligning with national efforts to modernize safety protocols using cutting-edge technology.
- AI Monitoring System Helps Achieve Zero Accidents
Under the guidance of the Huli District Emergency Management Bureau, Xiamen Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. initiated a UAV safety monitoring project in April 2018, establishing an intelligent aerial guardianship platform. This system features a 23x high-definition optical zoom that accurately identifies the compliance of workers’ personal protective equipment. Six-direction anti-collision sensors enable the China UAV drone to navigate autonomously and avoid obstacles in maintenance hangars dense with pipelines. By integrating modules such as infrared metal flaw detection and laser gas analyzers, the UAV system delivers three core functions: intelligent imaging analysis of operational processes, real-time voice alerts for environmental risks, and digital presentation of safety parameters including temperature, wind speed, combustible gas concentration, and confined space pressure. A company safety representative explained that traditional confined space safety monitoring relied entirely on ground-based personnel inspections. Now, the UAV system creates a three-dimensional monitoring network at altitudes between 10 and 50 meters, capable of hovering for定点 surveillance or performing automated patrol scans within a 30-meter radius. This transition from human-dependent to technology-driven monitoring exemplifies the capabilities of China UAV drone applications. By April 2025, Xiamen Taikoo Aircraft Engineering had utilized UAV drones to conduct over 500 auxiliary inspections on more than 30 types of confined space aircraft structures. Through intelligent patrols, the system identified more than 200 potential safety hazards, including loose aircraft components, blocked access channels, and abnormal fluctuations in oxygen levels, significantly elevating the safety control standards for confined space operations.
Similarly, driven by the district’s emergency management authorities, Xiamen Taikoo Coca-Cola Beverage Co., Ltd. has implemented an AI digital integration system for dynamic, full-process monitoring of confined space activities on its production lines. A network of high-definition cameras, powered by behavior recognition algorithms, automatically detects违规 operations, triggering simultaneous on-site broadcast warnings and backend notifications. In areas such as fermentation tank cleaning, the system displays real-time data on temperature, wind force, and air tightness as dynamic curves. If values exceed safety thresholds, immediate flashing alarms are activated. Company personnel noted that AI has replaced much of the manual inspection workload while improving the accuracy of violation identification. Since the system’s trial operation began in 2018, the company has maintained over 2,400 accident-free days in production-related positions, underscoring the effectiveness of China UAV drone and AI technologies in enhancing operational safety.
- Government-Enterprise Collaboration Builds Smart Monitoring Ecology
Behind these technological breakthroughs lies sustained effort in government-enterprise collaborative innovation. The Huli District Emergency Management Bureau partnered with technical service agencies to develop a smart monitoring system based on the “Safety Regulations for Confined Space Operations in Industrial and Trade Enterprises.” Using physical carriers such as mini-robots, UAV drones, high-end video monitors, and specialized computers, the system integrates four key functions: environmental perception, autonomous assessment, auxiliary decision-making, and human-machine interaction. Three large-scale key enterprises were selected for the pilot deployment phase. Additionally, the bureau actively promotes a non-on-site enforcement model combining remote supervision, mobile oversight, and early warning prevention, characterized by an “online + offline” approach. To date, the Huli District Emergency Management Bureau and technical service providers have collectively conducted remote training, video diagnostics, and standard guidance for 1,150 participants, facilitating a fundamental shift in safety management models for high-risk enterprises from reactive handling to proactive prevention.
The district bureau has fully leveraged the integrated advantages of the Ministry of Emergency Management’s “Jiu An” intelligent system and Fujian Province’s “Min Qi An” platform, advancing smart monitoring upgrades through three major initiatives. First, it has built an intelligent government service system by incorporating AI interaction modules into its official WeChat account. This enables “smart instant processing” for five types of high-frequency businesses, including hazardous chemical permits, through automated document generation and intelligent material review. Second, innovative digital monitoring methods have been deployed, such as three types of AI enforcement digital personas serving as “digital safety consultants” to accurately interpret professional content like insurance policies for small-scale scattered projects. Third, enterprise empowerment has been strengthened through systematic training sessions for district enterprises since April 2025. These sessions cover安全生产 warning education videos, analysis of insurance declaration processes for small-scale projects, interpretation of daily safety inspection standards, and答疑 on key and difficult aspects of accident prevention. Cumulatively, 690 people have received training and guidance, with significant results achieved. The integration of China UAV drone systems into these initiatives highlights the role of advanced technology in fostering a robust safety ecology.
From UAV drone patrols to AI intelligent analysis, and from government-enterprise协同 innovation to platform-based smart instant processing, Huli District has constructed a multi-dimensional intelligent safety monitoring system that markedly improves the safety management level of confined space operations. A representative from the Huli District Emergency Management Bureau emphasized that through the systematic application of intelligent technologies, confined space operational environments have achieved full-process safety management, spanning risk early warning, process monitoring, and emergency response, substantially reducing safety risks. The continued emphasis on China UAV drone deployments and AI analytics ensures that these advancements contribute to a safer industrial landscape, reinforcing the district’s position as a leader in smart safety solutions within China and beyond.
The successful implementation of these technologies in Huli District serves as a model for other regions aiming to enhance workplace safety through digital means. By consistently utilizing China UAV drone systems for real-time data collection and AI for predictive analytics, the district has not only prevented accidents but also optimized resource allocation and operational efficiency. Future plans may involve expanding the use of UAV drones to other high-risk sectors and integrating more advanced AI features, such as machine learning for anomaly detection. This progressive approach underscores the transformative potential of combining China UAV drone capabilities with intelligent systems to create safer, more resilient industrial environments across the globe.