Green concepts put to service

The Theme Pavilion features vertical planting is seen in the photo taken on April 25, 2010. [Xinhua]

SHANGHAI - Eco-walls featuring plant receptacles made from recycled plastic at the Theme Pavilion are just some of the creative new technologies adopted at the Expo Garden to spread the green message, officials with the Shanghai municipal science and technology commission said on Sunday.

The 5,000-square-meter walls are capable of absorbing 4 tons of carbon dioxide a year and are part of new technologies that focus on reducing man's carbon footprint and making city life smoother, said Shou Ziqi, director of the commission.

Other technologies dealing with environmental issues, such as integrated insect control, rainwater collection and recycling as well as waste disposal and safe drinking water, are also used in the Expo Garden, Shou said.

Similarly, 1,017 new energy vehicles have been put to use in and outside the Expo Garden, including 196 fuel cell cars, 321 electric vehicles and 500 hybrid electric vehicles. More than 10,000 tons of traditional fuel will be saved and 118 tons of harmful substances cut.

Apart from green energy and environmentally friendly concepts, an intelligent transportation system has also been applied for the efficient and easy operation of the Expo.

Through intelligent transport technology, transport information during rush hours is distributed and updated in less than five minutes.

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The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at turnstiles in the Expo Garden, which helps speed up entry by scanning visitors' tickets, was also introduced.

"With the help of RFID technology, it will take an average of 20 seconds for visitors to go through the Expo entrance," Shou said.

At the same time, the world's first TD-LTE Demonstration Network has been established for Expo 2010 Shanghai to provide visitors with a new, high-speed 4G network experience. Next generation Internet technologies, as well as cloud computing, also provide scientific and technological support for the Expo.