Seoul to install 12 more “intelligent” bus stations for G-20 meeting

In preparation for the G-20 Financial Summit in Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in mid-June that it plans to establish an IT intelligence system in 12 more bus stations around Gangnam-gu district. 

The selected bus stations will be in a 1.5-kilometer radius of the COEX complex in Samseong-dong where the big meeting will take place on Nov. 11 and 12.

The U-shelter, as the new bus system is named, will display the exact arrival time of all buses that stop there, as well information on geography, weather, pollution levels and traffic, among others. There are already a few in pilot operation around Jongno-gu district.

Passengers can search for relevant information through a touch screen installed at the bus station. You can check out video images of your bus departing previous stops on a real time basis. The same screen can also show you traffic and a map of the vicinity. What’s more, all this information will be given in English, Japanese and Chinese.

A sensor will be placed on the roof of the bus station to detect the weather conditions of the day, including temperature, humidity, ozone and carbon monoxide levels. The transportation card detector there will also confirm how much value is stored on your bus pass.

Information gathered at the U-shelters will be collected on the central server of Seoul City, to be made available later to not only bus passengers but the general public.

Moreover, the city plans to facilitate the U-shelters as part of a tour course for visiting officials and journalists from G-20 member nations.

The U-shelters will in future be installed at bus transfer points and highway bus stations.

“We plan to promote Korea’s advanced IT infrastructure through U-shelters,” said an official at Seoul City Government. “We’ll consider expanding them to other places depending on progress.”