Seoul authorities have launched a project that uses technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to address various urban issues. And to integrate technology into all aspects of life.

Indicators of the progress of cities in the twenty-first century are no longer limited to buildings, hygiene and the level of services, After the world’s largest cities embarked on a frantic technical race to be worthy of the title of “smart city”, A city that uses technology to meet its challenges and manage the affairs of its residents.

In the Asian competition, The capital of South Korea has already embraced smart initiatives as during the Covid-19 pandemic, Whereas, In an effort to keep services going while keeping human contact to a minimum, Smart devices that accomplish multiple tasks automatically and contactlessly. For the elderly, This shift was surprising, They faced many obstacles when trying to use kiosks and digital devices, Things like font size in apps, or vague usage guidelines, Or the difficulty of keeping up with these enormous digital developments.

So, Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a pilot project called “Smart City in Everyday Life”, Guanac Gu was chosen to host its beginning.

At a cost of more than one million US dollars, The project will continue to test future smart city technologies in real life, Guanac Go will offer three smart city services, It is a smart hall for the elderly, smart protection beacon, and robotic patrols.

In the smart hall for the elderly, The city will install a modern system with several devices and technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. This system will provide health care to the elderly and conduct routine examinations for them, Such as measuring temperature, pulse rates and blood sugar levels, When any health problem is detected, A notification will be sent to those concerned such as children or companions who will provide contact information in advance, These health data for the elderly will be collected cumulatively, To be a reference for them when visiting hospitals.

To help the elderly to carry out their daily affairs in a contemporary manner, In 2021, Seoul launched a special educational program, It will also establish a special area for them to train them to take advantage of the digital services available through advanced kiosks that allow booking tickets for public transport, ordering meals and other routine operations. Some care centres will have dedicated training kiosks for the elderly to use in real-life experiences.

As for the smart protection beacon, It is a system designed to respond quickly to emergencies via small, low-consumption radios that use Bluetooth technology to transmit static signals to track any location. These devices will be installed in 15 childcare centers to monitor them during outdoor activities such as field trips. With this, Teachers and supervisors will be able to easily locate children in any dangerous situation. For example When the lighthouse detects the disappearance of a child, You will send an alert to the CCC for administrators to review CCTV recordings in the surrounding area and direct searches.

To prepare children for a high-tech future, The capital authorities have launched an initiative to use small-scale robots as educational assistants in 300 nurseries and childcare centers, It recommended that the Government start applying this experiment to children between the ages of three and five.

Because Seoul is a pioneer in integrating robots into public life, It is the first Korean city to use it for patrol work, After providing them with cameras and deploying them in pairs within specific neighborhoods to conduct regular night patrols, Direct visual data is collected, IoT technology is used to send it to the control center responsible for area security to sound sirens and send immediate response teams to respond to any emergency and prevent crimes.

The experimental phase of these robots has begun in some parks within the capital. It is worth noting that their length is more than a meter, It is equipped with 4 wheels for movement, programmed to perform various ICT-based functions, Such as artificial intelligence algorithms capable of detecting indicators such as the sound of screaming or fire smoke. It can also perform other tasks such as spraying disinfectants, disinfecting streets, and checking citizens’ temperatures.

To engage target groups, Seoul is establishing a science center open to citizens where they can see and interact with robots while performing different tasks. It is also working to launch the “Living Lab” that brings together citizens with experts from different backgrounds to exchange ideas and proposals and try and develop new ideas.

Seoul also launched an electric vehicle charging point monitoring service, Using IoT-based sensors and installing them at parking lots and charging points for the electric car to scan the car plate and check if it is registered as an electric car in the database of the Ministry of Environment, If not, The device emits an audible alert accompanied by a flash to warn the driver of illegal parking.

The move comes as Seoul seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. of which transport constitutes 19%, Having announced its intention to provide 270,000 electric vehicles by 2050, These vehicles will replace 10% of the capital’s cars by 2026.

With its training, the elderly hall will solve many problems facing this segment of Korean society and will take their hand to catch up with the rapid development. As for the innovation of the lighthouse, It will be an important means of support for teachers and supervisors in their difficult task of protecting and educating children.

In turn, Robot patrols contribute to enhancing public safety and disease control, While the charging point monitoring service will help reduce illegal parking and protect the rights of electric vehicle owners by using dedicated parking spaces to serve them.

In the long run, City authorities are looking to improve people’s quality of life and find effective solutions to the most prominent urban issues.

References:

• https://abcnews.go.com/International/senior-citizens-digital-korea-moves-contact-free-culture/story?id=82261724
• https://english.seoul.go.kr/seoul-smart-city-services-promote-welfare-and-safety/
• https://english.seoul.go.kr/autonomous-robots-with-iot-sensors-patrol-parks-for-illegal-parking-enforcement/
• https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicles/seoul-expands-diversity-of-electric-charging-network-7604
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/25/south-korea-trials-robots-in-preschools-to-prepare-children-for-high-tech-future