From Concept to Reality: The Practical Implementation of a Laboratory-Based Smart Water Campus Model

The emergence of smart campuses marks a pivotal advancement in educational pedagogy, environmental quality, resource allocation, and administrative services. This study presents the conceptualization and implementation of the Nanxun Campus of Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power (ZJWEU), which serves as an exemplary smart water initiative. Adhering to the philosophy of integrating educational facilities within the campus infrastructure, the campus incorporates several specialized zones: a key protection area, the water conservation area, the ecological stability area, the living water spirit area, and the teaching and practice area. This study clarifies the unique attributes, design philosophies, and operational mechanisms of these distinct zones. Central to the campus’s identity is a water culture-centric strategy, with each building reflecting water-themed concepts and providing extensive real-world engineering teaching and practice environments. Since its opening in 2022, the campus has been admitting approximately 5000 students annually and has been a model of water culture campuses that integrate ecology, intelligence, humanism, and synergy. The insights and infrastructure provide a valuable reference and foundational support for the evolution of smart campuses, underscoring the potential to merge water culture with avant-garde educational practices.