Gangnam District Implements IoT Noise Management at Construction Sites... Complaints Drop by 36%

One-Month Pilot at 10 Sites: Noise Complaints Drop from 47 to 30

Gangnam District in Seoul (District Mayor Cho Sungmyung) announced on May 19 that, since April 16, it has been operating an "Internet of Things (IoT)-based Construction Site Noise Management System" at ten large construction sites with a total floor area of over 10,000 square meters and at sites where chronic noise complaints have repeatedly occurred. Within just one month of operation, related complaints have dropped by 36.2%.

Provided by Gangnam-gu.

Gangnam District is one of the areas in Seoul with the highest number of noise complaints related to construction sites. Last year, 8,704 complaints were filed, averaging 725 cases per month. While a dedicated noise complaint response team has been operating 24/7 throughout the year, responding to complaints on-site after they are reported, the new system aims to prompt on-site action during the stage when noise levels begin to increase, before formal complaints are made.

The system operates by linking noise meters installed at construction sites with monitors in the District Office’s Environmental Division in real time. When the measured noise level exceeds the regulatory threshold of 70dB(A), an orange warning appears on the screen, and the responsible public official immediately sends a text message to request noise reduction measures from the construction site’s site manager.

Upon receiving the message, the site manager must carry out necessary actions such as adjusting work schedules, inspecting equipment, or checking soundproofing facilities, and then report the completion of these actions to the Environmental Division. If action is not taken or if noise continues, the Environmental Division immediately conducts a site inspection and takes further measures.

The system has shown tangible results within a month of operation. The number of noise complaints at the ten construction sites where the system was installed decreased from 47 cases in the month immediately prior to installation (March 16 to April 15) to 30 cases in the month after installation (April 16 to May 15), a reduction of 17 cases (36.2%).

Based on these results, the district plans to strengthen on-site management by analyzing the time periods of noise occurrence and the types of repeated complaints at each construction site. The district believes that real-time monitoring data allows them to identify noise occurrence patterns, enabling customized management for each site.

Cho Sungmyung, Mayor of Gangnam District, stated, "It is more important to reduce construction site noise before it leads to complaints, rather than responding after complaints arise. Through real-time monitoring and an immediate response system, we aim to proactively manage noise and create a pleasant living environment that residents can truly feel."

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