As the "mother river" of Changchun City, Yitong River has been helping to improve local "ecology, entertainment, landscape, and culture", and its health is closely connected with the development of Changchun City. In 2016, Changchun City initiated a comprehensive watershed management project for the middle section of the Yitong River, which included four aspects: pollution control, inner treatment, ecological water replenishment, and ecological restoration. Yongning Road North Wetland was one of the ecological restoration projects in the watershed management projects, and it was also a pilot project.

Wetland construction is an artificial enhancement and is an important process of purification in the ecological restoration project of the middle section of Yitong River. Wetlands are also crucial places for ecological restoration and artificial landscape. Therefore, we needed to break through the technical barriers and create a model project featuring innovative technology, efficient purification, ecological restoration, cultural landscape and innovative management. As a member of the design team, ZEHO ECO used wetland technology to help other ecological restoration projects to successfully pass the review meeting of the technical team. We undertook the wetland construction project from the general contractor and won the EPC bid.

Site Features and Challenges

Yongning Road North Wetland is in the mid-lower reaches of the middle section of Yitong River. It is next to the Beilu Expressway to the north and Yongning Road to the south. It mainly treats water of Yitong River and covers an area of about 7.84 hectares. Before the project, the site was an irregular lowland with a low center and high surroundings. It wasn’t able to purify water, and accumulating rainwater became a source of pollution to the surrounding environment; reeds surrounded by willows and secondary forests, mostly high trees occupied the site, lacking bushes and ground cover, and there was no space on the road at the top of the dyke—overall an unattractive landscape; the area was an isolated data island because of no “digital interference”.

As a wetland beside Yitong River, Yongning Road North Wetland treats 15,000 cubic meters of water daily. The three indicators of COD, ammonia nitrogen and TP of the water after treatment must meet the surface water quality standards of Class IV. ZEHO ECO is committed to building the country's first intermittent vertical and subsurface flow artificial wetland in cold areas, the country's first comprehensive artificial wetland integrating wetland purification, cultural landscape, science education and smart operation and maintenance, and the country's first AR&VR-enhanced multidimensional smart data monitoring and display system.

(1) Wetland for purification

We calculated, stimulated and analyzed scientifically to flexibly combine a variety of ecological processes, respected the status quo of the site, optimized the spatial structure, and rationally lay out the functional zones. We adopted the purification process of "sedimentation tank (pretreatment) + intermittent vertical and subsurface flow wetland (enhanced treatment) + surface wetland (advanced treatment)" to remove pollutants. Gravity was used in the entire wetland system without lifting, and the treated water can be discharged into the downstream Yitong River again with the help of natural height difference. We also focused on diversity and vertical layout of plants to maximize ecological benefits. We created a rich and diverse water system, diversified the waterfront habitat, and restored a harmonious ecosystem in the region.

(2) Landscape wetland

Based on wetlands’ function of water purification, we focused on creating a variety of comfortable landscapes to fully demonstrate the beauty of wetlands in the Spring City of North China (Changchun City). The site is connected with the surrounding sports parks, with the north-south longitudinal axis as the main axis of the park. We incorporated various sports features, created transitional spots such as bird watching towers, corridors for science popularization, stone pathways on water, ecological pavilions, etc., and perfected the road system of the site to form a circular roaming route, providing residents with a close-to-nature leisure place integrating wetland oxygen bar, healthy exercise, and science popularization.

(3) Smart wetland

We broke through the conventional wetland management model and incorporated cutting-edge Internet virtual technology. Focusing on service, we created three innovative service systems: smart operation services, smart management monitoring, and multi-dimensional dynamic science popularization and made nine functional systems: three-dimensional geographic information display system, smart roaming system, intermittent wetland operation display system, water quality smart monitoring system, visualized data analysis display system, smart security system, AR and VR display system for ecological engineering techniques, AR and VR display system for wetland animals and plants and public education system, ensure the smart operation of the wetland. We used five smart terminals to show the wetland in all aspects, including holographic screen terminal, touch screen terminal, 3D holographic projection, mobile phone APP and background control terminal. Visitors can also gain immersive experiences through AR and VR. We also built a smart-wetland-themed exhibition hall with different displays and zones for both amazing experiences and science popularization.

After the project, the water from the wetland has reached and surpassed quality standards of Class III.

(1) The first intermittent vertical and subsurface flow artificial wetland in cold areas.

Because the wetland is in Jilin Province in the northeast China, we faced problems of low temperature and we needed to keep plants over winter. For the best results, we adopted the technology of intermittent vertical and subsurface flow and made the first intermittent vertical and subsurface flow artificial wetland in China’s cold areas.

(2) Combination of purification wetland and landscape.

The project is located in Changchun City, adjacent to the residential area. The combination of purification function and landscape function provides a leisure place with residents and maximizes the benefits of wetland.

(3) Incorporating an AR&VR-enhanced smart interactive monitoring system.

We combined AR&VR technology with smart water management and integrated modules, such as wetland science popularization, intermittent operation control, and water quality monitoring and early warning to build an interactive display system for smart monitoring of the wetland.

The smart wetland of Yongning Road North has become a purification wetland park for visiting, appreciation, learning and leisure. It is a showcase for a healthy Yitong River, a symbol of green Changchun City, and a model of artificial wetland in the new era.