From May 28th to June 1nd, 2019, invited by Mandalay University and CNPC South East Asia Pipeline Company Limited, a scientific expedition which was composed of Li Yi, Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Associate Professor Xiong Junnan of Southwest Petroleum University, conducted a scientific field investigation on Mandalay section of the Sino-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline, Yangon Port and surrounding areas. The investigation is supported by the Strategic Priority A Program of the Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road (Pan-TPE).

During the investigations of Mandalay, the expedition team conducted on-the-spot investigations on the historical extreme precipitation, exposure of hazard bearing body, and disaster resistance of Mandalay City and its surrounding areas, focusing on typical disasters along the China-Myanmar pipeline and its emergency measures. Meanwhile, detailed investigations on the historical extreme precipitation of the three terminals in Yangon Port and its countermeasures, the terrain along the Yangon River and hydrology were carried out in the investigations of Yangon port.

Workshops were held with CNPC South East Asia Pipeline Company Limited and Mandalay University during the investigations. At the workshop, Director Li Shuncheng of the CNPC South East Asia Pipeline Company Limited introduced the basic situation of China-Myanmar pipeline, the main types of disasters, emergency plans and disposal situations, and expressed the desire to carry out monitoring, early warning and risk assessment in the typical areas along the pipeline. Prof. Nyo Nyo and Dr. Mei Mei, Dean of the University of Mandalay's School of Geography, introduced the ongoing research of their research team, the extreme precipitation and the socio-economic situation in Mandalay and Yangon. Associate Research Fellow Li Yi on behalf of the delegation and the research group introduced the project background, research content and the main purpose and needs of the study, and showed the preliminary results of the research team on the risk assessment of extreme precipitation in Mandalay and Yangon Port. Li Yi also said that the group will continue to conduct in-depth research in conjunction with the natural and socio-economic surveys of the typical regional surveys of Mandalay Yangon Port and China-Myanmar pipeline, resulting in a " Comprehensive Atlas of Gwadar Green Development ", in a way to provid theoretical and technical support for the regional social and economic development of Myanmar and the construction of Chinese investment companies in Myanmar.

Mr.Cai Zhe, the assistant general manager of CNPC South East Asia Pipeline Company Limited, expressed his gratitude for the scientific and technological support of the delegation. He said that Myanmar section of the Sino-Myanmar pipeline was subjected to long distance, complex topography along the route, changeable climate, and the high risk of extreme precipitation. The scientific research led by program is essential for improving disaster monitoring, early warning and risk response capabilities along pipelines, to ensure safe operation of pipelines. Dr. Min Min Yee, Vice President of Mandalay University, thanked the project team for providing scientific and technological support for Myanmar's social and economic development, and said that it will provide comprehensive support for the research of this project, and expressed the hope of deep cooperation in talent training and scientific research in the future.

Next, on the basis of this investigation, the research team will conduct in-depth research on the typical areas along the pipeline and the fine-scale extreme precipitation risk assessment of Yangon Port.

Fig.1 Workshop with CNPC South East Asia Pipeline Company Limited.

Fig.2 Communication with Mandalay University

Fig.3 Field investigation of disasters along the China-Myanmar pipeline

Fig.4 Field investigation of Yangon Port