AI-Based Evacuation Guidance System Installed at 18 Stations on Incheon Subway Line 1

On December 17, Incheon City announced that it will complete the installation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based evacuation guidance system at 18 stations on Incheon Subway Line 1 by the end of this month.

Once the system is in place, in the event of a fire, the AI will analyze factors such as the extent of the spread and determine the optimal evacuation route, providing relevant information to passengers via LED screens, lights, and voice announcements.

Incheon City piloted the system at Incheon City Hall Station and Incheon Terminal Station in 2023. This year, the scope was expanded to 18 stations with complex evacuation routes, and a total of 935 devices across 17 types were installed.

To verify the effectiveness of the system, the city also conducted a simulated fire drill and pursued official testing by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of Korea. The simulation exercise was held at Gyeongin National University of Education Station for about three hours starting at midnight on December 17, with participation from Incheon City, Incheon Transit Corporation, and the Gyeyasan 119 Safety Center.

A simulation drill to verify the artificial intelligence (AI)-based evacuation guidance system is being conducted on the 17th at Gyeongin National University of Education Station on Incheon Subway Line 1. Incheon City

With Professor Lee Mincheol from the Department of Safety Engineering at Incheon National University and Dr. Lee Deokhee from the Korea Railroad Research Institute serving as advisory committee members, the drill applied four different fire scenarios, including fires on the platform and in the concourse. The evacuation routes and required times were compared and analyzed. The city explained that the results confirmed a significant reduction in evacuation time, demonstrating the efficiency of the AI-based evacuation guidance system.

An official from Incheon City stated, "The AI evacuation guidance system will make a major contribution to securing the golden time to protect citizens' lives and safety in the event of a large-scale disaster," adding, "We will continue to expand safety policies utilizing advanced technology in the future."