The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) Authority announced on Aug. 1 that it held a ceremony marking the completion of Phase 1 of the IFEZ Smart City Infrastructure Project at Songdo G Tower.
The ceremony was held to commemorate the completion of the first phase of the project, which began in January 2024, and to share the smart city infrastructure that was established and its key services.
Approximately 40 people attended the event including representatives from the Incheon City Council, related agencies, contractors, and supervisors.
With a total budget of approximately 86 billion won, this project systematically built smart infrastructure centered on three pillars — citizens’ safety and convenience, future mobility, and corporate environment innovation — across the entire IFEZ area, including Songdo, Yeongjong, and Cheongna.
In the area of citizens’ safety, AI-based object recognition CCTV and video analysis technology were introduced to eliminate blind spots in surveillance and strengthen the city’s safety network through missing person searches and crime prevention.
Moreover, a pedestrian object detection system was installed around elementary schools to provide real-time pedestrian information to drivers via electronic display boards, thereby increasing the effectiveness of traffic accident prevention.
Smart shelters have been installed in the Songdo area of Incheon.
The shelters are equipped with advanced features, such as heating and cooling, air quality measurement and purification, fine dust detection, and smart hearing loops, providing citizens with a comfortable public transportation service environment.
In the future transportation sector, the Open Traffic Signal Information System has been linked to in-vehicle navigation systems to provide real-time information, improving driving convenience and predictability.
Data collected through smart intersections, such as traffic volume, vehicle types, and waiting lines is shared with the Incheon City government and used to make transportation policies.
“Through this project, IFEZ has laid the foundation to leap forward as a smart city that both citizens and companies can experience,” said Yoon Won-seok, commissioner of the IFEZ Authority.
“In the second phase of the project, we will continue to promote the advancement of AI and data-based smart services to realize a world-class future city model.”
Songdo Waterfront to Deal with Climate Change
The IFEZ Authority announced on Aug. 7 that it will strengthen its climate crisis response capabilities through the Songdo Waterfront Project.
Once the second phase of the Songdo Waterfront Project is completed, it is expected to transform the city into a safe haven from climate change-induced water disasters.
Unlike inland areas, coastal regions are at high risk of large-scale flooding during heavy rains due to the overlap of high tides and poor drainage.
In response, areas such as Ganghwa Island and Yeongjong Island on the west coast have installed drainage gates to actively prevent disasters.
Songdo International City has been actively promoting flood prevention measures through the Songdo Waterfront Project which build reservoirs, floodgates, and waterways among others.
The IFEZ Authority is promoting the Waterfront Project, which involves creating an “M”-shaped waterway in Songdo International City.
One of the objectives is disaster prevention. The core of the project is to secure the rainwater storage capacity of retention basins and improve water quality by creating waterways in the east, west, south, and north directions at the center of Songdo International City.
The waterfront is designed to withstand once-in-100-years rainfall, which equates to approximately 100.4 mm per hour, and rising tides.
The IFEZ Authority wrapped up Phase 1-1 of the Waterfront Project, which involved the construction of waterways and floodgates connecting reservoirs of the 1, 3, 6 and 8 sections and the southern sea in 2022.
Currently underway are Phase 1-2 construction for connecting Aam Reservoir and the northern waterway and installing the North 1 Watergate, and Phase 1-3 construction for creating a waterway in the 11th section.
Additionally, the basic design for Phase 2 of the project is in progress. Phase 2 aims to create the southern waterway and install the South 1 and 2 water gates.
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