Cheongsong County implements IoT accident detection for farm machinery

Cheongsong County is launching a pilot project to install IoT-based accident detection devices on rental agricultural machinery to improve emergency response times and minimize casualties. The initiative, led by the Cheongsong County Agricultural Technology Center, involves an investment of 57 million won to equip 57 machines, including 45 tractors and 12 excavators, with sensors.

These Internet of Things (IoT) devices are designed to detect tipping or overturning accidents in real time. Once an accident occurs, the system automatically transmits the location, machine type, and renter information to relevant authorities, enabling rapid coordination with emergency services like fire departments to secure the ‘golden time’ for rescue.

The project addresses a critical safety issue in rural areas, where accidents often occur in isolated locations where help is not immediately available. Data from Gyeongbuk indicates a high frequency of agricultural accidents, particularly among elderly farmers; between January and July of this year, 309 people were transported to hospitals due to machinery accidents, resulting in 12 deaths.

Cheongsong County plans to expand this safety network. Through the Ministry of Science and ICT’s ‘2026 Smart Village Dissemination and Expansion Project,’ the county aims to install devices on an additional 71 machines, eventually bringing the total to 128 equipped rental units.