Don't Worry About Heavy Rain or Typhoons! ... Gyeongnam Province Launches 'Smart Flood Management System' in Full Scale

Gyeongnam Gimhae-si Smart Flood Management System Integrated Control Room.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Gyeongsangnam-do plans to fully operate the Smart Flood Management System starting from this year's monsoon season.

To actively respond to sudden heavy rains and typhoons caused by recent abnormal weather patterns, Gyeongnam Province will establish the system in 11 national rivers and 16 local rivers within drainage influence zones in the province.

The system will be installed at 373 locations, including 291 sites on national rivers and 82 sites on local rivers, and will be operational from this monsoon season.

The Smart Flood Management System integrates various information and communication technologies (ICT) to monitor river water levels and sluice gates in real time and remotely control the opening and closing of sluice gates according to the situation.

Starting with Namgang River in Jinju City and Nakdong River and Hwapocheon Stream in Gimhae City in December 2020, the province expanded the project in July 2021 to cover all national rivers and local rivers within drainage influence zones to enhance the project's effectiveness, completing installation at a total of 373 sites last May.

From the 18th to the 27th of last month, the system underwent self-inspection including operational tests, and full-scale operation will begin to prepare for this year's monsoon season.

An official from the province stated, "The operation method of sluice gates in rivers, which was previously managed based on the experience of private sluice gate managers, can now be remotely controlled based on objective big data, effectively responding to natural disasters to minimize flood damage and enhance safety."

Based on the results of this operation, Gyeongsangnam-do plans to apply the Smart Flood Management System to all sluice gates requiring remote automated control within local rivers across the province in the future.

Kwack Geun-seok, Director of the River Safety Division, said, "Flood response capabilities will be significantly strengthened through real-time monitoring and remote control of sluice gates in preparation for natural disasters," and added, "Active response and continuous cooperation from cities and counties within the province are necessary for a safer Gyeongnam."