The Animal Road Accident Prevention System (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Environment)
SEOUL, Jul. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean Ministry of Environment and POSCO DX have joined forces in an innovative environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiative aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions on the country’s roads.
On July 26, the two entities signed a memorandum of understanding at POSCO DX’s Pangyo office in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
Under this agreement, POSCO DX will install and operate its proprietary Animal Road Accident Prevention System at two locations: Odaesan National Park and along national highways in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.
The company plans to gradually expand the system’s coverage by 2027.
The Ministry of Environment will provide administrative support and ecological consultation through a working committee formed with the Korea National Park Service and the National Institute of Ecology.
The Animal Road Accident Prevention System employs artificial intelligence to analyze information about wildlife appearing on roads.
When an animal is detected, the system immediately alerts drivers via LED signboards installed 200 meters ahead, prompting them to slow down and prevent accidents.
POSCO DX aims to upgrade the system this year by adding predictive capabilities. The new version will analyze various data points, including the types of wildlife and their appearance times, to forecast potential animal crossings.
A pilot project of this system was implemented last October on a road in Hallyeohaesang National Park. Data analyzed from October to May showed promising results: the average vehicle speed decreased from 60.5 km/h to 39.1 km/h after the system’s implementation.
During the trial period, 163 animal appearances were recorded, including water deer, with no reported wildlife-vehicle collisions.
The Ministry of Environment plans to conduct a detailed analysis of the project’s effectiveness. If proven successful, the strategy will be incorporated into national animal road accident reduction policies and potentially expanded nationwide.
Vice Minister of Environment Lee Byoung-hwa stated, “We will spare no administrative and technical support to ensure this collaborative project becomes a leading example of ESG practices that promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature while preserving biodiversity.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
