Guro-gu Uses IoT Sensors to Catch Urban Rats

Deployment of 40 "Viper" Units for 24-Hour Real-Time Detection

Guro-gu in Seoul, led by District Mayor Jang Inhong, is fully launching a smart rat-control system that utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) technology. According to the district on February 11, rat-related civil complaints in Guro-gu increased from 11 cases in 2021 to 257 cases last year, about a 23-fold jump.

Installation view of the smart rodent control device 'Baipeo' that captures live rats with an automatic shutter. Provided by Guro-gu.

The district analyzes that this surge is due to abnormal weather caused by climate change and to redevelopment construction, which have driven rodents' activity areas above ground and extended their active hours into daytime.

This month, the district began operating an "IoT smart rodent-control device" as part of a special intensive rodent-control plan for this year and next year, in order to strengthen a 24-hour, real-time monitoring system.

Forty units of the smart device "Viper" and 40 rat traps being installed this time will be deployed at major complaint hot spots such as Sindorim Miraesarang Children's Park and Techno Neighborhood Park. Using built-in sensors, these devices detect rat activity and capture in real time, 24 hours a day. When a rat is captured, the device senses the weight, automatically closes the entry door, and immediately sends an alert to the control center. A professional company then rushes to the site to promptly collect the captured animals.

In particular, instead of using toxic rat poison, the devices are designed either to live-trap rodents or to minimize exposure to rod poison, so they do not harm other animals such as children or stray cats.

Based on the data accumulated during device operation, the district plans to analyze vulnerable time periods and locations for complaints, adjust pest-control routes more efficiently, and, in parallel with environmental maintenance, build an integrated system in which "prevention-detection-response" is carried out in sequence.

A Guro-gu official said, "By adding smart technology to our existing quarantine performance, we will resolve rodent problems in a more scientific and fundamental way," adding, "We will continue to do our best to create a pleasant and safe living environment."

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