Gumi-si Expands Intelligent Transportation System ... Provides Smart Traffic Services

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk has been selected for the 2023 Intelligent Transport System (ITS) construction project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and will establish an intelligent transport system with a total project cost of 3.4 billion KRW (including 2 billion KRW in national funds) by the end of this year.

Intelligent Transport System (ITS) refers to an advanced transportation system that integrates cutting-edge IT technology into transportation networks to create a fast, safe, and comfortable traffic environment.

Since 2019, the city has been selected for the project competition for five consecutive years until 2023, securing a total project cost of 18.4 billion KRW (including 10.3 billion KRW in national funds). It has been working on building a diverse ITS ecosystem including smart crosswalks, emergency vehicle priority signal systems, parking information systems (PIS), smart intersections (SIS), traffic control CCTV, road guidance electronic display boards (VMS), and online signal systems.

Through the installation of ‘smart intersections,’ traffic volume by vehicle type and direction approaching intersections is collected to improve intersection signal systems and establish traffic policies. As of last year, 51 locations have been established, and 30 more locations are planned to be added this year.

Smart Crosswalk.

To prevent pedestrian safety accidents, the ‘smart crosswalk’ provides smart services (smart jector, remaining time guidance, pedestrian signal time extension, voice guidance, focused lighting, etc.) to vehicles and pedestrians. Currently, one location (Wonpyeong-dong area) is in operation, and three more locations will be added in the future.

The ‘emergency vehicle priority signal system’ controls traffic signals so that emergency vehicles (fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, etc.) can pass signal intersections without waiting, securing the golden time for emergency vehicles and protecting citizens’ lives and property. Five sections centered around the Gumi Fire Station are currently in operation, and plans are in place to expand and build the system through improvements.

Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal System.

The ‘parking information system,’ which provides real-time information to drivers about the locations of public parking lots and the number of available parking spaces in each lot, allows drivers to check parking availability and enhances convenience through an unmanned payment system. It is currently available at Gwangpyeongcheon Parking Lots 1 to 6 and Geumocheon Parking Lots 1 to 3, and will be expanded to the parking lots at the Culture and Arts Center and Geumo Mountain Provincial Park.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “We will strive to alleviate chronic traffic congestion by applying scientific traffic operation techniques on-site, and continuously discover intelligent transport services suitable for Gumi City to create a convenient and safe traffic environment.”