On the afternoon of the 19th, visited the Smart Shelter in front of Gangnam-gu Office ? Air conditioning and air purification system operating in the hot weather, creating a comfortable indoor environment popular among residents
"The daytime temperature is rising up to 28℃ and the heat is getting worse, but waiting for the bus in the cool smart shelter with air conditioning is really, really great."
This is what Mr. A said at around 4 p.m. on the 19th at the smart shelter installed at the bus stop in front of Gangnam-gu Office.
Mr. A said he was on his way to his home in Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, and was staying here for about 10 minutes while waiting for the bus.
Mr. B, who was sitting right next to him, also asked, "I live near Children’s Grand Park, so why don’t we have such cool facilities near my home?"
On that day, the outside temperature was about 27℃, but the temperature inside the smart shelter showed 17.1℃.
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) and Dwelling (CEO Jeon Jeong-hwan), a smart station specialist company, have installed ‘Green Smart Shelters’ at 20 locations including in front of Gangnam-gu Office, which are gaining popularity.
Especially this year, as of the 19th, when the early summer heat is intensifying from Ip-ha (立夏) to Soman (小滿), the smart shelters are expected to become even more popular.
Citizens using public transportation inevitably respond sensitively to changes in the external environment.
Last October, Gangnam-gu installed 20 Green Smart Shelters on Dosan-daero and Hakdong-daero, the central streets of the area.
The Green Smart Shelters installed right next to 20 major bus stops in Gangnam-gu are waiting spaces for bus passengers that maintain a clean and comfortable environment at all times by applying air quality measurement and purification systems based on Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data technologies.
Since last fall, the Green Smart Shelters, which were opened to the public, have technologically and aesthetically advanced the ‘Fine Dust Free Zone’ previously installed on Teheran-ro by Gangnam-gu. Through continuous air quality monitoring and purification functions, they are free from exhaust fumes, (ultra)fine dust, and various viruses, and are equipped with heating and cooling functions so that citizens can rest while avoiding heat waves and cold weather.
Citizens using the Green Smart Shelters can receive real-time bus operation and arrival information through smart kiosks, and check public information such as brand content and district news via smart displays.
Additionally, convenience is enhanced with public free Wi-Fi, smart chairs equipped with heating and wireless charging functions for mobile phones.
Along with this, the shelters are equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AED), emergency bells, closed-circuit (CC)TV, and automatic doors, showing great attention to safety aspects.
In particular, large LED/LCD signage, kiosks, and displays installed inside and outside are used to integrate advanced technologies such as two-way Digital Out-Of-Home advertising (DOOH) and metaverse linkage. It is also expected to function as a complex cultural space providing citizens with not only physical and bodily convenience but also psychologically beneficial content.
Since its official opening in October last year, the Green Smart Shelters have received favorable reviews from citizens commuting around areas such as Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong, the luxury shopping street near Dosan Park, the office district near Gangnam-gu Office Station, and Hakdong-ro, under thorough maintenance.
They have been especially praised for allowing temporary relief from environmental factors such as severe cold in winter and fine dust in spring, as well as for enabling real-time bus arrival information inside the shelters.
Dwelling, which produced and installed 20 Green Smart Shelters under a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) model and currently manages the facilities, is maintaining the shelters by applying know-how from operating the Seoul City Smart Shelter pilot project sites and about 800 general bus stops.
They conduct three patrols a day including digital device inspections and continuous cleaning, and through a 24-hour control system, they prevent unexpected safety accidents and respond immediately to citizens’ urgent complaints.
A Gangnam-gu Office official said, "As the temperature rises, it seems that residents’ use of the smart shelters is increasing. Since these are convenience facilities that residents want, I hope more will be installed in other areas as well."
Jeon Jeong-hwan, CEO of Dwelling, said, "Due to the successful installation case and stable operation experience in Gangnam-gu, inquiries are flooding in from other autonomous districts in Seoul. Especially at a time when climate issues are emerging as a key topic, we are focusing on developing better next-generation models for the safety of Seoul citizens."
Inside the Green Smart Zone... you can check the real-time bus arrival times through the smart kiosk. You can also use Wi-Fi and charge your phone.
Since its establishment in 2015, Dwelling has attracted industry attention with its air care solutions and has solidified its position as a smart station specialist company by cooperating with leading local governments. Currently, it operates about 1,200 locations and holds about 4,500 advertising spaces, making it one of the largest outdoor advertising operators in Korea. In November last year, it signed an agreement with the Mongolian government, opening the door to exporting ‘K-Smart Stations,’ and last month, it formed a strategic partnership with YTN to diversify content.
A Dwelling official stated, "We are preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) based on expanding BTO projects, diversifying business by transitioning to a data platform operator, increasing sales, and ESG management."
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