Donghae City establishes drone disaster safety network

Gangwon State and Donghae City have established a ‘drone disaster safety network’ by integrating smart technology into urban regeneration projects. With a total investment of 410 million won, the initiative has deployed two smart drones in the Samhwa District to conduct autonomous flights six times a day.

This project, part of a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport support program, marks the first instance of using drone-based disaster surveillance within an urban regeneration framework. The system utilizes thermal imaging and high-definition video equipment to detect early signs of danger, such as smoke or abnormal temperature changes, particularly in areas difficult for humans to access.

Real-time footage is monitored via the Donghae City Safety Information Center and the Drone Center, with capabilities to link data to police and fire services for rapid response. While currently focused on wildfire monitoring, the city plans to expand the drones' utility to include searching for missing persons and other disaster response tasks.