From 2024, Seoul to use drones to monitor traffic

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that it will monitor traffic conditions in real time using drones starting in 2024.

Using drone footage of traffic taken 200 meters above the ground, an artificial intelligence algorithm will analyze the footage to find patterns and predict future traffic conditions.

To create a traffic management system that utilizes drones and AI, the Seoul Metropolitan Government conducted several tests in September and October.

The city government tested the drones on monitoring crowd density at major public events during the fall season.

During the Seoul International Fireworks Festival in October, drones flew over Yeouido, western Seoul to monitor crowds and roads near the venue. During Halloween, drones flew over Seongsu-dong in eastern Seoul and Hongdae area in western Seoul to monitor crowd density, traffic flow and road conditions in areas where there were no surveillance cameras.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government hopes in the future to be able to identify and respond faster to traffic management problems that may occur by using the combination of drones and AI technology.

The traffic management data reported by the drones was collected by the city government's traffic management center, the Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service, this fall, and from next year, they will share the information with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Seoul Facilities Corporation, to decide how to manage and respond to traffic conditions better in the future.

The drones will also be used to inspect construction sites on roads. The drone footage will identify whether construction sites violate any safety regulations or if they are occupying too much space on roads, allowing the drones to supplement the work of inspectors.

“By utilizing advanced technologies, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will be able to enhance Seoul’s traffic management capabilities,” said Yoon Jong-jang, head of the city government’s Urban Transportation Department.

“The new technologies will allow us to acquire traffic information quickly and accurately and therefore help us to provide a safer traffic environment for our citizens," Yoon said.

The drones will also be used to monitor crowds at public events that many people expected to attend, or at events where there is a sudden increase in the number of attendees with restricted vehicle access, according to the Seoul city government.