This paper provides a systematic review of the application of digital technologies in the resource utilisation of canal engineering spoil. It analyses the current challenges in spoil disposal, including large volumes, complex compositions, and prominent environmental pressures. Then, it focuses on discussing technological progress in key areas such as digital excavation, safety control during storage, intelligent processing, and low-carbon management. Moreover, by combining the Pinglu Canal project and the European “Dragon Plan”, this paper summarises the experiences where digital technologies enhance the efficiency and environmental benefits of spoil utilisation. It also identifies persistent challenges in standardisation, cost control, and systemic coordination, and offers corresponding recommendations to support efficient and sustainable spoil resource utilisation in canal engineering.

Under the strategic imperatives of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and the strategy of a country with strong transportation network, canal construction projects present substantial environmental challenges. The sector’s large-scale engineering projects consume massive energy and material resources, resulting in substantial carbon emissions. Achieving emission reduction has become a critical imperative for boosting sustainable development in China’s transportation infrastructure. Using the Pinglu Canal Project as a case study, this paper reviews current methodologies for carbon accounting in hydraulic engineering and evaluates emerging low-carbon construction technologies. Furthermore, the paper offers three strategic development suggestions, including standardized emission metrics of canals, carbon reduction technology development, and realization path of carbon sink value.

The issue of temperature control for mass concrete in modern canal construction is inevitable, influencing the construction quality and service life of mass concrete structures. In the context of the new era of artificial intelligence, the development of mass concrete temperature control technology is facing opportunities and challenges in transitioning from traditional construction measures to intelligent control technologies. To solve the cracking problem caused by the heat of hydration in mass concrete and promote the intelligence of temperature control technology for mass concrete, this paper systematically analyzes the current state of development of mass concrete temperature control technology, incorporating research findings from construction measures, material selection, and intelligent temperature control. It summarizes the challenges faced by mass concrete temperature control technology and points out the need to strengthen the deep integration of construction measures, material selection, and intelligent temperature control technologies. Additionally, it emphasizes the acceleration of the development of intelligent monitoring and prediction, as well as interconnectivity technologies for mass concrete.

Modern canals integrate multi-functional needs such as shipping, flood control, water supply, irrigation, ecology, and tourism. There are many challenges in construction and operation, such as out-of-balance water and sediment transport, regional water security, ecological environment protection, long-life safety of structures, and low carbon. The need for China’s modern canal construction is increasingly urgent. However, the relevant fundamental research is relatively weak. The key theories and technologies of green construction and operation have yet to be broken through, and there is an urgent need to build systematic theories for synergistic regulation of safety and low carbon during the whole life of the canal project. Based on the discussion on the 362nd Shuangqing Forum of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), this paper reviews the development history of artificial canals and the research status of modern canal engineering, puts forward the core connotation of modern canal engineering, summarizes the key technical problems faced by the green construction and operation for modern canal engineering in China, condenses the major scientific issues that need to be paid attention to and solved in the next 5-10 years for green construction and operation of modern canal engineering, and discusses the frontier research direction and the strategy of science funding in the related fields, which have important guiding significance for enabling the construction of large-scale cross-water canal projects in China.