Field Tests for EV Fire and Sinkhole Response Technologies... Next Year's Budget to Double

Ministry of Science and ICT Plans to Invest 5.1 Billion Won in Field Testing Disaster Response Technologies
Proposals Sought for 13 New Projects Involving Professional Engineers... Demolition Risks at Aging Facilities Included

Government support will be expanded to test technologies for responding to various disasters, including electric vehicle fires, sinkholes and urban flooding, in real-world settings. The goal is to verify whether technologies developed in laboratories work properly at disaster sites and, based on the results of field tests, accelerate their deployment.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on October 26 that it is inviting proposals for new projects for 2027 under the “Support for Field Deployment of Disaster Response Technologies Using Professional Engineers (EXPERT)” program, which draws on professional engineers’ field experience and technical expertise.

Emergency repair work is underway after a sinkhole opened in the roadway in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 29th. A passenger car fell into the sinkhole, seriously injuring two occupants, who were taken to a hospital. Photo by Cho Yongjun jun21@

The budget for next year’s program is 5.1 billion won under the government’s proposed budget, about double this year’s amount. The government plans to select 13 new projects in total. The program is divided into three areas: technology linkage, which applies existing technologies at disaster sites; new technology application, which develops new response technologies; and the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based platform to match disaster safety needs with technologies.

The technology linkage track tests previously developed technologies at actual disaster sites. It will provide one year of support for nine areas, including fires involving eco-friendly vehicles, urban flooding caused by extreme weather, rapid AI-based surveying, bridge structure hazards and sinkholes.

Safety issues in the demolition process for aging facilities, raised during the removal of the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul this year, have also been included as a new project area. The program will support the development and field testing of technologies to reduce the risk of accidents, including collapses, during facility demolition.

The new technology application track is soliciting proposals on open topics in five areas: natural disaster response, industrial accident prevention, everyday safety, complex and special disasters, and future disaster response. Projects will run for two years. Evaluation will consider not only technological innovation but also whether applicants have secured actual end users and can conduct field tests.

The government will also pursue a project to build an AI-based platform for matching disaster safety needs with technologies. The system will connect technologies needed at disaster sites with existing response technologies. The project will develop a related database (DB) and AI algorithms and conduct a pilot test.

Field Testing of Technologies to Address Collapses at Aging Industrial Complexes and Complex Tunnel Disasters

The 13 projects selected this year are being assessed for their potential for field deployment. Shin Hyun Tech is developing an AI-based system for continuous structural monitoring and testing technology that detects changes in the tilt and deformation of facilities at aging industrial complexes in real time. The goal is to detect signs of structural abnormalities early and prevent collapses.

The Korean Society of Fire Protection Engineers is developing technology that integrates and links six or more types of fire protection equipment to respond to complex disasters, such as fires inside tunnels. The approach optimizes response procedures so that different types of fire protection equipment can be activated quickly depending on the disaster situation.

However, field test results will be needed to determine how much these technologies can reduce accidents at actual disaster sites. The government plans to incorporate technical limitations and areas for improvement identified during field inspections into future project selections and program operations.

Applications for new projects will be accepted through November 27, with the results expected to be announced at the end of January 2027 following an evaluation.

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