KT monitors fine dust levels at 1,500 spots

By Jun Ji-hye

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province _ KT has utilized technologies such as internet of things (IoT) and big data analytics to monitor and analyze air quality 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in a bid to contribute to the government-led efforts to reduce fine dust levels.

Under its “Air Map Korea” project, which began in September, the nation's biggest fixed-line internet operator and the second-largest mobile carrier has established a fine dust observation network at 1,500 spots such as base stations and public telephone booths nationwide.

To operate the observation networks more smoothly, the firm also set up an integrated fine dust control center at the KT Intelligent Network Support (INS) unit in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Kwon Hye-jin, a vice president who heads the KT INS unit, said the firm checks any errors or failures of 1,500 networks around the clock, noting that when a non-functional network is found, the control center indentifies its location immediately and sends technicians to the spot.

Information such as fine dust levels, temperature, noise levels and humidity, collected by the observation networks, is transmitted to the company's “Air Map Platform” every minute, and the control center manages such information in real time, she said.

“We are doing the best to closely monitor and manage fine dust levels on a regular basis,” Kwon said during a media conference, Thursday. “KT will contribute to achieving a clean environment.”

The company said its big data analytics is used to systematically manage fine dust levels as it comprehensively analyzes mobile populationㄴ and the volume of traffic as well as the locations of facilities that emit sources of air pollutants.

The technology can also be used to see if policies designed to reduce fine dust levels are actually effective.

Several local governments and government agencies have already been utilizing KT's Air Map Korea big data analytics for their relevant policies, the firm noted.

“We are developing a variety of measures to reduce fine dust levels based on our observation networks and big data analytics,” said Lee Kwang-uk, a vice president who leads the environment and safety business department at KT. “We plan to develop a mobile phone app within the year to share fine dust information with more people.”