Anyang City officials in Gyeonggi Province deployed autonomous drones to detect pedestrians and provide evacuation guidance during heavy summer rains [1].
This initiative aims to prevent casualties caused by citizens becoming trapped in river areas as water levels rise rapidly during intense storms [1, 2].
Two drones are currently in operation [1]. The aircraft are launched from the rooftop of the city hall and can be remotely controlled from a distance of approximately six kilometers [1]. These drones utilize artificial intelligence to identify pedestrians in areas that are typically blind spots for ground-based monitoring [1, 2].
Once the AI detects a person in a high-risk zone, the drone uses an onboard speaker to broadcast immediate warnings. In one recorded instance, the official announcement stated, "Currently, river water levels have risen due to heavy rain, and access to the river is prohibited. Please move immediately from the pedestrian path to a safe place" [1].
Reporter Choi Ki-sung said the drones take off from the rooftop and fly along the river corridors to monitor safety [1]. The system is designed to act as a critical bridge between city monitoring centers and citizens who may be unaware of the rising danger in remote sections of the river [1, 2].
By integrating AI detection with real-time audio alerts, the city seeks to eliminate the delay between the detection of a person in danger and the delivery of a life-saving warning [1].
“Two drones are currently in operation”
The deployment of AI-driven drones in Anyang represents a shift toward proactive, automated disaster management. By removing the reliance on manual surveillance and physical patrols in dangerous weather, the city is reducing the response time for evacuation alerts in high-risk flood zones.
