South Korea’s future roads incorporating technologies

Advanced technologies will be incorporated into future road developments in South Korea.
November 1, 2019 Read time: 1 min

The 10-year programme calls for smart road technology to be incorporated into expressway routes, with charging systems for EVs as they are being driven as well as technology to remove dust and other contaminants. The country’s expressways will be ready for use by self-driving cars by 2024 and over 100 projects have already been planned.

Improving safety will be another focus for the smart road developments with the target of cutting casualties from crashes by 30%. Introducing smart expressways is also expected to lower maintenance needs and running costs by 30%, reducing noise pollution by 20% end emissions by 15%, while simultaneously lowering congestion by 30%.

New traffic control technology will be introduced to message self-driving vehicles when traffic control lights will change while other systems will supply information for factors such as lane width. Around 5,500km of the busiest highways will be upgraded first as the programme is rolled out across the country. Detailed 3D mapping data will be collated as part of the programme, with local communications companies SK Telecom and KT already carrying out necessary research work.


 

Connected Construction

Related Content

  • Tackling the UK's traffic congestion
    February 28, 2012
    The biggest problem on UK roads is congestion, and there is no shortage of ideas as to how it should be tackled. Patrick Smith reports. Congestion (and how to relieve it), along with safety, are among the top priorities facing those responsible for looking after the UK's roads. Road pricing, car-share lanes, greener vehicle initiatives and alternative methods of transport such as buses, trams and rail are all part of the approach, but prior to the current economic climate the nation's love affair with the c
    Read More
  • Egypt’s road programme is now restarting
    February 20, 2014
    Egypt is developing its road network – local reporting and images by Egypt correspondent Mohammed Elsayed Tantawy. Egypt is now gearing up its road construction activity, with a view to reducing congestion and improving traffic flow. The country’s main highway connecting capital Cairo with the port city of Alexandria has already seen a major widening programme, but other important routes are also now being upgraded and improved. The road development programme started in earnest some years ago but was delaye
    Read More
  • Pollution-free highways of the future: a reality?
    February 9, 2018
    More collaboration is needed to reduce the impact of highways on the environment, particularly air quality. The technology already exists, argue Bram Miller* and Martin Broderick* The European Environment Agency produced a report showing that a slow improvement in air quality has been observed across Europe. However, 9% of urban Europeans were exposed to nitrogen dioxide emissions in excess of the EU’s annual maximum limit in 2015. Meanwhile, associations between highways and the environment tend to be n
    Read More
  • Upgrading a busy A road link in the UK
    July 4, 2018
    The upgrade to the UK’s busy A14 route will address a significant traffic bottleneck - Mike Woof writes The UK is suffering badly from traffic congestion, a problem that is particularly severe in and around its major cities. Lack of investment in road construction over many years has resulted in a major backlog of work, while the country has seen growing vehicle numbers. To make matters worse, there have been few additions to the major road network since the late 1980s and early 1990s. And the combinatio
    Read More

Highlighted Content