Seoul City Builds First 26 'Smart Poles' Integrating Streetlights, Traffic Signals, Wi-Fi, and CCTV at Once

by Lim Chulyoung

Published 10 Mar.2021 11:30(KST)

Expansion of Installation Areas to Guro and Dongjak Districts This Year... 8 Billion KRW Invested Following Selection for Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Project

Seoul City Builds First 26 'Smart Poles' Integrating Streetlights, Traffic Signals, Wi-Fi, and CCTV at Once

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 10th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has installed 26 ‘Smart Poles’ at six locations including Seoul Plaza, Sungnyemun, and the Cheonggyecheon Stream area. These Smart Poles integrate various road facilities such as streetlights and traffic signals, which are complexly installed throughout the roads, into one system, combining ICT technologies like public Wi-Fi and intelligent closed-circuit (CC) TV, serving as core infrastructure for a smart city.

In addition to their basic functions as road facilities, the Smart Poles are equipped with customized features reflecting the characteristics of each location. Free public Wi-Fi ‘Kkachion’ is provided at Seoul Plaza, where many citizens gather; QR codes offering cultural heritage information are installed at Sungnyemun; and video emergency bells for safety are set up along the popular walking path at Jungnangcheon Stream’s Songjeong Embankment.

These 26 Smart Poles mark the first completed case of installation promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Based on these cases, the city has prepared 10 ‘Smart Pole Standard Models’ and construction and operation guidelines to be applied to future Smart Poles. These can be customized according to various urban environments and road conditions.

This year, Seoul plans to expand installation areas to Guro-gu and Dongjak-gu and will conduct a pilot project by the end of the year to enhance the functions of the Smart Poles. Guro-gu and Dongjak-gu were selected as target sites for the ‘2021 Smart City Solution Expansion Project’ led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, recognizing the effectiveness and excellence of Seoul’s Smart Pole pilot project. Each project will receive 4 billion KRW in funding.

The pilot project to enhance Smart Pole functions aims to develop more advanced models equipped with new features such as drones and electric vehicle charging capabilities. Additionally, Seoul plans to prioritize integrating various road facilities like streetlights and traffic signals, which are newly installed or replaced annually, into Smart Poles to expand the Smart Pole infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the 10 standard models were derived considering the types of pole-based infrastructure currently installed, such as traffic signals, streetlights, CCTV, and security lights, and the possible combinations. For parks or alleyways, types combining security lights with smart functions can be installed, while for roadways, types combining traffic signals, streetlights, and CCTV with smart functions can be deployed.

Lee Won-mok, Director of Smart City Policy at Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, “Road facilities such as streetlights and traffic signals are excellent urban infrastructure installed throughout the city, but until now, they have been operated mainly focusing on their original functions. With 26 Smart Poles now installed at Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and other locations, we expect improvements in urban aesthetics as well as enhancements in citizens’ safety, welfare, and convenience.”