Two Gyeonggi Province Fire Department Research Projects Selected for Government Funding

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] Two ambitious research projects being pursued by the Gyeonggi Province Fire Department and Disaster Management Headquarters, including the development of wireless devices linking mobile communication base stations utilizing TV frequencies with disaster safety communication networks, have been selected for government funding.

This is a core policy pledge of Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province in his eighth popular election term, including reinforcement of advanced equipment and strengthening of digital capacity and response systems in fire department disaster management.

The Gyeonggi Province Fire Department and Disaster Management Headquarters announced on the 26th that two research projects have been finalized for selection in the '2022 National Public Safety Emergency Response Research Project' conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. These include the project for 'Development of Wireless Backhaul Mobile Base Stations for Providing Disaster Safety Communication Services in Deep and Underground Spaces' and the project for 'Development of Integrated Safety Management Platform Combining Firefighters' Rescue Alert Devices and Wearable Wristbands.'

The 'National Public Safety Emergency Response Research Project' is a government-led initiative being pursued temporarily until 2024 to support research and development and on-site application to enable rapid response to various unexpected disaster and safety issues.

The government selected six research projects nationwide this year, and two of the Gyeonggi Province Fire Department and Disaster Management Headquarters projects are included among them.

These two projects will be supported with a total government budget of 1.2 billion won, with 600 million won allocated to each project.

The 'Development of Wireless Backhaul Mobile Base Stations for Providing Disaster Safety Communication Services in Deep and Underground Spaces' project is aimed at developing wireless devices that link commercial mobile communication base stations with disaster safety communication networks utilizing TV frequencies. The project is expected to resolve communication disruptions in underground spaces, thereby enhancing smooth on-site command and situation management.

The disaster safety communication network (PS-LTE) is a nationwide unified wireless communication network exclusively used by disaster-related agencies such as fire departments, police, and military for disaster response operations. However, communication can be difficult in deep and underground spaces.

The 'Development of Integrated Safety Management Platform Combining Firefighters' Rescue Alert Devices and Wearable Wristbands' project involves developing a safety management platform that links wristbands with existing smart rescue alert devices.

By managing in real-time the biometric and motion information of firefighters in the field, firefighter safety is expected to be further enhanced.

Following the government's selection of these research projects, the province's Fire Department and Disaster Management Headquarters plans to pursue research on these projects through October 2024.

Nam Hwa-young, head of the Gyeonggi Province Fire Department and Disaster Management Headquarters, said, "The inclusion of two of our headquarters' research projects in the government-led National Public Safety Research Project is a recognition of Gyeonggi Province Fire Department's substantive policy achievements. When the research projects are completed and commercialized, we expect to significantly enhance on-site response expertise and firefighter safety."