'Cutting-edge' Korean Railway Safety Technology Runs Across the Mongolian Desert

Korea Railroad Research Institute Provides Related System Technology as Official Development Assistance (ODA)

Real-time Integrated Railway Safety Control System Concept Diagram

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Real-time railway safety technology developed by Korea will be exported to Mongolia.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute announced on the 24th that the research results of the 'Real-time Integrated Railway Safety Monitoring and Control System' will be put into practical use in Mongolia through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Official Development Assistance (ODA) project.

The real-time integrated railway safety monitoring and control system is a system that integrates and analyzes risk information of vehicles, tracks, and stations centered on the railway control system in real time to prevent accidents. By utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology and big data analysis, it can analyze information across the entire railway section simultaneously in real time, resulting in improved safety, operational efficiency, space savings, and cost reduction. This project was completed in 2019 as a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport national research and development (R&D) project, with a total investment of 25.3 billion KRW (19.7 billion KRW from the government, 6.67 billion KRW from the private sector) over five years.

The Railroad Research Institute plans to provide the real-time railway safety control system and advanced safety equipment development products as field facilities for the Mongolia ODA project. This project is a KOICA ODA project worth a total of 14 million USD to enhance the competitiveness of Mongolia's railway, a landlocked country, by 2026. The basic plan establishment for the pilot integrated control system construction, pilot section selection, and project management tasks will be jointly carried out by a consortium consisting of Korea Railroad Corporation (lead organization), National Railroad Corporation, Railroad Research Institute, Yushin Co., Ltd., and Korea Transport Institute. Through the establishment of Mongolia's railway safety integrated control system master plan and the construction of the Railway Traffic Control Center (RTCC) and pilot system, it plans to increase Mongolia railway's domestic and international network accessibility, safety, and transportation capacity.

Kim Sang-am, principal researcher at the Railroad Research Institute, said, "We plan to conduct research projects so that Mongolia's railway, which lacks expertise in control operation and safety management as well as aging railway facilities, can operate more safely by applying Korea's railway safety integrated control system technology."