The Institute of Urban Smart Transportation & Safety Maintenance is a relatively independent scientific research institution affiliated to the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering of Shenzhen University. It was built based on a cooperation of the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering of Shenzhen University and the Institute of Large-Scale Structural Health Diagnosis and Control of Shijiazhuang Tiedao University. The dean and academic leader of the Institute is Professor Du Yanliang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. At present, there are 18 scientific researchers, including 1 academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 1 Yangtze River scholar, 1 national candidate for the "millions of talent projects’ in the new century, 4 professors, 1 associate professor, 4 assistant professors, and 9 associate researchers and post-doctors. In addition, many well-known experts at home and abroad, such as academician of the Japanese Academy of Engineering, the chief of the 973 project, Yangtze River and Distinguished Young scholars, have been invited as guest Professors of the Institute.

With the aim to ensure the safety and reliability of major infrastructures such as bridges and tunnels, station docks, high-rise buildings, transportation hubs, slope roads, municipal pipelines, port dikes, submarine pipelines and marine wind power, the Institute of Urban Smart Transportation & Safety Maintenance carries out research and teaching activities on Perception Monitoring, Performance Judgment, Disaster Protection and Intelligent Management of important urban infrastructures. During the past five years, the Institute members have undertaken 4 projects of the National 863 Program, National Support Program, and National Key R&D Program, more than 10 projects of National Natural Science Foundation and more than 20 provincial and ministerial level projects, providing technical support for the construction and safety operation of the infrastructures. During the conduct of these projects, a series of innovative achievements for the infrastructures have been obtained in the fields of multi-dimensional intelligent monitoring / detection, health diagnosis and vibration control, performance analysis and safety warning of structures under multi-factor coupling effect, long-term performance maintenance and improvement of existing structures, etc. The Institute has won 1 first prize, 3 second prizes of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, 1 Outstanding Contribution Award of Science and Technology of Hebei Province, 1 first prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award of the Education Ministry, etc. The Institute has also published more than 200 papers, including more than 80 SCI papers, and obtained 18 national invention patents and utility model patents.

In recent years, the Institute has invited more than 20 famous scholars from home and abroad to hold more than 50 academic lectures and forums. As the global influence in the field of major infrastructure operation and maintenance increases, the Institute has successfully hosted and co-organized 5 high-level academic forums, including the first national academic exchange meeting of leading talents in scientific and technological innovation (Civil Engineering, Construction, Transportation, Water conservancy, Municipal administration). Relevant research work has laid a solid foundation for promoting technological progress in the field of major urban infrastructure operation and maintenance, and continuously improving the research and development strength of the Institute.