XI’AN City Wall, initially erected some 1,400 years ago — in 582 A.D., during the Sui Dynasty (581-619), now stretches 13.74 kilometers encircling the city of Xi’an in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. As one of the largest, oldest and best-preserved ancient urban fortifications in China, it once faced great challenge in preservation and protection, as its interior structure — mostly tamped earth — has been eroded by wind and rain throughout the time.

Nowadays, the problem is largely solved by AI in Xi’an with the wall modeled with centimeter-level precision into a digital twin system through more than 3,000 monitoring points and over 1,300 visual sensors installed along the wall. Currently, this digital twin system, along with other data, restoration records and visitor operation information, is managed by a “super brain,” called the “Xi’an City Wall Digital Cabin Comprehensive Management Platform,” which anticipates potential risks by tracking subtle signs of structural strain.(Xinhua)