Seoul City Introduces IoT-Based 'Intelligent Fire Hydrant Management System'

Full-scale Operation Starting Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters announced on the 31st that "the 'Fire Hydrant Management System' utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology was completed in December last year and, after a trial operation, will be fully operational starting February" to ensure citizen safety.

The 'IoT Fire Hydrant Management System' installs poles equipped with motion detection sensors, warning lights, speakers, and CCTV next to fire hydrants to prevent illegal parking in advance and remotely monitor in real-time the leakage, freezing status, and water supply condition of firefighting water.

Until now, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters has actively considered introducing an intelligent fire hydrant management system using IoT technology to efficiently maintain fire hydrants and secure fire truck access routes in fire-prone areas.

Accordingly, 13 locations in difficult-to-access fire truck areas within Jongno-gu (around Changsin-dong and Buam-dong) were selected as pilot project sites, and the 'IoT Fire Hydrant Management System' has been installed. In particular, CCTV was additionally installed at five critical sites to monitor fire truck access routes in real-time.

With the introduction of this intelligent fire hydrant management system, losses in manpower, time, and costs caused by on-site inspections can be prevented, and remote monitoring enables the local fire station control room to quickly and conveniently check for any abnormalities in fire hydrants.

Moreover, through parking prevention sensors and speakers installed around the fire hydrants, vehicles illegally parked near the hydrants* are proactively prompted to move, allowing smooth fire truck access in emergencies.

A representative of the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters stated, “The newly established 'IoT Fire Hydrant Management System' is expected to greatly contribute to efficient fire hydrant management in the area and securing the golden time for emergency vehicle dispatch in case of emergencies.”

Meanwhile, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters plans to analyze the system's operational performance over the next year to consider expanding installation across all zones and to promote organic utilization by linking it with the Seoul Metropolitan Fire Safety Map and the Smart City integrated platform.

Choi Taeyoung, head of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, said, “The first step to protecting citizens' lives during fires and disasters is securing fire truck access routes,” adding, “Seoul Fire will continue to introduce advanced technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution to ensure citizen safety.”