From March 6 to March 13, 2023, supported by a joint regional innovation and development project, the research team conducted Phase I of the “Comprehensive Survey of Snow and Ice Water Resources in the Hexi Corridor.” The work comprised snow surveys, UAV flights over river ice, field validation of river ice, precipitation collection, and river-water sampling.

On March 6, 7, and 9, 2023, the team conducted 11 UAV LiDAR flight lines in Yeniugou, Binggou, and the Babao River: two in Yeniugou, four in Binggou, and five along the Babao River. Quality checks showed that eight flight lines met the required accuracy: four along the Babao River, two in Binggou, and two in Yeniugou. A hyperspectral UAV flight was also conducted over the Babao River on March 9, 2023.

On March 6, 7, and 9, the team collected ice thickness data at 92 locations in Yeniugou, Binggou, and the Babao River, including nine in Yeniugou, 48 in Binggou, and 35 along the Babao River.

Continuous precipitation collection at the Binggou mountain pass was scheduled to begin on March 13, 2023. River-water samples were also collected in the Binggou catchment and near the Qilian County Hydrology Bureau, with samples obtained from five locations on March 7, 2023.