Gangnam-gu Mayor Jo Seong-myeong's First Step in the Year of the Rabbit Starts at the 'Safety Site'

Gangnam-gu Road Heating Cable Installation Construction

Sungmyung Jo, Gangnam District Mayor, Conducts Final Inspection of Road Heating Installation and Visits Snow Removal Forward Base and Urban Control Center to Check AI Crowd Density Analysis Demonstration

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Sungmyung Jo, Mayor of Gangnam District, has made "citizen safety" the top priority for 2023 and begins the new year by visiting safety sites such as snow removal safety measures and the CCTV Urban Control Center.

Prioritizing Citizen Safety on Icy Roads

First, he plans to visit the steep slope section (205m) of Seolleung-ro 120-gil where road heating installation has just been completed to inspect whether the work was properly finished. The heating installed on side roads with slopes over 13% can be remotely operated to melt snow, making it effective for initial snow removal on hills. The district has currently completed road heating installation at 22 locations covering 2,370 meters.

In addition to smart snow removal methods like road heating, there are automatic brine spraying devices. The district currently operates three such devices (around Kukkiwon 1,100m, Teheran-ro 2,150m, and Seolleung-ro 750m sections). The ongoing construction on Jagok-ro 1,800m section is scheduled for completion by mid-January. Furthermore, the district is actively introducing new methods ahead of traditional snow removal, such as brine snow removal using water cleaning vehicles that are less frequently used in winter, and operating 24 dedicated sidewalk snow removal brushes.

He will also visit the snow removal forward base located at 27-13 Daechi-dong to inspect snow removal equipment. According to the snow removal safety plan, the district has secured a total of 6,198 tons of snow removal materials including 3,019 tons of calcium chloride and eco-friendly snow removal agents, and 3,179 tons of salt, along with 110 snow removal trucks and equipment (including forklifts), 108 snow removal spreaders and brushes, and 20 snow removal shovel blades, totaling 238 pieces of equipment. These materials and equipment are stored dispersedly across nine forward bases to enable rapid deployment in emergencies. He plans to revisit the Daechi-dong facility, the most representative forward base, to reconfirm the snow removal measures.

24-Hour Citizen Safety Maintained by CCTV Urban Control Center

Additionally, he will visit the Gangnam District CCTV Urban Control Center, which monitors every corner 24 hours a day, to carefully ensure citizen safety. The district was the first local government to install security CCTV in 2002 and later established its own integrated control center. Currently, it operates 7,423 CCTV cameras at 2,233 locations, the largest scale among local governments. The center, with a total floor area of 575.54㎡, is staffed by 38 personnel working in four shifts around the clock to protect Gangnam's safety.

Recently, the district introduced AI analysis technology combined with CCTV footage to measure crowd density risk and is conducting a pilot operation with 10 CCTV cameras on Yeomyeong-gil near Gangnam Station. Going forward, the district plans to install additional CCTV cameras at six crowded locations including Gangnam Station, operating a total of 172 cameras at 41 locations. This will reduce the average monitoring distance from 68 meters to the optimal 40 meters and expand specialized monitoring personnel.

Mayor Sungmyung Jo stated, "Now more than ever, citizen safety must be the top priority," adding, "In 2023, we will focus on field-centered safety accident prevention measures and dedicate ourselves to creating a 'Safe Gangnam.'"

Heating Wire Installation Work

Seocho District Installs Snow-Melting Heating at Samhwan Apartment Village Bus Stop on the 27th

Seocho District (Mayor Seongsu Jeon) installed snow-melting heating at a village bus stop on the 27th to ensure safe use during icy winter conditions.

The heating was installed at the Samhwan Apartment bus stop (Stop ID: 22-494), a location with a steep slope where there is concern about residents slipping when boarding or alighting from buses. The system will operate until March next year.

Regarding its operation, when it snows, a temperature sensor detects the external temperature and humidity and automatically activates the heating. Consequently, snow does not accumulate or freeze on the heated section. Additionally, a smart remote control system was established to enable preheating as a proactive response for resident safety when snowfall is forecast.

A resident using the Samhwan Apartment bus stop said, "Myeongdallo is one of the steepest areas in Seocho District, so I was always careful about slipping when getting off the bus if snow piled up. Now that heating has been installed, I feel relieved that I can use the bus without worrying about slipping even when it snows heavily."

The district plans to monitor this heated bus stop sidewalk and consider additional installations afterward.

So far, the district has installed and operated sidewalk and road heating at 13 locations vulnerable to snowfall and freezing. Among these, sidewalk heating was installed at Yangjae Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, the rear gate of Seocho Culture and Arts School, and three locations near Seocho-daero 65-gil.

Mayor Seongsu Jeon said, "I hope this heating installation makes the bus stop a safer and more convenient space during winter, and I will carefully monitor to prevent any inconvenience to residents."

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