Songdo, Smart city district in Incheon, South Korea
Songdo is a district in Songdo-dong, Incheon, South Korea, built on land reclaimed from the Yellow Sea. The entire area is equipped with sensors and digital networks that monitor traffic, energy use, and public services in real time.
Construction of this new urban zone began in the early 2000s on an area that previously lay underwater. After two decades of development, tens of thousands of people now live and work in the district.
The district follows a clear grid plan with large parks and wide avenues modeled after European examples. Many residents work in the office towers of global companies based here or attend the universities and language schools in the area.
Visitors can easily explore the district on foot or by bicycle, as most key points lie within short distances. The metro connects the area to the airport and central Incheon in less than half an hour.
Beneath the streets runs a tube system that automatically transports waste to a central facility, eliminating odors and garbage trucks from the streetscape. The entire infrastructure was digitally planned from scratch before the first building was constructed.
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