A rendering of a smart station in the Optics Valley of China, which is roofed with flexible photovoltaic tiles designed by an OVC-based company – Flextech Co. The company focuses on the development of materials and technologies for flexible solar modules in the field of mobile energy and smart energy. [Photo/Wechat account of Optics Valley of China] 

New smart stations have been established in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as the Optics Valley of China, or OVC) in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province. The deployment of these stations is a part of the zone's recent ecological program to reduce carbon emissions and achieve green development. 

The smart station will house tourist service centers built with special construction materials – ultra-light steel, whose seismic resistance is 2-3 times higher than traditional bricks. The steel also boasts excellent corrosion resistance and a long service life of up to 70 years. 

More importantly, these stations are roofed with flexible photovoltaic tiles, which can generate power by absorbing solar energy. The rainwater collection system is installed in every smart station in order to effectively utilize rainwater. 

There are several "smart trees" planted along the station, which are in fact posts that can not only produce electricity, but also monitor streets and weather, charge mobile devices, and provide motion-sensing light.

Photovoltaic tiles and smart tree-like posts can generate 494,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which cuts power bills by 395,000 yuan ($59,250) and reduces carbon emissions by 492.5 metric tons. [Photo/Wechat account of Optics Valley of China]

In addition, the entire construction process of these smart stations is aided by various automatic machines, and workers just need to input a set of data and the machines will help them finish the rest of the work with higher efficiency and precision.