This project explores spatial formats of China through visions and plans of infrastructural interconnectivity. The period investigated spans the establishment of the first Ministry of Communications in 1906 to the onset of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. Through an actor-centred analysis of the relevant ministries, polytechnic schools, and professional engineering associations, we demonstrate how different infrastructural visions of the nation state interact and constitute a fundamental dimension of territorializing space.

As part of its work the project is responsible for the Chinese Engineers Relational Database (CERD) Web Interface. CERD is a database of engineers from the Chinese Republican period (1912–1949). You can use this web interface to access the prosopographic catalogue of persons, educational institutions, and companies.