South Korea's Ministry of Land Pushes AI, Drone, Satellite Tech for Safer Railway Construction

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a "2026 Railway Construction Technology Seminar" on June 30, bringing together about 200 officials, researchers and industry experts. The event focused on deploying artificial intelligence, drones, satellite‑based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), BIM and other digital tools to prevent accidents and improve safety management on railway projects, especially deep‑tunnel and underground works such as the GTX, new high‑speed lines and double‑track extensions.

Speakers highlighted practical applications including 3‑D scanning with AI analysis for tunnel integrity checks, satellite monitoring of ground subsidence, AI‑driven risk assessments, and real‑time hazard detection via intelligent CCTV, drones and BIM integration. Deputy Minister Hong Ji‑seon emphasized that these technologies can identify risks faster and raise the quality of safety oversight, and pledged government support to expand their use across construction sites.