Shandong Institute: The Sword is Drawn—Who Can Stand Against It? — A Profile of “Mingda Craftsman” Zhang Hailiang

Unlike the vast majority of geologists who are not particularly talkative, on a midsummer afternoon, Zhang Hailiang arrived as promised and, scarcely seated, immediately began to speak at length. From the significance of geophysical exploration to its various methodological categories, and then to his own understanding of the “true essence” of the field, Zhang Hailiang first gave this “outsider” a thorough, professional primer on geophysics.

When speaking of the geophysical exploration field he loves and has dedicated his life to, Zhang Hailiang speaks eloquently, as if recounting treasures from a cherished collection.

As the deputy director of the Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Branch of Shandong Institute, Zhang Hailiang has, over more than nine years in his position, worked across China’s vast landscapes and abroad in countries including Thailand, Myanmar, and the United Arab Emirates. In his capacity as team leader of the geophysical exploration group, he has organized and completed over a dozen national- and provincial-level government-funded geological survey projects, as well as dozens of engineering‑geological and environmental‑geological investigations. He has received several awards for outstanding geological reporting and has published nine scientific papers. At the inaugural National Geophysical Exploration Skills Competition in 2018, he was honored with titles such as “Outstanding Geophysical Exploration Professional” in Shandong Province’s geological survey sector, “Outstanding Geophysical Exploration Professional” within the China National Coal Geological Bureau, and “Outstanding Geophysical Exploration Professional” at the national level.

Love What You Do: From “Rookie” to “Pro”

Any growth is a long and arduous process of self-cultivation. Zhang Hailiang, who has already achieved some success in the field of geophysical exploration, candidly admits that during this “journey” spanning more than nine years, he too has faced setbacks and moments of uncertainty.

On July 13, 2011, Zhang Hailiang reported to the Shandong Institute. With the department severely understaffed at the time, he was promptly assigned to the Zaozhuang project site to carry out fieldwork. July and August are the hottest months in northern China; fresh out of school, Zhang Hailiang and his colleagues trudged through sweltering heat, wading into cornfields, scaling steep hillsides, and surveying line‑based measurement points. It was this very first field assignment that left the young Zhang Hailiang feeling deeply frustrated and profoundly uncertain.

“I remember it vividly: it was August 14th, just as I was about to complete my first month on the project. In the late afternoon, we had to climb over an extremely steep hillside. I was a bit frightened but too embarrassed to burden my colleagues. After much struggling—climbing and detouring—I finally made it down, only to find that night had already fallen.” Day after day, the work was grueling, poorly resourced, and monotonous; progress seemed impossible, and occasional rookie mistakes left him frustrated. The gap between his ideals and reality reduced Zhang Hailiang—always a top student from childhood, cherished and pampered by his parents as an only child—to tears on the spot.

“At the time, I thought I was quite accomplished, and several organizations even wanted to hire me upon graduation. Yet I never imagined that the gap between theory and practice after entering the workforce would be so wide,” Zhang Hailiang remarked with a sigh. “Still, I remind myself that since I chose the geophysical exploration major and joined Shandong Institute, it’s like choosing a partner in love: once you’ve made up your mind, you should not only appreciate each other’s strengths but also face and embrace each other’s flaws and shortcomings—only then can you build a lasting, happy relationship.”

It was this simple, heartfelt devotion to his profession and to his organization that kept Zhang Hailiang going. After shedding tears, whenever he set out on field routes or conducted measurements, he carried not only his instruments and a water bottle but also a small grid‑patterned notebook. How to lay out the survey lines, how to configure and fine‑tune instrument settings under different conditions, what kinds of problems typically arise during fieldwork and how to resolve them—on this notebook, he meticulously recorded every issue he encountered, every method he distilled, and every insight he gained, carefully digesting each one.

It is precisely through his deep commitment to the geophysical exploration field, his profound affection for his organization, his indomitable spirit, and his diligent, day-in-and-day-out efforts that this once‑“rookie” has finally spread his wings and embarked on the path of becoming a true expert.

Dedication and Responsibility: Seemingly simple, yet profoundly meaningful.

To the untrained eye, geophysical exploration may seem straightforward and repetitive, but in reality, it involves a great deal of complexity. Take well logging as an example: at first glance, it appears to be nothing more than equipment operating automatically while personnel monitor it. However, even a slight lapse in vigilance can lead to serious consequences—if the logging tool encounters resistance or becomes stuck and is not promptly and properly addressed, the tool could be buried or dropped within the blink of an eye, resulting in a severe production accident.

“Risk costs represent the largest expense in geophysical exploration,” said Zhang Hailiang. “A single fiber-optic gyroscopic inclinometer probe can cost over a hundred thousand yuan; even a single accident adds that much to the organization’s expenses and also disrupts operational efficiency.”

To prevent the recurrence of similar major accidents, Zhang Hailiang maintains a strong sense of responsibility throughout his logging operations, meticulously and patiently monitoring even the slightest changes in equipment sounds and the condition of the winch cable. Through continuous learning, analysis, and reflection, he has honed an acute ability to detect anomalies—his “eyes can see千里 away and his ears can hear the wind”—enabling him to respond swiftly and decisively when irregularities arise.

“The simpler something seems, the harder it is to maintain flawless performance over the long term—but I’ve done it!” Zhang Hailiang said with a hint of pride. At the time, the Lanling project had accumulated more than a thousand logging operations; thanks to his dedication, sense of responsibility, and meticulous attention to detail, not a single production accident ever occurred under his supervision. He successfully completed the integrated exploration‑logging campaign for the Lanling iron ore district and honed an exclusive logging expertise: detecting potential hazards by listening to the sounds of the well.

Striving for Perfection: Unity of Man and Machine—3,000 Kilometers Achieve the Leap from Quantitative Change to Qualitative Transformation

Geophysical exploration is a fundamental component of geological work, with precision as its guiding principle. Zhang Hailiang describes himself as someone who takes “CT scans” of the Earth, striving to achieve a seamless integration of man and instrument and honing his ability to see beneath the surface.

Due to current equipment limitations and various sources of ground‑level interference, achieving high‑precision resolution in many geophysical surveys remains extremely challenging. Consequently, under identical survey conditions, human subjectivity and initiative become particularly critical. Zhang Hailiang argues that geophysicists must first cultivate a “tool‑oriented mindset,” taking meticulous care of their instruments, understanding their capabilities, and recognizing how subtle changes may occur under different circumstances—knowing which parameters to set and what adjustments to make. By minimizing or eliminating operator error and external factors that can disrupt the equipment, they can enhance the accuracy of the initial data‑acquisition phase, thereby laying a solid foundation for subsequent data processing and interpretation.

Speaking about the challenges of improving geophysical exploration accuracy, Zhang Hailiang offers a poignant insight: “When most people can achieve 80% accuracy, you might just scrape by to reach 90% with a bit of effort. But to push further—to 95% or even 100%—every incremental step demands efforts that are hundreds or even thousands of times more arduous.”

Many people, overwhelmed by the difficulty of making a choice, “give up,” while Zhang Hailiang, faced with the same challenge, chose to “take it on.”

“I have a positive mindset—I’m not afraid of challenges or competition, and I’ve always strived to be number one since I was a child.” When he first joined Shandong Institute, Zhang Hailiang set himself the modest goal of becoming the institute’s top expert in geophysical exploration technology.

For more than nine years, this goal has served as a powerful driving force, spurring him to relentlessly pursue excellence and refine his skills. With no one else setting impossibly high standards, he has stayed true to his original aspirations, drawing on an unwavering determination to push himself to the limit. In fieldwork, he scales every mountain and leaps over every ravine—never cutting corners or skipping a single survey point, so long as his feet can carry him there.

According to Zhang Hailiang’s rough estimates, from the time he began working in 2011 through the end of 2017, he logged over 3,000 kilometers on ground high‑magnetic surveys alone. This extensive fieldwork—spanning more than 3,000 kilometers—has provided him with invaluable hands‑on experience and honed his solid geophysical expertise. From the southwestern frontiers to the northeastern plains, from dense mountain forests to the desolate Gobi Desert, and from China to overseas, time and again he pushed himself to the limit, often drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. His hard work and countless footprints bear witness to the remarkable leap in his geophysical skills—from quantitative accumulation to qualitative transformation.

In 2018, after multiple rounds of selection, Zhang Hailiang participated in the inaugural National Geophysical Exploration Skills Competition of the “Laolai Cup” within the China Skills Competition. At the Shandong provincial level, he achieved a perfect score in the high‑magnetic field category, placed 13th in the Shandong regional finals, and secured second place in the magnetic‑method skills event, earning him the title of “Outstanding Geophysical Talent of Shandong Province.” His accomplishments brought honor to the Shandong Institute and enhanced its reputation. In the preliminary competition hosted by the China National Coal Geological Bureau, Zhang Hailiang ranked third overall, was recognized as an “Outstanding Geophysical Talent of the China National Coal Geological Bureau,” and was subsequently selected to join the Bureau’s national team, competing in the national finals held in Guangzhou.

During the previous Shandong provincial‑level competition in electrical‑method single‑property measurement, Zhang Hailiang used a new Canadian‑imported device for the first time. With its entirely English‑language interface, he felt somewhat overwhelmed, which led to an error alarm during the measurement of electrical parameters for one core sample and cost him half his points. After the competition, determined to understand the equipment’s capabilities and address the shortcomings revealed on the field, Zhang Hailiang painstakingly searched online, translated technical documents, and worked his way through several thick volumes of original English‑language manuals. By the time he reached the national finals, this spirit of lifelong learning and relentless pursuit of excellence enabled him to stage a remarkable turnaround: out of a possible 25 points for that event, he lost only 0.25.

In the face of unfamiliarity with Guangzhou’s geographical environment, strong local space‑borne electromagnetic interference, and overly fine sampling intervals, Zhang Hailiang drew on his many years of painstakingly honed expertise to adapt on the spot. On the national stage—the highest‑level competition for geophysical exploration professionals—he showcased his superb technical skills, fully embodying the “craftsman spirit” of relentless pursuit of excellence and meticulous refinement, and earned the prestigious title of “Outstanding Geophysical Exploration Talent in the National Geological Exploration Industry” through outstanding performance.

Innovation, Pursuing Perfection: With the sword drawn, who can stand against it?

“Master one trade, excel in it. Within the field you know best, when faced with tough challenges, you must step up and hold your ground at the critical moment—daring to draw the sword and living up to your mission.” This is Zhang Hailiang’s simple yet profound understanding of “striving for perfection and embodying the craftsman spirit.” He applies these eight characters to every project and every stage of his work, relentlessly pioneering and innovating, always aiming for excellence.

In the detailed exploration project for the Gulin–Xiaozhaizi iron deposit within the Gulin mining area of Lanling County, Shandong Province, he pioneered the systematic processing of magnetic survey data from multiple boreholes in the Gulin mining district. Using Voxler software, he then generated three-dimensional visualizations of the ΔT magnetic anomalies recorded in these boreholes. By leveraging the known magnetic parameters of each lithologic unit, he delineated three-dimensional ΔT anomaly bodies that could be interpreted as mineral‑related. Through analysis of multi‑hole, three‑component magnetic data processed to produce three‑dimensional ΔT anomaly maps, he achieved a more accurate and clearer depiction of the spatial distribution of the magnetite orebody. This work enabled him to reorient the overall exploration line from an azimuth of 300° to 210°, substantially reducing drilling effort while yielding significant exploration results and substantial economic benefits. At present, his expertise in borehole three‑component magnetic surveying and fiber‑optic gyroscopic inclination measurement (inclination correction) places him at the forefront of the industry in Shandong Province.

In the Qihu Dazhang iron‑ore exploration project in Shandong Province, he pioneered a method for extracting regional rock‑mass anomalies, enabling precise detection of deeply buried, irregularly shaped skarn‑type iron deposits. The Dazhang iron mine is a magnetite‑rich skarn deposit; due to the characteristic magnetic signatures of this ore type, the three‑component logging curves exhibited weak regularity. Moreover, the presence of a thick diorite body introduced localized “regional anomalies,” further complicating the identification and interpretation of the already modest yet highly variable magnetic anomalies associated with the ore body. To address this challenge, Zhang Hailiang innovatively utilized three‑component magnetic data acquired downhole to characterize the rock‑mass anomalies across the entire mining area. By comprehensively analyzing data from several drill holes and extracting magnetic field intensities measured within the upper 100 meters of the subsurface as the “normal field” for this logging campaign, he reprocessed the dataset and generated three‑dimensional maps. After applying normal‑field corrections to the in‑hole magnetic measurements and subsequently removing the “regional anomalies” attributable to the surrounding rock mass, the resulting logging data more clearly highlighted ore‑related anomalies, thereby achieving accurate detection of the deep‑seated, irregularly shaped skarn‑type iron deposit. This breakthrough effectively overcame a significant technical hurdle and advanced the project’s progress.

“I’m a geophysical surveyor at the Shandong Institute. No matter how tough or challenging it gets, I must stay true to my work in geophysics,” Zhang Hailiang said, expressing his deep devotion to the field.

“With the sword drawn, who dares to challenge? We will deliver every project with excellence, on behalf of Shandong Institute and the General Administration—projects that stand up to scrutiny by ourselves, by the client, by experts, and by history.” This is Zhang Hailiang’s resolute interpretation of embodying the spirit of craftsmanship.

Speaking of his achievements, Zhang Hailiang modestly attributed them to hard work and good fortune. He credited his success to the opportunities provided by his organization and the General Administration, which offered him a platform to grow, develop, and showcase his talents, as well as to the support and collaboration of his colleagues and partners. He emphasized that the “medal of honor” he bears is the collective result of everyone’s sweat and ingenuity.

The road ahead is long and fraught with challenges, but we are confident that this humble and ambitious young professional will, as always, forge ahead in the geophysical exploration field he loves—upholding his original aspirations with meticulous craftsmanship and shouldering his mission through dedicated action—making even greater contributions to the development of Shandong Institute and the General Bureau from his unassuming post.

Shandong Institute, Chen Haiying