- S-BRT Technology Commercialization Agreement with Iskandar Regional Development Authority -   Johor Bahru, Malaysia – SEPTEMBER 07 – On September 6th, Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI, President: Seok-youn Han) signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Chief Executive: Badrul Hisham bin Kassim) to commercialize S-BRT (Super Bus Rapid Transit) overseas.   The two organizations plan to conduct collaboration such as technology feasibility study, demonstration, and commercialization plan for S-BRT technology.   President Seok-youn Han explored the test-beds of BRT planning routes such as the one in Joho Bahru City and discussed ways to revitalize technical cooperation, including joint research for demonstration and commercialization of S-BRT.   In addition, Chief Executive Badrul Hisham bin Kassim expressed a lot of interest in the Travel Record Based Integrated Public Transport Operation System (TRIPS) and the Light Rail K-AGT, hoping to expand cooperation in the area of public transportation technology with KRRI.   The Iskandar Regional Development Authority has jurisdiction over five cities with a population of 1.9 million, including Joho Bahru, Malaysia's second-largest city, near the Singapore border, and focuses on economic development, environmental protection, transportation and living environment.   In order to efficiently connect major cities in the region, three BRT arterial routes are being designed with the aim of opening in 2025.   KRRI has been carrying out the "S-BRT International Interoperability Demonstration Operation Technology Development Project" since July as this year’s research and development project for research diffusion through international cooperation in land transportation from Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement.   KRRI has been carrying out a project called the Development of International Interoperability Technology for the S-BRT Integrated Control and Priority Signal Systems based on various support and cooperation, including technical seminars and consultations with the Malaysian BRT team since last year.   S-BRT is a public transportation system that improves speed, punctuality, and transportation capacity, which is a bus with the advantages of railroads, and the R&D demonstration project was completed in Sejong City by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport's Metropolitan Transport Commission at the end of last year which is currently promoting commercialization in Korea and abroad.   “Commercialization of the S-BRT system has become visible in Malaysia in recognition of its excellence”, President Seok-youn Han said. "We will make more efforts to expand K-public transportation technology such as S-BRT into overseas markets based on technology transfer and various international networks."   ※ Reference: (Photo) Signing a Technical Cooperation Agreement and Holding a Technical Seminar with Iskandar Regional Development Authority               Press Contacts   Yongmook KANG Korea Railroad Research Institute ymkang@krri.re.kr +82 31 460 5184

-Structural Performance Test of New Light Rail Elevated Structure-   UIWANG, South Korea – MAY 29 – The Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI, President: Dr. Seok-youn Han) has unveiled the world's first 'new light rail elevated structure' technology, achieving the world’s longest span of 200 meters without the installation of cables. The span refers to the distance between the columns of a bridge.   The KRRI, along with Busan Transportation Corporation, GS Engineering & Construction, Dong-Ah ENG, Woosung D&C, CNSC, and Hankuk Fiber conducted a performance verification test on May 26th at the Hybrid Structure Experiment Center of Myongji University, applying a weight-bearing load to the life-sized 200m span elevated structure until it suffered structural failure.   More than 200 people attended the event, including representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s Metropolitan Transport Commission, Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement, local governments such as Busan and Daegu, urban railway construction and operation agencies, as well as academic and industry groups.   A load-bearing experiment was conducted on the central span, the most vulnerable section of the new light rail elevated structure. The experiment showed that the span was able to support a maximum load of 430 tons, confirming structural safety with a greater than 120% safety margin.   The success of the full-scale structural performance test marks the culmination of the world's first development project of an urban 200m span light rail elevated structure technology, the longest of its kind, which was conducted over six years beginning in 2018. The project was carried out as a National Research and Development Project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement.   ※ Associated research projects: Stage 1: Development of urban landscape-friendly light rail elevated structure design technology (April 2018 - December 2020) Stage 2: Development and verification of the world's longest span (200m class) light rail elevated structure (April 2021 - December 2024) Lead Institution & Lead Researcher: Korea Railroad Research Institute, Director of Research Jeong-ryol Shin Joint Research Institutions: Busan Transportation Corporation, GS Engineering & Construction, Dong-Ah ENG, Woosung D&C, CNSC, Hankuk Fiber     The light rail elevated structure features the lower columns spaced at a maximum of 200m apart, creating a sense of expansive openness. The upper and lower integrated structure is 20% lighter than conventional steel box girder bridges and 80% lighter than concrete floor plates, thereby allowing for a record-breaking span of 200m without any cables.   The width of the lower column is reduced to no more than 1.5m, down from the previous 2.5m, reducing road encroachment to the level of a central divider and minimizing traffic congestion.   The upper section has a streamlined structure that meshes with urban architecture, in consideration of urban aesthetics. It also adopted a canopy structure to dampen noise during train operation and ensure safety even in adverse weather conditions such as heavy snow and rain.   To minimize road closures and reduce traffic congestion, the upper and lower structures were pre-manufactured in a factory and assembled in modules on-site. A small-scale special installation device was introduced for rapid and precise construction.   Digital twin technology was utilized to verify the form and construction metrics of the structure in real-time during component production and on-site installation using technologies like lidar drones, ensuring precision in the new elevated structure construction by verifying consistency with BIM (Building Information Modeling) design data.   *BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a technology that manages information relating to civil and architectural structures through 3D modeling, along with details of materials, process, and construction costs, throughout the entire lifecycle of the project.   Following the development of design and construction technologies, the KRRI completed the verification of train operational safety, wind resistance, earthquake safety and finally finished a full-scale structural safety verification test on the most structurally vulnerable central span section on the 26th.   Domestic light rail systems have been expanding with new lines being built across the country, starting in Busan in 2011, followed by Gimhae, Uijeongbu, Yongin, Daegu, Incheon, Seoul, and Gimpo.   So far, the elevated light rail systems have been directly adapted from railway bridge forms and superimposed upon cityscapes, resulting in closely spaced column structures with a span of 3~40m and heavy upper structures placed above them.   These structures have been criticized by citizens for disrupting the city’s aesthetics, causing urban division centered around the elevated tracks, increasing traffic congestion due to road encroachment, and generating noise. For these reasons, citizens have requested the construction of underground systems, which cost more than twice the elevated structures. The introduction of the new elevated structure is expected to stimulate Korea’s light rail industry, which has faced difficulties in project implementation, and also help Korea to advance into overseas light rail markets such as Southeast Asia.   The lead researcher, Principal Researcher Jeong-ryol Shin, said, "Light rail projects are being promoted by local governments to alleviate traffic congestion due to urban overcrowding. The technology developed by KRRI can solve existing elevated light rail issues such as urban division, aesthetic disruption, traffic congestion, noise, and operational difficulties during inclement weather." He added, "We will do our best to finalize the performance verification of the new elevated structure during the remaining research period and promptly incorporate it to new light rail systems within Korea."   The President of the Korea Railroad Research Institute, Seok-youn Han, stated, "This technology, which involves a leap forward from existing civil engineering technology, is leading the world as a prestigious K-rail technology." He also noted, "In consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, we will promote the practical application of the new technology within Korea through pilot projects in conjunction with local governments, and based on this, we aim to perfect the new technology as a prestigious K-rail technology that establishes a presence in overseas light rail markets such as Southeast Asia."     ※Reference: 1. Photos of the structure performance verification experiment 2. Overview of the research project 'Development and Verification of the World's Longest Span (200m Class) Light Rail Elevated Structure'                     Press Contacts   Yongmook KANG Korea Railroad Research Institute ymkang@krri.re.kr +82 31 460 5184