▲ Holds a smart construction technology demonstration at the Namyangju Wangsuk National Route 47 underground relocation construction site

▲ Offers a tangible experience of the paradigm shift in construction through on-site demonstrations of digital twins, robotics, and underground space technologies

▲ Will actively pursue the development and expanded application of smart construction technologies to foster innovation and trust in the future of the construction industry

Hyundai E&C has unveiled cutting-edge smart construction technologies that will transform the paradigm of construction sites and presented a blueprint for the future of the construction industry.

On Friday, November 27th, Hyundai E&C held the Smart Construction Technology Demonstration 2025 at the Namyangju Wangsuk National Route 47 underground relocation construction site in Gyeonggi-do Province. The demonstration was attended by approximately 100 people, including Hyundai E&C executives and employees, officials from public institutions, and experts from industry, academia, and research, such as Kang Yong-hee, Head of the Civil Engineering Business Division at Hyundai E&C; Lee Sang-jo, Head of the Smart Construction Safety Division at the Korea Land and Housing Corporation; and Cho Sung-min, Director of the Road & Traffic Research Department at the Korea Expressway Corporation.

This year's smart construction technology demonstration, the third of its kind, is an event that has been held since 2020 to introduce the related technologies that Hyundai E&C has accumulated at its construction sites at home and abroad and to share on-site application know-how with industry stakeholders through demonstrations. Notably, this year's event drew significant interest from attendees by highlighting advanced technologies under the theme of Robotics-Based Construction Automation and Smart Safety Technology, which can enhance worker safety and construction productivity.

Hyundai E&C has been leading the expansion of the smart construction ecosystem by promoting innovative, theme-based sites such as a smart port, smart tunnel, smart bridge, and smart earthwork. The Namyangju Wangsuk National Route 47 site, where this demonstration was held, is a project to move a 6.4-kilometer section of the above-ground national highway, from Jingwan-ri to Yeonpyeong-ri in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, underground. Hyundai E&C will construct one underpass, one tunnel, seven bridges, and five interchanges (ICs) along the route. As this project is the first in Korea to construct a vertically separated, three-dimensional underground section of road, from the upper underpass to the lower tunnel, a variety of innovative technologies from different work disciplines were incorporated. The project was seen as a chance to briefly showcase the current progress of Korean civil engineering technology.

■ A Comprehensive Showcase of Proven On-Site Technologies… From Digital Twins to Robotics

This year's Hyundai E&C smart construction technology demonstration prominently featured the latest technologies in four main areas: ▲a site-customized smart construction integrated control platform, ▲construction robotics and smart safety/quality, ▲smart earthwork, and ▲a smart tunnel.

First, in the exhibition hall, a massive smart dashboard combining a 155-inch large digital signage and a 65-inch large touchscreen table caught the eye. With the implementation of a digital twin system that can provide integrated monitoring of the entire 6.4-kilometer, three-dimensional underground section of road, the site now benefits from rapid decision-making based on on-site and off-site collaboration.

In addition, a digital site introduction combining a three-dimensional new town master plan model and a hologram, and visual positioning system (VPS¹⁾)-based design information visualization technology combining augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), were showcased, earning praise from visitors for its uniquely hands-on approach that set it apart from traditional model-centered exhibition halls.

Outside the exhibition hall, a booth was set up where visitors could experience a diverse range of robotics technologies. More specifically, the X-ble Shoulder²⁾, a wearable robot useful for tunnel workers performing tasks like rock bolt³⁾ installation, drew attention. Also highlighted were a logistics transport drone capable of carrying up to 40 kg of construction materials and tools, an unmanned drone station that automatically performs digital mapping of the entire site through autonomous flight, Boston Dynamics' four-legged robot, Spot, used for safety patrols in hazardous areas like tunnel blasting zones, and an autonomous delivery robot jointly developed with Hyundai Motor Group startup Mobinn.

■ Demonstration of the Smart Construction Process for the Entire Earthwork and Tunneling Process

At the outdoor demonstration site, where excavation was in progress, an innovative process covering the entire civil engineering workflow was demonstrated, from AR-based smart surveying and construction automation to smart safety management and a final digital inspection. The series of events—where a logistics drone transports a mobile AI CCTV to the site, excavation is performed safely using a machine guidance (MG) excavator with built-in AI collision and pinch prevention technology, and a precise inspection is completed with a laser scanner—vividly illustrated how the smart earthwork process enhances work efficiency.

In the vertical shaft area leading to the tunnel, smart safety management technologies applied to tunneling were unveiled. The TV White Space (TVWS⁴⁾)-based tunnel wireless communication system, developed for the first time in Korea by Hyundai E&C and already proven effective in numerous tunnel projects, was combined with an integrated safety management system capable of access and location control, mobile CCTV, and gas detection, enabling even more precise management of safety parameters. In addition, a variety of smart technologies were comprehensively implemented to enhance the safety of underground work, including a Clam Shell⁵⁾ pinch prevention system useful for spoil removal, a vertical shaft safety system that allows the operator to monitor the work by combining wired and wireless cameras on the crane, an Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT)-based real-time tunnel collapse detection sensor, and a robotics-based tunnel safety patrol utilizing Spot.

■ Leading the Promotion and Internalization of Smart Construction Technology Across the Construction Industry

In his commemorative address, Kang Yong-hee, Head of the Civil Engineering Business Division, noted, “This demonstration is significant in that it has presented the applicability and direction of technology to the entire construction industry through an on-site-centered demonstration of smart technologies, rather than a mere list-like exhibition of individual technologies.” He added, “Hyundai E&C will further expand its investment in and on-site application of smart construction to build a sustainable construction environment and to secure a differentiated competitive advantage in the global market.”

Experts who observed the demonstration also shared their thoughts, saying, “The way the technology was seamlessly integrated into the actual site and work was very impressive, and will serve as an exemplary reference for promoting the real-world application of smart construction technologies.”

Hyundai E&C plans to concentrate its efforts on creating a smart construction ecosystem by continuously discovering outstanding construction technologies through collaboration with promising startups and by expanding the scope of their application and verification at actual sites. Through this, the company plans to bolster safety and quality to build public trust, while also accelerating the transition of the construction sector to a technology-based, advanced industry.

1) A system that recognizes a user’s location within a space by utilizing surrounding video data and applies it for data visualization.

2) A wearable robotic device developed by Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics Lab that supports the upper arm muscles during overhead or upward-facing work, helping to reduce musculoskeletal strain.

3) A reinforcement method that connects and strengthens rock layers to prevent the collapse of loosened rock masses in tunnels or vertical excavations.

4) An unused frequency band allocated for TV broadcasting that remains vacant and can be freely utilized by anyone without a license.

5) Equipment suspended from a crane or similar lifting machinery, used to scoop and lift soil.