Korea National Railway showcases next-generation rail technology at geospatial expo

Korea National Railway said Wednesday it is participating in the 2026 K-Geo Festa — the country's largest geospatial technology expo — held at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from Wednesday through Friday, where it will showcase next-generation rail technologies that integrate geospatial information with advanced systems.

Hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport under the theme "GeoAI Opening Change, a World Awakening," the event marks the third consecutive year Korea National Railway has served as a co-organizer since 2024, using the platform to promote next-generation rail technology to the public and chart the direction of the rail industry's development.

At this year's event, Korea National Railway will highlight three key technologies: a pilot model of a building information modeling (BIM) platform for railway facility maintenance, a high-powered laser tunnel excavation technology, and a digital map of national railway construction projects.

The railway facility maintenance BIM platform shifts the existing two-dimensional drawing- and document-based management approach to a three-dimensional geospatial model. Starting in 2027, it is expected to integrate with lifecycle data across all railway facilities to enable proactive risk management and accelerate AI transformation in the rail sector.

The high-powered laser tunnel excavation technology reduces noise and vibration while adapting flexibly to confined spaces and varying tunnel cross-sections. It is expected to shorten construction timelines for urban tunnel projects and improve construction quality through more precise excavation.

The digital map of national railway construction projects visualizes the progress of 36 major national railway construction projects across the country, including the GTX metropolitan express rail lines, in an interactive digital format. Visitors can use kiosks at the venue to easily look up information on each project.

"We will push forward with digital innovation in railway construction and maintenance by integrating geospatial information with advanced technology," Korea National Railway Chairman Jung Jin-hyuk said. "On that foundation, we will proactively manage risk factors and prevent safety accidents to create a railway environment that the public can use with confidence."

Meanwhile, Korea National Railway has also launched full-scale research and development efforts to improve the railway power supply system, working with the Korea Railroad Research Institute and other partners toward linking renewable energy with the electric power used to propel trains.