Korea Forest Service Operates Drone Surveillance Team to Prevent and Block Large Spring Wildfires

A forest drone monitoring team member is demonstrating drone operation on site. Photo by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service is launching drone surveillance teams to prevent and block large-scale forest fires in spring.

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 28th, the forest drone surveillance teams consist of 208 personnel from the Smart Forest Disaster Response Team, local forest services, and national forest management offices, divided into a total of 32 teams, and will operate until May 15.

The Korea Forest Service continuously provides drone technology training to team members for effective operation of the surveillance teams.

The training focuses on ▲drone automatic flight ▲operation methods of thermal imaging camera drones ▲correction of recorded video data ▲real-time video transmission to the forest fire situation monitoring system ▲methods of overlaying video data on maps.

In particular, during the forest fire caution period (February 1 to May 15), the Korea Forest Service will strengthen drone surveillance activities nationwide, as well as fire prevention guidance and enforcement activities in six cities and counties along the East Coast of Gangwon Province, including Gangneung, Donghae, Sokcho, Samcheok, Goseong, and Yangyang, during the Jeongwol Daeboreum holiday.

The East Coast area of Gangwon Province is currently at increased risk of large-scale forest fires due to consecutive dry weather and strong wind warnings. In addition to the forest fire caution period, the Korea Forest Service has designated March 15 to April 15 as a special large forest fire countermeasure period to intensify fire prevention and blocking activities.

Kim In-ho, head of the Smart Forest Disaster Response Team at the Korea Forest Service, said, “The Korea Forest Service will do its best to minimize damage caused by forest disasters by applying advanced technologies such as drones in the forestry sector,” adding, “Since most forest fires are caused by human carelessness, public interest and participation are crucial for forest fire prevention.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.