Increasingly Complex Roads... Tackling Congestion with Drones and AI [New Traffic Refugee Report] 12

The Future of Seoul - The Future of Transportation
Seoul's Total Road Length Expected to Reach 8,403 km by 2029
Slowing Passenger Vehicle Speeds in Seoul
Smartening Transportation Systems Amid Traffic Congestion
Operation of Drone-Based Traffic Management System
Data Analysis and Optimization Through AI

Editor's NoteSeoul, ranked 16th in the world for transportation accessibility, also faces significant disparities in access to transportation convenience. The rapid expansion of transportation networks has aimed for regional balance, but it has resulted in overcrowding in some areas and blind spots in others. Even after 75 years of public transportation history and the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) transportation systems, transportation poverty persists. This transportation gap leads to imbalances in quality of life. Asia Economy examines the reality of this issue and explores possible solutions.

Traffic congestion is occurring around Gangnam Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Traffic congestion in Seoul is worsening day by day. Although roads are being extended throughout the city, the so-called "traffic refugees" stranded in traffic jams have become a common sight. Experts point out that, considering Seoul's high population density, a new approach to transportation systems is needed. Enhancing efficiency from the initial stages of collecting and analyzing transportation data could be the starting point. With urban density becoming a chronic issue, IT solutions such as drones and artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging as alternatives that can also ensure safety.

Seoul's Road Length Increased Sixfold in 65 Years

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's "2025 Road Statistics" report released on July 28, the total length of Seoul's roads last year reached 8,343 km, an increase of 13 km from the previous year. Except for 2021 and 2022, when the road length remained the same at 8,328 km, road extensions have increased annually. If this trend continues, the road length is expected to reach 8,403 km by 2029.

In 1960, Seoul's road length was only 1,337 km, but as the city grew, it increased 6.24 times. Now, road traffic congestion has become evident. Compared to other major cities, Seoul's road extension relative to its urban area is high. While it is lower than Tokyo and Paris, it is higher than London and Singapore.

Establishing road systems based solely on population statistics has also led to regional differences in road conditions. The average speed of passenger vehicles decreased from 24.1 km/h in 2020 to 22.7 km/h last year. By district, Jung-gu, which has a high floating population, recorded the lowest speed at 19.7 km/h. This was followed by Gangbuk-gu at 20 km/h, Eunpyeong-gu at 20.3 km/h, Dobong-gu at 21 km/h, and Nowon-gu at 21.3 km/h, all in the northern part of the city. In contrast, districts south of or near the Han River, such as Yangcheon-gu at 26.7 km/h, Seocho-gu and Yongsan-gu at 25.7 km/h, Dongjak-gu at 24.9 km/h, and Gwanak-gu at 24.3 km/h, showed higher travel speeds.

Seoul Transportation, Utilizing Drones and AI

In this context, efforts to integrate IT into transportation are increasing. Even if the scale of urban transportation cannot be reduced, efficiency can be improved through drones and AI analysis. Since May last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been operating a traffic management system using drones. Drones conduct aerial photography, which is linked to the Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS) monitoring, and the collected data is analyzed and applied to situation management. A Seoul city official said, "During large-scale events such as last year's Yeouido Fireworks Festival, drones were deployed to share real-time information with on-site management departments and to monitor traffic control. Drones are also used when data collection is needed to improve transportation policies."

AI, which has recently attracted attention, is also being utilized. Seoul is promoting the establishment of transportation management systems, autonomous vehicles, and bus operation systems under the banner of smart mobility and infrastructure. In addition, six smart intersections equipped with AI and CCTV have been installed in the Hwarang-ro Taereung area of Nowon-gu to collect data, and transportation data is being opened to startups and research institutions to support AI technology development.

According to the Korea Transport Institute, the main areas of AI application in transportation include traffic information collection, smart traffic management systems, traffic safety, autonomous driving, and public transportation optimization. Real-time data collection enables traffic signal control and allows for efficiency through optimal route prediction. Lee Soongbong, Associate Research Fellow at the AI and Big Data Platform Research Team of the Korea Transport Institute, stated, "As AI technology continues to advance and its applications expand, transportation systems will become even smarter and more efficient."

Underground, the Seoul Metro "Smart Control Center" is being prepared. In addition to upgrading aging control facilities, the goal is to adopt industrial technologies such as AI and utilize big data analysis to enhance the efficiency of urban rail operations. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to invest a total project cost of 301.886 billion won to establish smart control centers for subway lines 1 through 9.

The Core Is 'Safety'... New Technologies for Pedestrian Safety

New technologies are expected to solve safety issues as well as congestion. A representative example is the AI video detection devices installed at over 280 locations in Seoul by the Seoul Facilities Corporation. These devices use AI to detect pedestrians, bicycles, or vehicles traveling in the wrong direction on roads designated for cars, enabling prompt action and proving effective in accident prevention. In addition, as traffic volume increases and new modes of transportation such as electric bicycles and shared kickboards are introduced, these technologies can be effective in improving pedestrian safety, which is increasingly at risk. Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable in the event of an accident. Last year, 117 pedestrians, accounting for 56% of all traffic accident fatalities in Seoul, lost their lives. In 2014, 55% of all traffic accident fatalities were pedestrians, indicating that the problem has not significantly improved over the past decade.

Kim Jinyu, Professor of Urban Transportation Engineering at Kyonggi University, said, "If we can analyze accident-prone areas and identify causes using AI or drones, and then change road and sidewalk structures, we can reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians and others. Simulations using big data would also be helpful in accident prevention and reduction."