KEPCO unveils AI-powered mountain fire response system
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has begun implementing a new AI-based mountain fire monitoring system nationwide that prevents fires more effectively and cheaper, the state-run utility said Monday.
It said the system has been developed to protect the country’s power grid from fires, prevent blackouts and safeguard human lives and properties.
The new system, using the company’s existing infrastructure, is at least 50 percent cheaper to install compared to the conventional system that relies on security cameras. It also has a 99 percent fire detection rate.
The system uses cameras installed atop existing electric towers in the mountains to record live-feed visuals and heat-sensitive images. It then analyzes them using data accumulated by the company and shared by other government agencies that handle mountain fires, including the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency.
KEPCO said it is currently working with the forest service and local governments to install the system nationwide. The company also plans to commercialize and promote the system to developing countries often vulnerable to mountain fires.
“It will expand our country’s export market for our intelligent monitoring and data analysis sectors,” a KEPCO official said. “We are drawing the interest of countries in our rising technologies by commercializing the latest information communication technology to control [mountain fires].”
KEPCO received President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recognition in November for the fire detection system in an award organized by the Ministry of Personnel Management to honor government bureaus for their outstanding work.
The state utility won the recognition for using the existing power-distributing infrastructure to reduce installation costs and introducing an effective mountain fire monitoring system.