Gyeongsangnam Province is establishing an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based forest fire response system to minimize forest fire damage and ensure the safety of its citizens. This system, utilizing on-device AI technology for forest fire monitoring and response, will be piloted in Hadong-gun and Sancheong-gun, which were designated as special disaster zones due to large-scale forest fires last March. This initiative is seen as Gyeongnam Province's proactive effort to overcome the limitations of the traditional method of human-eye monitoring of vast forest areas and to respond to forest fires more quickly and accurately.
Nationwide First: On-Device AI-Based Forest Fire Monitoring System
Gyeongnam Province was selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'On-device AI Service Demonstration and Diffusion' public competition, securing 5.7 billion won in national funding. Among 10 metropolitan local governments nationwide, only Gyeongnam, Busan, and Gyeongbuk were ultimately selected. Notably, Gyeongnam will be the first in the nation to apply on-device AI – where AI models operate directly on the device without an internet connection – to forest fire monitoring and response through this project.
This project involves a consortium comprising Gyeongnam Province, Hadong-gun, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam Technopark, and leading domestic AI and drone-related companies such as Intellivix, Mobilint, P&U Drone, and Songwoo Infotech. A total project cost of 9.9 billion won (5.7 billion national, 1.9 billion local, and 2.3 billion other) will be invested over two years, from this year until 2026, for system development and field demonstration.
AI Box, CCTV, Drones… A Concentration of Advanced Technology
The core features of this on-device AI forest fire response system are as follows:
Development of Korean AI Semiconductor-Equipped Forest Fire Specialized Equipment: AI boxes, closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), drones, and other equipment optimized for forest fire monitoring will be equipped with domestically developed AI semiconductors to maximize performance.
AI Service Development: Various AI-based services will be developed, including smoke and flame detection, forest fire spread path prediction, and unusual behavior detection within forests. Specifically, the AI model will learn from vast forest fire data to detect even subtle smoke or flames early and will be designed to accurately predict fire spread paths by analyzing factors like wind direction and terrain. The detection of unusual behavior is expected to contribute to preventing forest fires by identifying illegal burning or unauthorized entry into forests.
Enhanced Response to Communication Outages: In emergency situations where CCTV communication lines are cut due to a forest fire, services will be developed and demonstrated that allow the AI box to transmit the on-site situation to the situation room via wireless communication and broadcast evacuation instructions to residents. This will complement the vulnerabilities of existing systems, enabling stable information delivery and response even during disasters.
Field Demonstration in Hadong-gun and Sancheong-gun: The system will be established in Hadong-gun and Sancheong-gun, areas with a high risk of forest fires, and its performance and stability will be verified through on-site demonstrations. The system will be continuously improved and advanced based on the data generated during the demonstration process.
Overcoming Limitations of Monitoring Vast Jirisan, Expecting Enhanced Citizen Safety
Gyeongnam Province expects that the introduction of this on-device AI forest fire monitoring system will overcome the limitations of the previous method, where the vast Jirisan mountain range had to be monitored solely by surveillance personnel. By utilizing AI and drones, the entire forest can be monitored 24 hours a day without blind spots, securing the golden time needed for initial suppression.
Furthermore, it is anticipated to significantly contribute to protecting the lives and property of citizens through early detection of forest fires, accurate prediction of their spread paths, and swift evacuation guidance. The AI-based prediction system will provide crucial information to fire departments and the Korea Forest Service for establishing efficient suppression strategies and allocating resources, playing a key role in minimizing forest fire damage.
Yoo Myeong-hyun, Director-General of Gyeongnam Province's Industrial Bureau, stated, "We hope that this Gyeongnam-style forest fire monitoring model, starting with Hadong-gun and Sancheong-gun, which suffered significant damage from large-scale forest fires, will spread nationwide." Gyeongnam Province's establishment of this on-device AI forest fire response system is not merely the adoption of technology but also presents an innovative model for protecting public safety in an era where the risk of large-scale forest fires due to climate change is increasing. If this system is expanded nationwide, it will be a significant turning point in establishing a safer and more sustainable forest management system.
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