[Seoul Autonomous District News] Gwanak-gu Autonomous Patrol Robot Transmits Patrol Videos via 5G to Gwanak-gu Smart Integrated Control Center: Night Patrols Near Seorim-dong Residential Area and Haetae Children's Park, Daytime Patrols Along Sillim-dong Byeolbitnaerimcheon Stream for Real-Time Monitoring to Prevent Accidents & Autonomous Driving-Based Safe Patrol Service Receives Prime Minister's Award in Digital Regional Innovation, the Only One Among Nationwide Local Governments... Guro-gu Leads '365 Environmental Guardians' for Cleaner Streets... Seocho-gu Named Best District in Seoul's 2022 Sewage Odor Reduction Autonomous District Evaluation
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The era of autonomous patrol robots has arrived.
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) achieved the remarkable feat of being the only local government nationwide to receive the Prime Minister's Commendation in the digital regional innovation category of the '2022 Carbon Neutral Regional Development and Regional Innovation Merit Awards' hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 2nd.
The Carbon Neutral Regional Development and Regional Innovation Merit Awards are given to contributors who have significantly contributed to regional innovation in areas such as ▲digital regional innovation ▲support for youth independence and vitality ▲communication and cooperation spaces by regional hubs ▲expansion of financial support for regional revitalization.
Gwanak-gu was recognized and awarded for its ‘Autonomous Driving-Based Safe Patrol Service,’ the first of its kind operated in an urban area nationwide, in the digital regional innovation category.
Not only did they utilize advanced technologies such as autonomous driving and develop a model that can be expanded nationwide, but they also received high praise for forming a living lab by bringing together residents, science and technology specialized companies (HL Mando, SK Telecom), and a university (Incheon National University) to solve regional problems collaboratively rather than focusing solely on the district.
This became a driving force for innovative solutions by presenting regional problems from the residents' perspective and applying solutions from experts' viewpoints, developing a demand-tailored patrol robot.
In particular, the application of technology capable of overcoming autonomous driving challenges in Seoul’s complex urban environment, which includes numerous dynamic obstacles such as two-wheeled vehicles and cars, is highly noteworthy.
The autonomous patrol robot patrols the residential area of Seorim-dong and near Haetae Children's Park during late-night hours, and the Starlight Naerin Stream area in Sillim-dong during daytime, transmitting video via 5G to the Gwanak-gu Smart Integrated Control Center for real-time monitoring to prevent accidents in advance.
Additionally, it is equipped with five cameras including front, rear, side, and thermal imaging cameras, enabling multi-angle filming, and uses police car-like flashing lights to maximize crime prevention effects.
Meanwhile, leveraging this award as an opportunity, the district plans to continuously expand the patrol robot’s functions beyond existing crime prevention to include village tourism guide features, deploying it to Nakseongdae Park, a local tourist attraction, thereby extending its role into cultural and tourism sectors.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I am pleased that this award highlights the autonomous patrol robot as a sustainable and nationally scalable model of digital regional innovation,” adding, “We will continue to communicate and work with residents with creative ideas to build a smart city in Gwanak for regional innovation.”
Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) has embarked on a campaign to create cleaner streets.
On the 5th, Guro-gu announced, “To prevent illegal dumping of garbage, which causes inconvenience to residents and harms urban aesthetics, we are conducting intensive promotional activities using the ‘365 Guro Environmental Keepers.’”
The ‘365 Guro Environmental Keepers’ operate by strengthening the prior publicity function through setting specific periods for intensive enforcement and promotion, shifting from the previous enforcement-focused activities. This is a method to enhance preventive effects before illegal dumping enforcement.
The intensive enforcement and promotional activities started on November 22 and will continue until the 23rd of this month. Beginning in Garibong-dong, the campaign is focused intensively on Guro 2, 4, 5, and 3-dong, with Environmental Keepers deployed at each neighborhood community center across other districts as well.
The ‘365 Guro Environmental Keepers’ consist of 29 members who distribute informational leaflets detailing illegal dumping fines and proper garbage disposal methods, focusing on areas with frequent illegal dumping.
In addition, to enhance promotional effects and raise awareness, banners about the intensive enforcement and promotion period for illegal dumping are hung in areas with high foot traffic and on public cleaning vehicles. Guidance on garbage disposal methods is also provided to commercial establishments with frequent commercial waste output, such as local merchant associations and the Central Restaurant Association.
Meanwhile, neighborhood community centers provide residents with practical guidance. Promotional materials are distributed to residents visiting for civil affairs such as moving-in registrations and are always available at consultation desks. Furthermore, various meetings and groups such as neighborhood chiefs’ meetings and the ‘Clean Volunteer Corps’ organized by each district are utilized to distribute notices about the intensive enforcement and promotion of illegal dumping.
A Guro-gu official stated, “We are actively providing prior guidance and publicity to residents before cracking down on illegal dumping,” and added, “We hope residents will also make efforts to create clean streets.”
Seocho-gu has been recognized as the cleanest and most odor-free pleasant city in Seoul.
Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) achieved the great honor of being selected as the ‘Best District’ in the ‘2022 Seoul City Sewage Odor Reduction Promotion District Evaluation.’
With this award, the district, which was ranked first in last month’s ‘Seoul City Urban Cleanliness Evaluation,’ has been acknowledged not only as the ‘most visually clean city’ but also as an ‘odor-free pleasant city.’
The ‘Sewage Odor Reduction Promotion District Evaluation’ has been conducted by Seoul City since 2016 to reduce odors from septic tanks and sewage pipes and to create a pleasant urban environment. Seocho-gu has been selected as an excellent district for seven consecutive years.
The evaluation covered 14 indicators across five areas over one year from October last year to September this year, including ▲installation of odor reduction facilities in septic tanks ▲management and inspection of septic tanks and wastewater treatment facilities ▲odor reduction promotion, among others.
Seocho-gu received high scores for operating a real-time monitoring system for odor reduction devices in private sewage treatment facilities and for on-site inspections to prevent safety accidents such as septic tank explosions during summer heatwaves, ranking first among Seoul districts.
Additionally, to prevent sewage odors and ensure safe operation of private sewage treatment facilities, the district conducted special on-site inspections targeting 43 forced discharge-type septic tanks with over 200 people capacity and 42 other private sewage treatment facilities, checked the safety and operation status of private sewage treatment facilities, and provided guidance on the proper operation of air supply devices.
Meanwhile, Seocho-gu was recognized last month with the top prize in the ‘Seoul City Urban Cleanliness Evaluation’ for efforts such as the ‘Emergency Public-Private Joint Cleanup at Flood Damage Sites’ that swiftly collected flood-damaged waste during last summer’s heavy rains, and the resident-led back alley cleaning project ‘Creating Seoripul Alley in Front of My House.’
Mayor Jeon Seong-su of Seocho-gu said, “We will continue to create a pleasant urban environment that residents can feel through various odor elimination projects.”
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