AI to guide optimal logistics routes; robots to repair potholes

Fire and gas accident prevention technology also to be introduced

A reference image of a smart and safe port [Incheon Port Authority]
A reference image of a smart and safe port [Incheon Port Authority]

Incheon Port is pushing to transform into a smart, safe harbor by deploying AI and advanced materials technology.

The Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced Tuesday it will apply digital technology and cutting-edge materials across port operations to improve logistics efficiency and strengthen safety management — an initiative it is calling a "Smart X Safety Port."

Incheon Port serves as a national logistics hub where vessel traffic and freight trucks converge, and it is evolving into a complex space that also houses solar power facilities, gas-related infrastructure and other industrial assets.

Demand for port services has also been growing, driven in part by rising passenger numbers on coastal ferries and cruise ships.

In response, the IPA plans to introduce AI-based logistics and safety management systems.

The authority will first develop AI services that integrate data from CCTV cameras and drones within the port alongside information from Incheon International Airport and regional infrastructure. The system will use that data to provide truck drivers with optimal routes from port cargo yards to airport logistics warehouses, improving the overall flow of freight.

AI technology will also be applied to road management inside the port. AI-equipped road-management robots will patrol the port, detect potholes and repair smaller ones on the spot. Potholes up to 20 centimeters can be fixed in about 20 minutes, the IPA said, which it expects will improve vehicle safety and logistics efficiency.

AI will extend to fire prevention as well. The port's solar power facilities will be equipped with a vision-language model-based AI surveillance system that analyzes live video feeds to detect early signs of fire and alert personnel.

Gas storage facilities and other fire-prone sites will also receive an "electronic nose" system built on new semiconductor materials. Sensors using specialized semiconductor components will analyze odor data on-site to identify gas leaks or fire risks at an early stage.

Technology will also be applied to improve passenger comfort. The IPA plans to coat outdoor areas of Incheon Port's passenger terminal with a bird-repellent paint made from new materials, reducing noise and hygiene problems caused by seagulls and pigeons.

"Port management and operations need to evolve in step with digital transformation and advances in AI," an IPA official said. "We will create a port that users can enjoy more safely and conveniently by introducing field-centered new technologies."


gilbert@heraldcorp.com