Track inspection system installed on Line 4 trains becomes first in domestic urban rail to receive AI+ certification
AI automatically analyzes facility anomalies during train operations and alerts staff when issues are detected
Accumulated inspection data enables deep-learning refinement, reducing risk of human error
Seoul Metro said Tuesday it received AI+ certification from the Korean Standards Association for the track facility inspection system installed and operating on its Line 4 trains.
The track facility inspection system mounts cameras and other detection equipment on revenue trains to collect data on track infrastructure during normal operations, which an AI then analyzes. The AI examines electrical, civil and track-structure components for deformation or abnormal conditions, and when an anomaly is detected, it sends an alert to the responsible staff member so an on-site check and follow-up action can be carried out.
Seoul Metro built the round-the-clock inspection framework to supplement its traditional labor-intensive approach, in which workers enter the tracks after service ends to inspect facilities within a limited window. Under the new system, AI monitors track infrastructure during operating hours, while ground crews continue their direct inspections in the early-morning hours after trains stop running.
The company said it is deploying AI-based inspection not as a replacement for human checks but as a complement to them — easing the burden on workers who must verify all facilities within a tight timeframe, while having AI handle repetitive, standardized image and data analysis to prevent human errors that can occur during the inspection process.
Another feature of the system is its capacity for deep-learning analysis built on inspection data and facility training data accumulated through actual operations. As data on facility conditions and anomaly cases accumulates over the course of train operations, the AI becomes increasingly precise in distinguishing between normal and abnormal states. Seoul Metro said it plans to develop this capability into a prevention-focused track maintenance framework that can detect early warning signs before problems escalate.
The AI+ certification is a quality certification regime jointly developed by the Korean Standards Association and Wisestone Co. Through the certification process, Seoul Metro's track facility inspection system was verified to confirm that its AI functions operate effectively in real-world conditions. The company said the certification lays the groundwork for broader expansion of AI-based track safety management technology going forward.
Kim Ki-byung, head of Seoul Metro's technology division, said the AI+ certification "is meaningful in that it objectively verifies that AI technology is being put to use at actual subway safety management sites." He added that the company would "continue combining train operations with advanced technology to build a tight safety management framework that catches even the risk factors a person might miss."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
