[K-Construction, A New Leap] Korea Expressway Corporation
Applying BIM to Newly Ordered Routes and Digitizing Data
Implementing Off-Site Construction Methods to Enhance Labor Productivity
Future Introduction of Emergency Drones "Committed to On-Site Safety Management"
Korea Expressway Corporation has embarked on digital transformation (DX) by utilizing various advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the road sector and Off-Site Construction (OSC). Since 2021, the Corporation has fully applied BIM to all newly ordered routes and is digitizing all data collected on-site. In particular, 3D construction simulation based on BIM models intuitively shows a series of construction processes and is used in various areas such as safety and civil complaint management. They have also planned to develop and pilot operate a related platform. This platform supports tasks such as 3D drawing review and quality inspection, and digitizes construction site work through tablet PCs to enhance efficiency.
Control center managing safety and progress at a highway construction site / Photo by Korea Expressway Corporation
In response to the aging construction workforce and the decline of skilled workers, the OSC method, which assembles prefabricated components on-site like Lego blocks, is also being applied. This method reduces construction time by minimizing external factors such as weather and ensures uniform quality, thereby improving labor productivity at construction sites. Korea Expressway Corporation is promoting the prefabrication method to establish and spread OSC. The prefabrication method refers to all components and construction methods that are prefabricated and then assembled on-site. The Corporation is expanding the application of this method from bridge components (such as deck slabs) to tunnels and drainage. They are also making efforts to discover OSC technologies by providing trial construction sites to construction companies developing excellent technologies.
Drones are being used for construction management. Drones fly over designated areas and scan the site. Based on data captured by drones, Korea Expressway Corporation estimates earthwork volumes and monitors construction site hazards in real time to prevent safety accidents. Furthermore, the Corporation plans to introduce emergency drones that deliver Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to sites. This aims to overcome the limitations of emergency vehicles reaching highway construction sites within the golden hour and to respond quickly to emergencies such as cardiac arrest among construction workers.
A representative from Korea Expressway Corporation said, "With the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, the importance and interest in construction site safety are increasing. To prevent accidents, we have digitalized site management using artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and developed core technologies that automatically detect the safety status of workers." They have reached the level of commercializing core smart construction safety technologies through national research and development (R&D) after field verification.
The research team of the Korea Expressway Corporation Smart Construction Project Group has been making efforts since last year to apply various safety enhancement technologies from small-scale building sites to large-scale highway construction sites. Representative core safety technologies include advanced safety management, smart safety education, and integrated control platforms. In addition, Korea Expressway Corporation is applying earthwork automation technology at the highway Hi-Pass interchange construction site (Sintanjin Rest Area Hi-Pass IC construction). Structural construction automation technology is planned to be utilized at sites such as the Metropolitan Area 2nd Ring Expressway construction site.
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