Pohang City Emerges as a 'Field-Oriented Safe City'... Disaster Response System Shows Results

Digital Twin Disaster Surveillance and AI CCTV Deployment...
Enhancing Urban Safety Infrastructure
Boosting Urban Competitiveness with Advanced Disaster Monitoring Systems
and Everyday Life-Oriented Prevention Policies

Pohang City announced that its field-oriented safety measures to protect the lives and property of citizens from disasters and accidents are producing tangible results.

The city is establishing a foundation for stable urban growth by introducing surveillance systems that incorporate advanced technology and implementing proactive prevention projects.

Lee Gangdeok, mayor of Pohang, presiding over the wildfire response meeting last April. Photo by Pohang City

With large-scale disasters such as heavy rainfall, wildfires, and major fires occurring frequently across the country in recent times, Pohang City is moving away from disaster response focused solely on post-incident recovery. Instead, the city is concentrating on establishing an advanced disaster management system centered on prevention and resident participation, prioritizing proactive measures to block damage before it occurs.

First, the city has established a "Digital Twin Disaster Surveillance System," which enables the early detection of hazardous situations through virtual simulations using river level gauges and surveillance cameras. This has led to the development of an automated response system that immediately triggers resident evacuations.

At the village level, the city operates village disaster prevention councils composed mainly of residents familiar with the local geography. Additionally, practical evacuation systems are being established, such as securing more than 120 high-ground shelters using the urban flood map.

The city conducts monthly heavy rainfall response drills and operates a 24-hour disaster safety communication network staffed by dedicated disaster personnel. Close cooperation with related agencies and local administrative units is also maintained through daily regular communications.

Response to crime and everyday disasters has also been strengthened. CCTV cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) functions have been installed throughout the city, enabling a unified control system that allows real-time coordination with the police in the event of abnormal signs. Flood barriers, fire alarms, fall prevention devices, and automated external defibrillators are being widely distributed to apartments, houses, and commercial buildings.

Furthermore, the city is enhancing safety infrastructure such as security lights, CCTV, and road reflectors through the "Safe Streets Project," which is designed to improve citizens' sense of safety in their daily lives.

In addition, the city is focusing on increasing citizen participation and disaster response capabilities through initiatives such as the "Safe Pohang Transformation" campaign involving the public, private, and military sectors, the monthly "Safety Inspection Day," and mobile safety education programs.

Going forward, the city plans to further advance its disaster surveillance systems by utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), and to expand practical safety measures that citizens can directly experience.

Mayor Lee Gangdeok stated, "Protecting the lives and property of citizens from increasingly large-scale and unpredictable disasters caused by climate change is a fundamental responsibility of an advanced city," adding, "We will enhance urban competitiveness by introducing advanced disaster surveillance systems and implementing prevention policies closely tied to daily life."

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