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Journal of Arid Land
Journal of Arid Land  2026, Vol. 18 Issue (3): 372-386    DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridl.2026.03.002     CSTR: 32276.14.JAL.20250399
Research article     
Unmanned aerial vehicle-assisted evaluation of the effectiveness of sand control engineering along a Gobi desert highway in Ejin Banner, northern China
MA Xixi1, XIAO Jianhua2,*(), YAO Zhengyi2, HONG Xuefeng3, XUE Xian2,4
1Department of Geography, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, China
2State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
3Transportation Development Center of Alxa League, Banyanhot 750306, China
4Drylands Salinization Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Minqin 733300, China
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Abstract  

Sand control engineering plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safe operation of transportation corridors that traverse desertified areas. Evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions provides a crucial scientific basis for mitigating aeolian hazards and guiding the sustainable management of fragile and arid ecosystems. In this study, we investigated a representative section of Highway S315, which is prone to windblown sand hazards, in Ejin Banner, northern China. By integrating segmented measurements with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based oblique photogrammetry, we quantitatively characterized the spatial and temporal evolution of sand accumulation around multiple sand control structures and assessed their blocking efficiency. Complementary road sand-removal records and meteorological observations were analyzed to evaluate the long-term performance of engineering measures. Our results showed that sand accumulation behind high vertical sand barriers typically exhibited a triangular cross-sectional morphology, with a gently inclined stoss slope and a steep lee slope. The shape and volume of these deposits evolved dynamically in response to variations in the prevailing wind regime, reflecting strong feedback between barrier geometry and local airflow redistribution. In contrast, the low-profile checkerboard sand barriers displayed a three-stage morphological trajectory—initial accumulation, edge intensification, and functional decline—indicating a progressive loss of sand-trapping capacity as burial proceeded. Sand accumulation was markedly greater on the highway's western (upwind) side than on the eastern (downwind) side, with 70.0%-90.0% of the airborne sediment flux intercepted by the upwind structures. From 2015 to 2020, mean annual wind speeds remained stable (2.68±0.04 m/s), while precipitation varied from 22.6 to 103.7 mm. However, the annual sand removal volume from the road decreased consistently, confirming the enhanced mitigation effect of multi-level protective system. These findings highlight the coupled interactions between engineering design, wind-sand dynamics, and topographic context. Beyond their immediate protective role, well-designed sand control systems also contribute to the prevention of regional desertification by stabilizing mobile dunes and fostering conditions favorable for ecological restoration. The insights gained here provide both theoretical and practical support for optimizing sand control engineering and advancing sustainable hazard mitigation in arid and semi-arid areas.

Key words： sand control engineering      unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)      sand accumulation morphology      sand-blocking efficiency      desert highway     
Received: 25 August 2025      Published: 31 March 2026
Corresponding Authors: *XIAO Jianhua (E-mail: xiaojh@lzb.ac.cn)
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MA Xixi
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Cite this article:

MA Xixi, XIAO Jianhua, YAO Zhengyi, HONG Xuefeng, XUE Xian. Unmanned aerial vehicle-assisted evaluation of the effectiveness of sand control engineering along a Gobi desert highway in Ejin Banner, northern China. Journal of Arid Land, 2026, 18(3): 372-386.

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http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1016/j.jaridl.2026.03.002     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2026/V18/I3/372

Fig. 1 Location and topography of Highway S315 (a) and the south-north (b) and west-east (c) topographic profiles across the aeolian hazard segments. The north-south and west-east topographic transects are defined by points P1 and P2 and points P3 and P4, respectively.
Fig. 2 Wind regimes across the aeolian hazard segments of Highway S315. (a-d), seasonal frequency of sand-driving winds; (e), annual sand-driving wind frequency; (f), annual drift potential. N, north; S, south; E, east; W, west.
Fig. 3 Sand control engineering along Highway S315. (a), view of the sequence of protective measures. Points labeled ''West'' and ''East'' represent the sampling locations; (b), spatial distribution of survey points along the highway corridor, where "K" denotes kilometers from northern terminus and "+" indicates additional meters; (c-h), photographs of the evolution of sand accumulation for the two main protective structures.
Project phase Sand hazard severity Implementation date Treated length (km) Sand control measure
Phase I Severe September 2016 6.00 High vertical sand barriers+sand-fixing checkerboard grids
Phase II Moderately severe October 2017 9.10 High vertical sand barriers+sand-fixing checkerboard grids
Phase III Severe October 2019 6.00 Heightened high vertical sand barriers on western side
Table 1 Timing of construction of sand control engineering structures
Fig. 4 Sedimentation dynamics near high vertical sand barriers, documented via two-phase measurements of pattern evolution (a) and a series of current field photographs (b-e)
No. Road segment Distance
(km)		 Sand hazard level Sand volume (m3/m) Contribution of
western side (%)
West East Total volume
1 K9+000-K11+000 2.00 Moderate 0.94 0.24 1.18 79.7
2 K16+000-K17+000 1.00 Moderate 2.53 0.29 2.82 89.7
3 K18+500-K19+500 1.00 Moderate 3.05 1.18 4.23 72.1
4 K19+500-K20+000 0.50 Severe 18.12 4.78 22.90 79.1
5 K20+000-K22+000 2.00 Moderate 5.71 2.08 7.79 73.3
6 K22+000-K23+000 1.00 Moderate 4.36 0.30 4.66 93.6
7 K23+000-K26+500 3.50 Severe 20.49 5.46 25.95 79.0
8 K26+500-K27+600 1.10 Moderate 7.95 1.65 9.60 82.8
9 K27+600-K29+600 2.00 Severe 11.60 5.26 16.86 68.8
10 K29+600-K30+600 1.00 Moderate 2.70 0.11 2.81 96.1
Table 2 Sand accumulation in the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) barrier system
Fig. 5 Amount of sand removed (a) and meteorological conditions (b)
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