ICT-based Air Quality Monitoring Network
KT has announced the results of the “KT Air Map Korea” project, an effort to cope with the ever-worsening fine dust problem in Korea. In September last year, the mobile carrier declared that it would launch the KT Air Map Korea project to help the government set up anti-micro dust policies based on an internet of things (IoT) platform and big data analysis.
KT announced on May 24 that the company has finished building an air quality monitoring network in 1,500 locations in Seoul and six metropolitan cities by using its ICT infrastructure.
KT installed fine dust measuring equipment at optimal locations through an analysis of big data such as weather observation data and floating populations. KT's air quality monitoring network can cover more than 50% of the whole population of Korea.
KT also unveiled the Air Map Platform, an open IoT platform that collects and analyzes air quality data by the minute. The platform collects and analyzes data delivered by real-time, minute-by-minute, fine dust measurement equipment installed at 1,500 locations nationwide. Five items such as fine dust, ultrafine dust, temperature, humidity, and noises are analyzed.
The Air Map Platform is connected to fine dust measurement equipment based on LTE-M, a global standard networking technology specialized in the internet of things (IoT). In addition, since the Air Map Platform is designed based on an open application programming interface (API), the platform is able to carry out fine dust reduction activities by interlocking with air purifiers, air conditioners and artificial rain drones in addition to indoor and outdoor air quality measurement networks.
KT built the National Air Quality Control Center at the KT INS (Intelligent Network Support) Management Center in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province to monitor data transmitted from the Air Map Platform and check and deal with failures of air quality measurement equipment in real time. The National Air Quality Control Center runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
KT will provide the air quality data obtained through the operation of the Air Map Platform to the government ahead of others. These data are expected to complement air quality data collected from the government's fine dust monitoring network.
Moreover, KT plans to develop and launch smartphone app Smart Dust Portal after consultation with the government within this year. This app is an easy-to-use service that allows users to easily check air quality data that combine data from the government's fine dust monitoring network with KT's fine dust data.
KT also released the results of a two-month-long analysis of fine dust big data collected by the air quality measurement network and the Air Map Platform. The results showed that one city or ward had big differences in fine dust concentration depending on measurement spots and time, height, indoor environments and precipitation made differences.
In the future, KT will actively support fine dust reduction policies of the central government, local governments, and public institutions based on its air quality measurement network, Air Map Platform and big data analysis capability. .
"KT kicked off the Air Map Korea project based on innovative technologies such as IoT solution and big data analysis to help solve the fine dust problem that emerged as a social issue," said Kim Hyung-wook, head of KT’s Platform Business Planning Department. “We will actively cooperate with the central government, local governments and research institutions to help the people head off the risk of fine dust."