Vigorously advancing the construction of hydropower projects and developing renewable, clean hydropower energy is an essential measure to alleviate China's energy shortage effectively, improve the energy structure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and is also an important guarantee for the sustainable development of China's economy and society. However, throughout the entire lifecycle of reservoirs, from planning and design to construction and operation, various types of geological disaster risks are faced at different stages. These risks not only threaten the safety of the reservoir projects themselves but also have a significant impact on the surrounding ecological environment and the safety of people's lives and property. How to effectively identify, monitor, warn, prevent, and manage geological disasters throughout the entire lifecycle of reservoirs has become a major challenge faced by academia, the engineering industry, and government departments.
On June 12, 1985, in Xintan Town, Zigui County, Yichang City, Hubei Province, along the Yangtze River's Three Gorges, a massive landslide occurred due to heavy rainfall, with a total volume of 30 million cubic meters. Thanks to accurate monitoring and early warning, timely forecasting response, and effective emergency handling, all 1,000 residents in the landslide area were saved, creating a precedent for precise landslide forecasting based on monitoring and early warning. This achievement was commended by eight ministries and commissions and is hailed as a "rare miracle" in the history of China's landslide research, marking its 40th anniversary this year.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the successful prediction of the Xintan landslide in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, the "The 1st International Symposium on Geo-Disaster Prevention and Control throughout the Life Cycle of Reservoirs (ISGDPC)" is scheduled to be held from April 18th to 20th, 2025. The conference aims to gather experts and scholars in the fields of geological disasters and reservoir engineering from around the world to discuss key issues such as risk assessment of geological disasters, monitoring, and early warning, the impact of heavy rainfall and reservoir water level regulation, disaster prevention for pumped storage power stations, barrier lake control, application of digital twin technology, and green prevention and control technology. By sharing the latest research results and technological advancements and engaging in in-depth exchanges and cooperation, the conference seeks to promote innovation and application of geological disaster prevention and control technologies, enhance China's scientific and technological level and international influence in the field of reservoir geological disaster prevention and control through interdisciplinary international cooperation and academic exchanges.