Dongbu Corporation is accelerating the digital transition of safety management at construction sites by using unmanned automated drones and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Dongbu Corporation said on the 2nd that it worked with spatial AI specialist Meissa to jointly develop smart safety management features tailored to construction sites and applied them to the new construction site of the OTOKI Logistics Service Baegam Logistics Center, the Jinhae New Port dredged soil disposal area section 3-1, and the Namyangju Wangsuk A-25BL private-participation public housing site. The features were customized and advanced by reflecting each site's work environment and safety management characteristics in the unmanned automated drone station and the AI-based platform.
Starting with this pilot introduction, Dongbu Corporation plans to mandate the system at sites with construction costs of at least 220 billion won from 2027 and expand it in phases to all sites by 2029.
The unmanned automated drone station is a system in which drones automatically take off, land, and fly over and film the site along preset routes without an operator stationed on-site. It can periodically inspect large lots and hard-to-access sections, supplementing conventional manpower-centered safety patrols.
Video and photos shot by the drones are analyzed and processed on a dedicated platform for use in safety management. If a person not involved in the work enters a heavy equipment operation zone, the system sends an alert, and it also checks in real time the locations of high-risk workers and vulnerable workers to support a swift response when dangerous situations occur.
Safety management functions using AI vision technology were also applied. AI automatically recognizes and analyzes whether workers are wearing safety helmets and fluorescent vests and whether safety belts are fastened, and provides the results to site managers to systematize the management of protective gear use.
The accumulated on-site data are also used for process management and safety training. Based on the data filmed daily, the site is rendered in 3D to visualize the process status, and the materials are used in process meetings to check in advance for work interference among partner companies and risk factors. Key risk factors in upcoming work are also selected and shared with workers, and related safety rules are emphasized in training.
A Dongbu Corporation official said, "The unmanned drone station and AI platform are drawing attention as practical safety management tools that not only shoot the site but also identify and address risk factors in advance," adding, "We will strengthen site monitoring and data-based safety management to build a smart construction site where workers can work with peace of mind."