Seoul Installs Smart Poles Collecting 10 Types of Information In 6 Neighborhoods

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has installed 26 “smart poles” (S-Poles) – an intelligent lighting system – in six areas of the city. The S-Poles provide the usual street facilities – such as street lights, traffic lights, security lights, and CCTV – but also smart infrastructure services – such as public Wi-Fi, smart CCTV, IoT, recharging electric bicycles, and smart crosswalks.

The S-Poles incorporate S-DoT (Smart Seoul Data of Things) which is a sensor system designed to collect 10 different types of information, including the level of fine dust, noise, light, temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet rays.

The S-Poles’s functions are easily customized to the requirements of their specific locations. For example, QR code stickers were posted on S-Poles near an historic building to provide information about the cultural property, and a video alarm was programmed on S-Poles along a popular walking trail in the city.

The SMG plans to continue S-Pole installations along with a pilot project to advance their functions by the end of this year. A number of new smart city functions are planned, such as: drone stations to charge drones; electric vehicle chargers; monitoring illegal idling and parking; and,  having the ability to send data used for monitoring disasters and rescue missions. 

The government has stated it plans to review the idea of converting the soon-to-be-replaced roadside streetlights into smart poles in future. Currently, there are about 240,000 pole-type roadside facilities in Seoul, of which 3,500 to 3,700 units are replaced on a yearly basis.

“Smart poles help effectively consolidate the somewhat elaborate road facilities, not only retaining their innate functions but also highlighting various smart technological features, Lee Won-Mok, Director General of Smart City Policy at Seoul Metropolitan Government, said. “These S-Poles are expected to improve urban landscapes and enhance the safety, welfare and convenience for our Seoul citizens.”