Seoul opens big data research center to solve urban problems

By Park Sae-jin Posted : April 12, 2017, 16:23 Updated : April 12, 2017, 16:23

[Yonhap Photo]


The capital city of Seoul promised to use big data in solving urban problems such as air pollution, traffic jams and ambient noises in a campaign to introduce South Korea's Fourth Industrial Revolution -- a digital revolution, which key technologies such as Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles are embedded into everyday lives of people. 

The Seoul city government and Seoul National University have opened the "city data science laboratory" in the southern part of the capital Wednesday for their three-year joint research on the three main urban problems -- traffic, environment and urban development. 

"The lab will play a vital role in improving the quality of citizens' lives," Seoul mayor Park Won-soon said. The lab will educate about 1,000 people, including data experts and untrained civilians annually.

Previously, Seoul analyzed big data in areas where many mobile phone calls were made at night and in places with a large floating population before opening routes for late night buses in 2013. Now, some 70 "owl buses" are being operated from 11:40 pm until 6 am carrying about 10,000 passengers every day,

Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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