The Taoyuan Department of Environmental Protection has recently developed the "AI Water Color Recognition System," an innovative application of AI visual detection technology to enhance river protection. This system automatically identifies abnormal water color images and sends notifications to the Environmental Pollution Monitoring Center. Personnel from the center are then dispatched for inspection. This system not only saves time on manual monitoring but also proactively enhances inspection efficiency.Through this system, the Environmental Protection Department recently detected the discharge of yellow muddy water from construction sites in Zhongli District and Bade District for the first time. The department has filed reports according to the violations of Article 30 of the Water Pollution Control Act.
Chen Shih-Wei, Director of the Environmental Protection Department, stated that the "AI Water Color Recognition System" is a monitoring and early warning system implemented by the Taoyuan Department of Environmental Protection, utilizing robotic visual detection technology for environmental inspection work. Due to the extensive development of construction projects within Taoyuan City's boundaries, there have been frequent complaints from the public about abnormal river water colors. After assessing concentrated areas of ongoing construction sites and areas with high industrial activity, the decision was made to establish recognition system monitoring in regions with abnormal water colors. The system's purpose is to identify whether the colors of river water bodies are abnormal. When the AI Water Color Recognition System detects anomalies, it sends notifications containing the event's time, location, and image information. Inspection personnel can then be dispatched promptly for immediate and effective inspections, strengthening both real-time inspections and automatic monitoring efficiency.
The Environmental Protection Department stated that locations such as Laojie River beside Qiaxi Bridge in Zhongli District and the Yong'an Bridge section of Jiadong River in Taoyuan District have frequently faced complaints about construction site runoff contaminating rivers with yellow muddy water. The department conducted 54 inspections within a year, resulting in fines totaling nearly NT$500,000. Consequently, starting in late June, AI Water Color Recognition Systems were installed at these two locations, enabling robotic visual detection of all images, and eliminating the need for human surveillance. This system is also adaptable, allowing adjustments based on complaint hotspots. The department also noted that a CCTV camera captures at least 30 frames per second (30 fps). Traditional manual monitoring requires significant human effort. Thus, the department has transitioned to AI recognition systems, shifting from human surveillance to robotic monitoring. The system immediately raises alerts upon detecting anomalies, progressively implementing a Human-Machine Cooperation model to discourage illegal operators.
Within the drainage area around Qiaxi Bridge and Laojie River and at Yong'an Bridge, there are approximately 11 factories and 70 ongoing construction projects, and 7 factories and 6 ongoing construction projects respectively. Therefore, the deployment of 2 AI Water Color Recognition Systems can automatically monitor the drainage conditions of 94 pollution sources. The department also mentioned that the AI Water Color Recognition System recently detected abnormal water colors at Qiaxi Bridge and Laojie River. After issuing warning notifications, the monitoring center promptly dispatched personnel for inspection. Inspectors traced back to the source within the drainage system and promptly identified violations by Feng ○ Construction Company and De ○ Construction Company, which caused improper operation, resulting in the discharge of yellow muddy wastewater into ditches and the Qiaxi Bridge rainwater culvert, polluting Laojie River. According to Article 30 of the Water Pollution Control Act, the department filed reports, imposing fines ranging from over NT$30,000 to NT$3 million.
The department emphasized that environmental inspection work in Taoyuan has progressively incorporated IoT (Internet of Things) and AI image recognition systems. This includes IoT air quality sensors monitoring 15 industrial zones and their settlements, water quality IoT targeting specific objectives, and an AI-based smoke judgment system overseeing emissions from 22 factory chimneys. Through the Human-Machine Cooperation model, inspection efficiency has been enhanced by quickly dispatching personnel and reducing response times.The department urges the public to make use of toll-free reporting hotlines 0800-066666 and 03-3354943 for complaints. This will expedite investigation efficiency and collectively combat pollution crimes, ensuring a clean living environment.