Smart roads to the rescue: New AI-based system aims to prevent roadkill
The South Korean government is pioneering efforts to reduce roadkill with the deployment of advanced artificial intelligence technology.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Environment launched a pilot program for its Animal Road Accident (Roadkill) Prevention System, designed to detect wildlife on roadways using image recognition AI. The system is currently being tested on two provincial roads: one in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and the other in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province.
This innovative system combines AI-enabled CCTV cameras and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors to monitor continuously for animals on the roads. When wildlife is detected, a warning message -- 'Wild animal detected within 150 m ahead' -- is displayed on LED boards situated 150 meters before the hazard zone.
The ministry said in a press release that by incorporating deep-learning algorithms, the technology analyzes patterns in wildlife behavior, including species types and their activity times. This predictive capability allows for timely alerts, helping drivers to reduce their speed and remain vigilant.
'Drivers will be able to recognize animals ahead, slow down and take precautionary measures, which is expected to significantly reduce accidents,' the ministry said.
The project was initiated in March 2025 after a memorandum of understanding was signed in July 2024 among the Ministry of Environment, Posco DX, the Korea National Park Service (KNPS) and the National Institute of Ecology (NIE).
One provincial road segment in Yangpyeong and another in Pyeongchang, both recognized as hotspots for animal-related incidents, were chosen for this initial rollout. The ministry led the project, providing administrative support, while Posco DX was responsible for developing and installing the system. KNPS and NIE played vital roles in identifying suitable locations and assessing the system's effectiveness.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to extend the system's reach to three additional high-risk areas, including Hoengseong in Gangwon Province and Namwon in North Jeolla Province, by 2027.
Officials believe the system will not only help prevent roadkill but also reduce traffic accidents and vehicle damage, enhancing both driver safety and biodiversity conservation.
To celebrate the launch, the ministry held a completion ceremony at the Cheongun Township Office Welfare Center in Yangpyeong, attended by approximately 50 participants. The event featured a live demonstration of the AI system in action.
'This initiative signifies a collaborative approach to addressing wildlife road accidents,' said Kim Tae-oh, director of the Nature Conservation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment. 'We are committed to pursuing projects and policies that foster corporate involvement in biodiversity conservation.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
32 minutes ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul shares spike to 11-month high on hopes for policy backup, US-China talks
South Korean stocks rallied to their highest level in 11 months Monday, driven by gains in chip shares amid hopes for new policy measures under the Lee Jae-myung government and upcoming trade talks between the United States and China. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 43.72 points, or 1.55 percent, to close at 2,855.77, extending its winning streak to a fourth straight session. It marked the highest level since July 16, 2024, when the index finished at 2,866.09. Trade volume was heavy at 528.24 million shares worth 13.61 trillion won ($10.03 billion), with winners beating losers 700 to 200. Foreign investors bought a net 980.0 billion won worth of stocks, while individuals and institutions sold 229.67 billion won and 721.53 billion won worth of stocks, respectively. The index opened markedly higher and maintained its momentum, as investors harbored hopes for eased global trade tensions ahead of a meeting between senior US and Chinese officials set to take place in London later in the day. Expectations have also risen for a set of measures by the Lee government aimed at bolstering the economy. During telephone talks on Friday, Lee and US President Donald Trump agreed to work toward a "mutually satisfactory" agreement on the US' sweeping tariff scheme, Seoul's presidential office said. Semiconductor and auto shares led the upturn of the index. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.18 percent to 59,800 won, and its rival SK hynix advanced 2.0 percent to 229,000 won. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor surged 4.32 percent to 197,800 won, and its sister Kia Motors jumped 2.36 percent to 95,300 won. Leading biotech firm Samsung Biologics advanced 1.37 percent to 1.03 million won, and Celltrion gained 1.97 percent to 160,200 won. Leading financial firm KB Financial soared 4.14 percent to 110,700 won, and No. 1 steelmaker POSCO Holdings grew 0.39 percent to 258,000 won. Top online portal operator Naver increased 3.82 percent to 198,500 won, and Kakao, the operator of the country's dominant mobile messenger, spiked 16.03 percent to 51,400 won. But major battery maker LG Energy Solution sank 2.06 percent to 285,000 won, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dipped 2.76 percent to 880,000 won. The local currency was quoted at 1,356.4 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., up 2.0 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Battery makers push President Lee for direct subsidies
Korean firms seek bolder funding as Chinese rivals leverage robust government backing South Korean battery manufacturers are urging President Lee Jae-myung to act as they face slowing electric vehicle demand and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals increasingly dominating global markets. On May 31, three days before the presidential election, Lee wrote in a Facebook post, 'I will recharge the South Korean economy with K-batteries,' underscoring his belief that the battery industry is key to driving Korea's next economic leap. Lee's pledges included strengthening research and development to secure cutting-edge technologies such as all-solid-state batteries; introducing domestic production tax incentives; creating a "battery triangle belt" connecting the Chungcheong, Yeongnam, and Honam regions; increasing battery demand through energy storage systems; and nurturing the battery recycling industry. Calls for IRA-style subsidies While industry insiders are optimistic about the domestic tax incentives, they anticipate a more direct form of financial support from the government. Lee's tax benefit pledge offers tax breaks for companies producing and selling battery products in Korea, similar to the US Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. However, AMPC also includes options like 'cash refunds' and 'third-party transfers' in addition to tax benefits. 'If we could receive cash returns, we'd have more flexibility to expand investments in global markets — particularly in the US, where rising tariffs on automobiles and parts are already dragging down the EV market,' said an industry source on condition of anonymity. The source emphasized that additional support measures are needed, pointing out that unlike China, which offers subsidies from direct funding to state-led R&D programs, the Korean government has only granted corporate tax credits. Under the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning Taxation, the battery industry is designated a national strategic technology, making it eligible for approximately 15 percent and 30 percent tax credits on facility investments and R&D, respectively. However, these credits apply only to companies that are generating taxable profits. In the first quarter, Korea's top three battery makers — LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On — all reported operating losses, even when factoring in benefits from AMPC. As a result, they are likely ineligible for domestic tax breaks, despite having collectively borrowed 49.6 trillion won ($36.5 billion) for large-scale investments both at home and abroad. Chinese surge Experts suggest that even with the battery sector's strategic importance, direct subsidies from the Korean government remain unlikely. 'Korea has traditionally been wary of direct funding due to the associated risks and concerns over misusing taxpayer money,' said Kim De-jong, a business professor at Sejong University. 'In contrast, while China provides massive subsidies, it often gains substantial control over the company's management and operations.' Kim added that more feasible alternatives to direct subsidies could include offering discounted rates on electricity and water for domestic production facilities. Meanwhile, Chinese battery giants CATL and BYD have strengthened their grip on the global EV market. According to SNE Research, CATL and BYD held market shares of 38.1 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively, as of the latest period, up from the previous year. LG Energy Solution ranked third but saw its share fall from 12.3 percent to 10.2 percent. SK On and Samsung SDI also experienced declines, with market shares dropping to 4.3 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively.
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
LS Cable begins mass production of world's highest-capacity HVDC cable
South Korean power grid facility manufacturer LS Cable & System announced Monday that it has begun mass production of a high-voltage direct current cable with the highest transmission capacity currently available. The new cable transmits up to 525 kilovolts and withstands temperatures up to 90 degrees Celsius, offering as much as 50 percent more capacity than standard HVDC cables, which are typically rated for 70 degrees Celsius, the company said. LS Cable & System stated that this is the first time a high-voltage cable with this level of performance has entered mass production. 'The competitiveness of the HVDC market depends on securing commercially viable technology,' said Lee In-ho, chief technology officer at LS Cable & System. The cable will be used in the first section of an 8-gigawatt, 250-kilometer power grid project, which will link coastal facilities in Gangwon Province to a substation in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, as part of the transmission route to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. While the company plans to supply cables for the remaining sections of the grid, it also aims to leverage its expertise to participate in other projects, including Korea's 'West Coast Energy Highway' and European projects led by offshore grid operator TenneT. The West Coast Energy Highway, an 11 trillion won ($8.1 billion) project announced during President Lee Jae-myung's election campaign, involves transporting power from offshore wind farms in the southwest to the Seoul metropolitan area through an underwater HVDC network. Global demand for HVDC systems, estimated at 1.8 trillion won in 2018, is expected to grow to 41 trillion won by 2030, driven by the technology's ability to transmit up to three times more power than traditional high-voltage alternating current cables while reducing transmission losses.
