System warns of right-turning vehicles, extends pedestrian signals automatically

A completion ceremony is held for the AI smart crosswalk and yellow carpet project at Baekam Elementary School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. [SK Eco Plant]
A completion ceremony is held for the AI smart crosswalk and yellow carpet project at Baekam Elementary School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. [SK Eco Plant]

SK Eco Plant has installed an AI-powered smart crosswalk in a school zone at Baekam Elementary School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The system analyzes pedestrian and vehicle movements in real time and automatically extends the walk signal when children or others remain on the crosswalk.

The company announced Friday that it held a completion ceremony for the AI smart crosswalk and yellow carpet project at the school in Baekam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, with officials from the city of Yongin, child welfare organization ChildFund Korea and the school in attendance.

The AI smart crosswalk uses video analysis and traffic safety technology to detect and analyze pedestrian and vehicle movements, signal status and surrounding conditions in real time.

The system automatically extends the pedestrian signal when children, elderly people or other vulnerable road users are still crossing or remain on the crosswalk. It also sends warnings when vehicles approach and alerts pedestrians to unexpected hazards, helping ensure safe crossings.

The Baekam Elementary School zone is equipped with an automatic signal-extension system, a right-turn vehicle warning system, an AI video analysis system for unexpected incidents, a voice warning system for jaywalking, a red-signal countdown display and surveillance cameras.

A yellow carpet has also been installed at the crosswalk entrance — a designated waiting area marked in yellow on the ground and surrounding walls to make children more visible to drivers and encourage them to slow down near the crosswalk.

Baekam Elementary School is located near a general industrial complex, and the increase in vehicle traffic had raised the need for expanded traffic safety infrastructure. SK Eco Plant funded the project, with Yongin city, ChildFund Korea and other relevant organizations participating.

SK Eco Plant has continued its community outreach activities in areas near its worksites. The company runs a program providing safety education, including first aid training, to local elementary schools, and is also carrying out residential environment improvement projects for vulnerable households. In April, it introduced an AI marine cleanup robot to help improve the marine environment in Ulsan.

"We hope that traffic safety infrastructure using AI technology will make a real difference in creating a safe commuting environment for children," a company official said. "We will continue to listen to the needs of local communities and carry out social contribution activities that bring about meaningful change."


quq@heraldcorp.com