What does a smart worksite, where every process is interconnected through data, look like? Hyundai E&C is taking a step beyond DX (Digital Transformation) - which captures and interprets all on-site information as data - to the AX (AI Transformation) phase, where artificial intelligence autonomously identifies optimal solutions. In particular, these intelligent technologies are now being realized as “Physical AI,” integrating with robots and equipment to move and operate directly across the site. Though still unfamiliar, this innovative landscape unique to Hyundai E&C is gradually becoming a reality through on-site validations and demonstration projects at key hub on-site operations. Take a step forward to explore the construction frontlines of tomorrow through a 24-hour timeline.

7:00 A.M.

Footsteps Breaking the Silence: 

Proactive Inspection by the Smart Guardian, “Spot”

In the early morning, before the darkness has fully lifted, the rhythmic sound of machinery breaks the silence from one side of a massive tunnel. The quadruped robot Spot has begun the first patrol of the day. 

Leveraging its autonomous mobility capabilities, Spot traverses high-risk areas and slopes that are difficult for humans to access, digitally replicating the physical conditions of the site. Equipped with a high-precision laser scanner, Spot captures 3D geometric data to detect early signs of anomalies such as micro-cracks or terrain changes in advance. Going beyond simple imaging, all visual and environmental information is accumulated as real-time site data.

Upon arriving at work, the site manager compares and analyzes the latest data collected by Spot against the design drawings to proactively identify any risk factors that may have arisen overnight. Only after the site’s safety has been verified through this data do the workers begin full-scale operations. Hyundai E&C has rigorously validated the technological maturity of Spot, developed by Boston Dynamics, through demonstrations at sites including Section 2 of the Gimpo-Paju construction project for the Han River subsea tunnel and the construction site of the Gyeongju Innovative Nuclear Research Complex, which will serve as a hub for SMR research and development. A morning that begins with thorough data analysis! That is the smart construction site landscape that Hyundai E&C is pioneering.

10:00 A.M.

Safety from 50 Meters Above:

How “Remote-Controlled Tower Cranes” Are Transforming the Way We Work

At the peak of activity around 10 a.m., the tower crane - often called the heart of worksite- hoists heavy materials into the air. This massive piece of construction equipment maneuvers with precision while bearing multi-ton loads. Yet, 50 meters above ground, the operator’s cabin, from which the crane would traditionally be controlled, stands empty. This is because a remote-control system has relocated the control room from the air to the ground.

The system introduced by Hyundai E&C is based on low-latency communication technology*. Through a set of cameras, the operator can obtain a wider and more precise 3D view on a nine-split monitor, while also receiving real-time data on wind speed and the collision-avoidance system. At a glance, the control room appears virtually identical to the actual working environment high above the ground. Even the sounds of motor and brake operations transmitted from the top of the tower crane enhance the vivid sense of presence and immersion. Thanks to the remote-controlled tower crane system, the physical strain and risks associated with climbing up and down the tower crane have been eliminated, and on-site operations have become even more precise.

In November 2025, Hyundai E&C obtained special approval under the relevant safety standards, establishing the institutional foundation for its remote-controlled tower crane technology. The company is currently verifying the system’s safety and performance through on-site demonstrations at The H Adelstar project. The data accumulated is expected to serve as a basis for developing AX technologies aimed at improving work speed and precision.

*Low-latency communication technology: A core technology that minimizes data transmission and reception delays, enabling real-time responsiveness on the ground just as if operating directly from the elevated cabin

2:00 P.M.

The Two Eyes That Inspect Tunnels and Underground Vertical Spaces: 

“HITTS” and “Indoor Autonomous Drones” 

While the ground above basks in the intense afternoon sun at 2 p.m., darkness has already settled deep within the underground tunnel. Bridging this isolated space, untouched by sunlight, with the ground-level control center in real time is Hyundai E&C’s proprietary technology, HITTS (Hyundai Integrated TVWS-based Tunnel Smart Safety System).

By leveraging TVWS (Television White Space), Hyundai E&C has established a dedicated network in underground tunnels, eliminating communication dead zones. This creates a stable operating environment where an array of smart construction equipment and safety systems can function seamlessly. Far more than a basic communications network, HITTS is continually evolving into an “intelligent safety management platform”. It integrates and centrally manages various IoT devices, such as hazardous gas sensors, alongside AI-powered CCTV for incident detection, location tracking for personnel and machinery, and a multilingual emergency alert system. Through the integrated control room at its headquarters and the on-site ground-level control center, Hyundai E&C is establishing a seamless safety management system that enables the real-time monitoring of conditions deep underground, as if they were unfolding right before the operator’s eyes, while facilitating an immediate response to hazardous situations.

 Areas deep within underground tunnels that prove difficult to monitor via CCTV are instead inspected by an indoor autonomous drone equipped with collision-avoidance guards (hereinafter “indoor drone”). The indoor drone closely approaches hazardous and hard-to-access areas, such as cracks and water leaks on the walls of deep vertical shafts or along tunnel ceilings, that are difficult for workers to inspect directly, capturing detailed images of any abnormal signs for precise analysis.

HITTS and the indoor drone - technologies whose effectiveness has already been proven at major tunnel construction sites in Korea and abroad - embody Hyundai E&C’s unwavering commitment to safety and its determination to eliminate every blind spot. When HITTS delivers real-time connectivity of overall tunnel conditions and the indoor drone removes unseen blind spots, a truly seamless safety system is realized. As communication and visibility function in perfect coordination, Hyundai E&C’s 24-hour operations continue uninterrupted into the next phase of construction, even within spaces completely isolated from the outside world.

4:00 P.M.

24/7 Safety Management

“Drone Docking Station”: The Watcher in the Sky

As the day’s work draws to a close, Hyundai E&C’s site management continues uninterrupted, reviewing daily progress and planning for the next day. To overcome the physical limitations of managing vast civil engineering sites on foot, the company introduced an “unmanned patrol drone” system that effectively fills blind spots in traditional, manpower-based monitoring. At Hyundai E&C’s major civil works sites - including the 6.41 km underground construction of National Route 47 in Namyangju Wangsuk, as well as large-scale port and site development projects - autonomous drones conduct wide-area patrols over both land and sea. Once the manager sets the designated zones, the drones automatically determine the optimal flight paths and capture comprehensive site images without omission. The collected imagery is then processed into 3D digital twin models, supporting digital data-driven site management such as calculating work areas for key construction types and performing earthwork volume analyses.

At the heart of this automated monitoring system is the “drone docking station.” Without any human intervention, it takes off on schedule to capture site footage and automatically returns for rapid charging when the battery runs low before resuming the inspection of the remaining areas.

Upon the drone's return to the station, the captured video data is simultaneously converted into 2D maps and 3D digital twin models before being shared across the platform. This accumulated 3D data serves as the foundation for reviewing construction progress and managing resources, as well as for preemptively identifying potential on-site risk factors and establishing preventive measures. Based on the digitally realized virtual construction site, Hyundai E&C is preparing in advance for tomorrow’s safety and improved construction methods.

7:00 P.M.

A Technological Alliance Without Boundaries: 

For Safe and Intelligent Transport of Heavy Materials: “Smart Material Transport Robot”

As the day draws to a close and work briefly pauses, on-site logistics continue without interruption. The one seamlessly transporting heavy materials across the site after the workers have gone is the Smart Material Transport Robot. Jointly developed by Hyundai E&C and Samsung C&T, this robot employs SLAM* to autonomously chart optimal routes even in irregular or rugged environments. Equipped with a 3D camera, it accurately identifies the shape of the pallet with materials, autonomously loads the pallet, navigates to the designated location, and safely unloads them on its own. 

*Simultaneous Localization and Mapping: A core autonomous driving technology that enables robots to perceive their surroundings in real time through sensors, localize themselves, and create a map simultaneously

The entire process of detecting obstacles, flexibly adjusting routes, and transporting materials is connected in real time to the remote-control system. As a result, seamless and intelligent integrated control is possible even when multiple robots are operating simultaneously. Repetitive and simple transport tasks are handled by robots, allowing workers to focus on more intricate construction work. The system's effectiveness was already proven last June at the Hana Dream Town site in Cheongna, Incheon. Based on this successful demonstration, Hyundai E&C plans to gradually scale this intelligent robot’s activities across its major project sites.