Digitization Practices for the Whole Life Cycle of Resettlement in Water Conservancy and Hydropower Projects

The land acquisition and resettlement processes of water conservancy and hydropower projects constitute a critical component of national infrastructure development, directly influencing project advancement and social harmony. Nevertheless, traditional approaches are increasingly impeded by fragmented information, complex procedures, and inefficient oversight. Rapid advancements in digital technologies—including GIS, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain—have established the development of a full life cycle digital management system as a pivotal strategy for optimizing resettlement processes. This study examines three critical phases—planning and design, implementation and management, and post-implementation support—providing a comprehensive analysis of resettlement digitization practices. It identifies key challenges in technological deployment, data sharing, cross-sectoral collaboration, and risk management, and proposes targeted strategies and recommendations to offer both theoretical insights and practical guidance for achieving efficient, transparent, and scientifically grounded decision-making in water conservancy and hydropower project resettlement.