The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has opened a new horizon in artificial intelligence (AI)-based disaster response technology.

The Korea Electric Power Research Institute announced on the 10th that its recently developed 'Real-time Fire Scene Visibility Improvement Technology' received the Presidential Citation (Institutional Award) on the 63rd Firefighters' Day.

This technology is an innovative image processing algorithm that helps firefighters clearly identify structures and people even in thick smoke. It was successfully demonstrated through joint research with the National Fire Research Institute and was evaluated as a representative collaborative achievement in the field of public safety.

The vision improvement technology developed by KERI is based on a universal visualization algorithm that can be applied to various image signals such as visible light, near-infrared, short-wave infrared, and thermal imaging.

Even in environments with limited visibility due to smoke or heat, it can clearly restore the shapes of structures and people, and can be implemented in real time with low power even on portable devices.

In particular, it boasts higher accuracy and reliability than existing technologies because it does not generate distortion or false signals (Hallucination) during the information processing process.

This technology is implemented as a 'portable vision enhancement device for firefighters' in the form of a hand-held camera, designed to clearly identify rescue targets and exits in dark and smoke-filled environments while maintaining the familiar operability of firefighters on site.

The collaboration between KERI and the National Fire Research Institute began in 2019. Through the National Research Council of Science and Technology's (NST) Advanced Convergence Research Project, "Fire Scene Visibility Technology" was proposed as a national research agenda. In 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed, concretizing the collaborative R&D model. After several years of research, prototype development and field demonstrations were successfully completed.

Kim Yeon-sang, Director of the National Fire Research Institute, stated, "The equipment was distributed to fire stations nationwide as a pilot project and deployed in actual training and rescue missions, receiving high marks for both user satisfaction and on-site effectiveness." Notably, the technology's practical effectiveness was officially demonstrated at the "Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment Performance Verification Demonstration" held at the Seoul Fire Academy.

KERI believes this technology has the potential to be expanded into remote imaging systems. It is expected to enable safe and efficient visibility and situational awareness even in difficult-to-reach disaster relief sites. KERI Director Kim Nam-gyun emphasized, "Using this technology, we can monitor structures and spaces in real time, even through black smoke, thereby protecting the lives and safety of firefighters."

“We will continuously reflect feedback from firefighting sites to advance our technology and increase its usability in the field through cooperation with the National Fire Agency and the National Fire Research Institute,” said Kang Dong-gu, director of the center and the head of the research team.