Zhi was once described by state media outlet People’s Daily as “a leading figure” in advancing GPR technology across critical infrastructure sectors.
The 66-year-old was born in China and became a Singapore citizen in 2011. He graduated from Tsinghua University in 1983, majoring in Radio Technology and Information Systems.
Before founding DECOD, Zhi worked in China’s aerospace sector on GPR research and development.
In 2022, he established a joint venture in Shenzhen to expand applications in the China market, with Singapore remaining the base for global expansion.
DECOD’s 3D mobile GPR system is currently being piloted in Shenzhen’s Guangming district, an area known for its vast nature and forest attractions.
A pilot trial began in the wake of a deadly expressway collapse in Guangdong last May, which killed 52 people and injured 30 others when a road section caved in during heavy rain.
Every day, for more than seven hours, DECOD’s radar-mounted vehicles have been scanning roads throughout the district.
To date, the system has identified and flagged more than 100 underground anomalies including voids, delamination zones where structural layers have separated, and loose soil.
The company is also working with an airport group in western China to inspect over 30 runways.
It is collaborating with AI researchers to improve radar detection accuracy, Zhi said.
The goal is to train algorithms to automatically interpret radar scans and assign risk levels using GPS-linked, colour-coded visual outputs, he added.
“Eventually, we hope city officials can respond to alerts directly, without needing a technical team to interpret every scan.”
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