DAEJEON, Dec. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Daejeon is piloting a new smart road management platform designed to detect black ice and other hazardous winter road conditions in real time, city officials said Tuesday, marking one of Korea’s first deployments of an acoustic AIoT safety system.
The initiative, backed by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s 2024 Smart Village program, installed ultrasonic surface-detection sensors at six high-risk locations, including tunnel entrances, bridges, sharp curves and shaded mountain roads where winter accidents are common. The project cost 200 million won.
The sensors emit sound waves toward the road and use artificial intelligence to analyze returning signals, determining whether the pavement is dry, wet or ice-covered. Unlike conventional CCTV systems—often unable to detect transparent black ice—the acoustic sensors can operate reliably in fog, heavy snow or rain.
Road-surface data collected by the system is combined with weather information and classified into four risk levels: caution, advisory, warning and danger. City officials said the system will allow crews to respond more quickly with de-icing or salt-brine operations.
Daejeon plans to integrate the platform with existing infrastructure such as automated brine sprayers and roadside electronic signage, enabling real-time alerts to drivers and automatic activation of safety equipment.
“This marks a shift from patrol-based, experience-driven road management to a proactive, data-centered system,” said Kim Jong-myeong, head of the city’s Railroad Construction Bureau.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
