Translating Construction Jargon and Slang... Daewoo E&C Enhances On-Site Safety with Real-Time Translator

On June 1, Daewoo E&C announced that it has developed a real-time artificial intelligence (AI) translator designed for practical use at construction sites. The company explained that the translator was developed to address communication issues arising from the steadily increasing proportion of foreign workers at domestic construction sites.

According to the company, the solution was developed based on the AI real-time translation technology of Lotte Innovate, an information and communications solutions provider, enabling stable recognition and translation of on-site speech. To enhance translation accuracy, the system incorporates a "construction-specialized terminology dictionary" that includes slang and technical terms frequently used on-site. New or commonly used expressions can be immediately registered or updated, allowing terminology to be easily managed and tailored to the conditions of each site.

A foreign construction worker at the Sewoon 633 Office site, constructed by Daewoo E&C, is using an AI translator. Provided by Daewoo E&C

The translator supports up to approximately 180 languages and leverages real-time speech processing technology to reduce translation delays. The focus is on improving communication efficiency between managers and workers by reducing the risk of inaccurate translation or content omission, and by moving away from interpreter-dependent communication, which previously relied heavily on a few work team leaders. Effectiveness is currently being verified at the Sewoon 633 Office site and the new construction site for the G-Town development project, both designated as pilot sites for smart safety technology.

When an on-site manager creates a translation channel, employees can check translated content in real time on their personal smartphones during morning roll calls and toolbox meetings (TBM) as well as other safety meetings. Managers can conveniently monitor usage status and manage the construction glossary through a dedicated management interface.

As the leading company of the "Smart Construction Alliance" organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Daewoo E&C is actively expanding smart construction technologies centered on AI and data across the entire company. A company representative stated, "The development of this real-time AI translator goes beyond simple language translation; it serves as a communication infrastructure to ensure worker safety and improve construction quality," adding, "We will continue to actively apply various smart safety technologies in the field to lead the creation of a safe, digital-based construction ecosystem."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.