Mapo District, Seoul, announced on the 26th that it will embed Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the road to measure ground changes in real-time to prevent ground subsidence (sinkholes). This is the first implementation by a local government in the country.
The 'embedded IoT monitoring system' introduced by Mapo District plants sensors on the road surface to detect subsidence or minute deformations in real-time. The detected information is transmitted to the Mapo District integrated control system for real-time analysis. If any anomalies are detected, the relevant departments and personnel are notified for on-site verification and safety measures.
Mapo District has embedded sensors in three locations near exit 9 of Hongdae Station, where there is a high floating population and significant concerns about ground safety. Priority installation sections are selected focusing on areas with a high concentration of crowds, around subway stations, and near large construction sites, with plans to gradually expand.
A Mapo District official noted, "We are currently conducting regular ground inspections with ground-penetrating radar (GPR), but this method only allows us to check the underground condition at the time of inspection. In the future, we will be able to continuously track and analyze urban ground changes for quicker responses."
Mapo District is also working on enhancing a 'sinkhole risk prediction model' that forecasts the possibility of sinkhole occurrences based on accumulated data in conjunction with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis system.