"From Coastal Debris Data Collection to Island and Mountain Patrols" Public Service Project Utilizing Drones

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The government is launching a public service project that utilizes unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for collecting on-site marine debris information and patrolling island and mountainous areas.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 29th that it will actively promote the second phase (2021?2023) of the project to develop unmanned aerial vehicles reflecting the demands of the government, local governments, and public institutions, designate them as excellent procurement products, and link them to public innovation procurement.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and ICT selected lead research institutions for three new themes: ▲ collecting on-site coastal debris information, ▲ national land and cadastral re-survey, and ▲ crime prevention and patrol missions in island and mountainous areas. This is part of the Public Innovation Procurement-linked Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Software Platform Development Project, which will receive a total of 41.3 billion KRW in government funding over five years.

Conceptual Diagram for Unmanned Mobile System to Collect Coastal Debris Field Information

First, for the unmanned aerial vehicle system development project for collecting coastal debris on-site information (demand institution: Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering), Hancom Inspace Co., Ltd. was selected as the lead research institution. They plan to develop a system that automatically performs coastal debris observation and information acquisition missions for more than 20 minutes within an operational range of up to 4 km.

For the high-precision image information processing unmanned aerial vehicle system development project for national land survey and cadastral re-survey (demand institution: Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation), Yumac Air Co., Ltd. was selected as the lead research institution. They will build a system that operates multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (up to four) to perform image shooting missions for up to 20 minutes over an area of up to 1 square kilometer.

Lastly, for the unmanned aerial vehicle system development project for automatic repetitive crime prevention and patrol missions in island and mountainous areas (demand institution: Hwaseong City Hall), Gryphon Dynamics Co., Ltd. was selected as the lead research institution. They plan to build a system capable of automatically repeating crime prevention and patrol missions for up to 40 minutes within a maximum operational range of 20 km.

The above three research themes were selected based on demands received from the government, local governments, and public institutions between September and October 2020. From July 2021 to June 2023, a budget of 1.5 billion KRW will be supported for each project over two years. During the research period, designation as excellent procurement products will link the projects to public innovation procurement and support market expansion.

Lee Chang-yoon, Director of Basic and Fundamental Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “The combination of public procurement aiming for innovation, coexistence, and public safety with unmanned aerial vehicles, a core technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, will act as a catalyst to accelerate government innovation.” He added, “We will continue to collaborate with related ministries and provide generous support for the growth of drone innovation companies and the innovation of public services.”