Daegu to deploy advanced AI drones to protect public safety

Daegu City announced Thursday it will push ahead with an advanced AI drone project through December to protect the lives and safety of residents.

The project will be carried out in partnership with the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency and in coordination with related city departments, including the Geumhogang Development Division and the Duryu Park Management Office, deploying AI drones at sites closely tied to residents' daily lives.

Starting this month through August, the city will conduct smart public-safety operations around Duryu Park — one of Daegu's signature urban parks — in collaboration with Arion Co., Ison Co. and the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency.

The AI drones will use video-analysis technology to identify objects such as people and vehicles and monitor crowd density in real time.

Particularly during the Daegu Chimaek Festival, which opens July 1, the city plans to concentrate drone deployments to ensure safety at the large-scale event, which draws more than 1 million visitors.

From September through October, the city will conduct AI drone inspections of national waterways, including the Nakdong and Geumho rivers, in partnership with Bayris Co.

From November through December, the project will focus on security-vulnerable areas along the urban corridor stretching from Gangchanggyo Bridge to Samunjin.

Sky Enterprise Co., Ison Co. and the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency will collaborate to deploy domestically developed AI drone aircraft currently under development with Daegu City support.

Jeong Ui-gwan, head of Daegu City's Future Innovation and Growth Office, said the drone industry is becoming a core piece of infrastructure for protecting lives and public safety through the adoption of advanced AI technology. "We will do our utmost to ensure Daegu leads the future aviation industry, building on the locally proven technology this project will demonstrate," he said.