Geumcheon-gu Registers Patent for Korea's First Smart Dredging System for Valley Waterways

Development of New Technologies to Minimize Forest Disaster in Response to Climate Change... Integration of Sediment Filtration and Automated Dredging Systems in Forest Valley Waterways... Overcoming Limitations of Manual Dredging, Preventing Disasters with Rapid Operations... Pilot Introduction in 2024 at Valley Waterway Adjacent to Houses in Siheung 4-dong

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) announced last month that it has registered a patent for the 'Valley Waterway Smart Dredging System' (application name: Excellent Collection Device), the first of its kind developed in Korea.

The 'Valley Waterway Smart Dredging System' is a device that quickly removes sediment accumulated in valley waterways during heavy rainfall to facilitate water flow and prevent damage caused by floods.

Recently, abnormal weather has intensified localized heavy rainfall. Residential areas adjacent to mountainous regions have been at high risk of damage from overflowing water during heavy rains. Additionally, the sediment capacity of erosion control facilities installed within forests was limited, and in areas difficult for work equipment to access, dredging had to rely on manual labor.

The district developed the smart dredging system to overcome environmental limitations and prevent disasters through rapid operations. After seeking improvement plans for the dredging system, holding expert review meetings, and conducting material suitability tests, the patent was applied for.

The system combines a sediment filtration system with an automatic dredging system. A screen filter is installed in existing valley waterways to filter out sediment. The accumulated soil and foreign substances are collected in a dredging box and transported by crane. This device is designed to improve the flow of valley water and facilitate the removal of sediment.

The district plans to promote a pilot project for the smart dredging system this year. It will be introduced to the valley waterways adjacent to the residential area of Siheung 4-dong, near the mountains, to monitor its effectiveness.

To protect residents from floods, the district has installed and manages a total of 182 erosion control facilities in local forests. Over the past five years, it has invested 3.3 billion KRW to add 19 erosion control sites and continues efforts to prevent floods through timely dredging and other management activities.

Yu Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “In the midst of the climate change crisis, the introduction of the smart dredging system will greatly contribute to proactive flood prevention.” He added, “We will do our best to manage forest rivers to ensure the safety of residents from floods and minimize property damage.”

For more information, please contact the Parks and Greenery Division of Geumcheon-gu Office.