[ HITTS Equipment ]

Hyundai E&C is intensifying the implementation of its tunnel-specific smart safety system at construction sites, thereby enhancing its capacity to ensure worker safety.

Hyundai E&C announced on Thursday, the 18th, that it has developed the HITTS* smart safety system, the first in Korea to integrate underground tunnel wireless communication technology and safety solutions, and is now actively deploying it at major tunnel construction sites both domestically and internationally.

* HITTS: Hyundai Integrated & TVWS-based Tunnel Smart Safety System

HITTS is a system that enables Wi-Fi wireless communication throughout tunnels and underground areas by utilizing TV White Space (TVWS), a frequency band for TV broadcasting that is available for anyone to use. The wireless communication technology using TVWS has excellent propagation characteristics, allowing for communication in non-line-of-sight and deep underground sections.

[ HITTS System Concept Diagram ]

Additionally, the system is designed to be easily relocated and operated as tunnel excavation progresses, enabling the use of various smart safety solutions in underground tunnels at the same level as above ground, including: ▲ High-resolution, high-magnification CCTV, ▲ IoT hazardous gas sensors, ▲ Emergency warning lights and two-way speakers, ▲ IoT weather sensors, and ▲ Worker equipment location tracking, etc. 

Linked with the smart integrated control system, HIBoard, it is now possible to perform real-time monitoring and remote management from site offices or headquarters. This advancement is expected to contribute to the prevention of safety accidents and the enhancement of construction productivity in tunnels and underground spaces, which have traditionally been considered communication blind spots.

Hyundai E&C first piloted this technology in Korea in 2021 on the Byeonae Line double-track subway segment 3. Following this, the technology was applied to the segment 1 of the Incheon Urban Railway No.1 Geomdan extension line segment 1, where its excellent performance was confirmed. Last year, at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport-NEOM Roadshow held in Seoul, the TVWS-based smart tunnel safety system was demonstrated, earning high praise from attendees including Nadhmi A. Al-Nasr, CEO of the NEOM Project, and other contracting party officials.

Hyundai E&C has finalized the development of the HITTS system by enhancing the safety of wireless communication and lightening the hardware through pilot applications at domestic tunnel sites. This system, based on TVWS technology, is currently being implemented in significant projects both domestically and internationally, including the Saudi Neom Rail Tunnel (SNRT) project in Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead, Hyundai E&C plans to expand this technology to other major projects, such as the GTX-C project of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Railway and the underground construction of the Namyangju Wangsuk National Road 47, to enhance the safety and efficiency of underground tunnel construction.

A representative from Hyundai E&C remarked, “HITTS is a tunnel-specific technology developed solely by Hyundai E&C through years of demonstration process, designed to overcome spatial limitations and applicable across various sites. This is expected to significantly enhance our business competitiveness. Furthermore, by leveraging the big data on safety management accumulated from these sites, we will not only ensure worker safety in enclosed spaces but also strengthen our smart safety management system.”

Meanwhile, Hyundai E&C is leading the way in digital transformation, working around the clock to prevent safety incidents and enhance construction quality through the application of smart construction technologies.

Hyundai E&C has developed its proprietary AI-enabled disaster prediction system that effectively performs safety risk analysis and safety management tasks using big data. Additionally, the company is deploying remote drones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) at tunnel sites to achieve automation in site management operations.

Furthermore, Hyundai E&C is taking measures to prevent unsafe behaviors among workers and enhance safety awareness by promoting the use of body cams. The company is also expanding its continuous research and development, as well as the on-site application of construction automation and robotics technologies, including BIM automation, 3D printing, and the four-legged walking robot Spot.