<p>A network of 12 major ports operates along the lower Yangtze River, among which the Zhang Jia Gang Port was selected as a representative pilot site due to its high particulate emissions from coal terminals. An intelligent monitoring and control system was installed on January 2022 and operated continuously for one year to evaluate its performance. The system integrates laser radar, a beta-ray monitor, and five light-scattering dust monitors with Gaussian-based source inversion and automated spray control. A total of 8,682 instantaneous concentration measurements were obtained for each particulate matter component (TSP, PM₁₀, and PM₂.₅). The observed particulate ratios (PM₂.₅/TSP = 0.31, PM₁₀/TSP = 0.68, and PM₂.₅/PM₁₀ = 0.45) indicate that coarse mineral particles dominate the emissions, typical of coal and bulk cargo operations, with limited contributions from fine secondary aerosols or combustion sources. These ratios provide essential diagnostic insight for optimizing control responses: high PM₁₀/TSP values highlight the need for mechanical dust suppression, while relatively low PM₂.₅ fractions imply limited effectiveness of filters targeting fine particles. The intelligent system, by incorporating ratio-based calibration, dynamically adjusted spray timing and intensity to match real-time dust characteristics, reducing water consumption by 28.65% (from 124,830 to 89,064 tons) while maintaining effective suppression. Seasonal water savings reached 21.94%, 38.51%, 39.82%, and 14.34% in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The study demonstrates a scalable, data-driven approach that couples real-time monitoring, ratio-informed analysis, and adaptive control to enhance both environmental efficiency and resource conservation in port and industrial dust management.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>