[Special Report] Suwon's Close-to-Life AI Administrative Services... 'Transforming Citizens' Lives!'

Artificial intelligence is the trend of the times. Economy, society, and politics cannot discuss the future without AI. Generative AI services like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity have become deeply embedded in our daily lives. Many people frequently use artificial intelligence to search for information and create necessary outputs. But that's not all. In Suwon, the day when citizens experience urban life with AI applied is drawing near. Soon, artificial intelligence will find potholes, patrol parks, send electronic notices tailored to payers' preferences, and serve as a living administrative assistant. It's not far away. These are changes that will unfold within six months.

◇Finding and Managing Potholes Faster Than Citizens!

Starting in early next year, Suwon will detect potholes on roads 24 hours a day using artificial intelligence. The city plans to construct and utilize an intelligent pothole detection platform that analyzes video using AI.

To this end, Suwon has been promoting 'AI-Based Intelligent Pothole Detection Platform Construction Project' since May. The platform to be constructed by year-end focuses on rapidly and accurately processing pothole-related information.

The method involves AI using video from closed-circuit television cameras and cameras mounted on detection vehicles on Suwon roads to automatically detect potholes. The platform also introduces functions to visualize detection status and risk levels on a map and to comprehensively manage processing status.

Once the pothole detection platform is implemented, Suwon will be able to manage potholes on city roads more quickly and effectively. It moves beyond the existing methods that relied mainly on citizen reports or vehicle traffic, as AI can analyze video and detect potholes rapidly. By utilizing AI, the city is expected to overcome the limitations of limited personnel and equipment and more efficiently manage potholes across Suwon's total road network of 951 kilometers.

◇Safety in Parks Late at Night Protected by Autonomous Patrol Robots!

Starting this year-end, autonomous patrol robots will be deployed at night in Hyowon Park located in Paldal-gu, Suwon. By utilizing artificial intelligence to minimize physical blind spots during hours with vulnerable security management, the city aims to create a more secure park environment.

Suwon has been promoting the 'Introduction of AI Autonomous Patrol Robots for Creating Reassuring Parks in Suwon' project since June. It is a demonstration service funded by 100 million won in national subsidy after winning the AI Robot Demonstration Project (Service Sector) call for proposals from the Korea Robot Industry Promotion Association.

The service is based on four-legged walking AI robots patrolling Hyowon Park during nighttime hours. The robots independently patrol major walking paths, plazas, and sports facilities without blind spots while detecting abnormal situations. Upon detecting an anomaly, the robot immediately alerts relevant authorities. Damaged facilities are reported to the park management department, fallen people or fires are reported to the fire department, and incidents of assault or fighting are reported to the police.

Suwon will deploy robots at the site starting year-end and operate a demonstration process. Subsequently, the city plans to use AI patrol robots for three years and examine the possibility of expansion to other parks based on demonstration results.

◇'Saebit Bot,' a Living Information Assistant for Citizens, Launches!

From year-end, citizens can use an AI-based administrative service on Suwon's website that finds and provides information tailored to their needs. A chatbot service that easily informs users of necessary living and administrative information will be introduced, allowing convenient use anytime like a personal administrative assistant.

Suwon is constructing a 'Suwon City Website Generative AI Chatbot Service' targeting launch in December. The chatbot is named 'Saebit Bot (tentative name).' Beyond the method of searching by keywords to find needed information, when citizens ask questions, it understands intent and context, structures them, and provides logically sound answers.

To this end, generative AI will learn vast amounts of information on Suwon's website. Based on analysis of website usage last year, 10 key fields of high interest are the primary learning scope. Bulletin boards including City News, Jobs, Info All, Suwon Tourism, and Events & Festivals are included. A high-performance AI model with strong Korean language comprehension will learn information and implement explanations in a user-friendly manner.

In particular, the service will support multilingual communication in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese in addition to Korean, making it easy for foreign residents to use. Based on this, Suwon plans to expand the service to other website areas after confirming the outcomes of finding information users need.

◇Personalized Electronic Notices at Times and Channels When You Check Them!

Various notices arriving constantly will be advanced to be sent at optimal times and through optimal channels by analyzing user characteristics and viewing patterns. Starting this year-end when 'AI-Based Customized Mobile Electronic Notice Advancement Project' that Suwon has been promoting since June is completed, payment notices will be sent in personalized service.

Suwon began providing mobile electronic notice services in November 2024 and currently provides 33 types of notices and information services. Examples include payment reminder notices for delinquent local taxes and automobile taxes, and excessive fine notices for dedicated lane or parking/stopping violations. The city is achieving effects of conveniently checking notices and reducing mailing costs.

To advance electronic notices to the next level, Suwon will construct an AI-based predictive model engine. AI analyzes past data such as transmission, viewing, and payment history to recommend optimal notice methods and timing for each individual. By dividing retransmission stages according to follow-up actions after viewing, the system is structured to increase the reach rate of electronic notices.

Additionally, for digitally vulnerable groups, the city plans to equip electronic notice means such as large text, mobile voice, and foreign languages, and expand beyond Kakao to Naver to enhance citizen accessibility.

◇Protecting Precious Cultural Heritage with Artificial Intelligence!

Artificial intelligence is also being utilized to safely manage and preserve Suwon Hwaseong, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and Suwon's treasure. The city has constructed a 'Smart Automatic Monitoring System for 3D Digital Twin Images for Disaster Prevention and Crime Prevention' across the entire Suwon Hwaseong area.

This system manages risks by linking disaster safety infrastructure in a virtual space (digital twin) that is identically implemented to Suwon Hwaseong. Using AI video analysis technology, it intuitively detects various risk factors such as unauthorized entry, fires, falls, and crowds. Managers who quickly identify the exact location in the virtual space can judge and respond to on-site situations in real-time.

The Jangan Gate fortress walls are also managed with precision. The city additionally introduces inclinometers, vibration meters, and thermal imaging cameras to detect minute changes early, and automatically broadcasts warnings to the site when emergency safety accidents occur.

The disaster safety network using artificial intelligence is also being applied to other key Suwon infrastructure. AI video and electronic olfactory technology have been introduced to Suwon Delta Plex, an urban industrial complex, to create a fire and disaster initial detection system, and the city is also promoting a service where fire-fighting robots conduct initial field response at the Suwon Resource Recycling Center.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon Special City said, "Suwon will become an innovative city that dramatically implements citizens' daily lives and safety with artificial intelligence," adding "We will create a city where artificial intelligence seeps into life, and make Suwon a new standard for Korean artificial intelligence."