The International Elevator & Escalator Expo 2012 was held in Guangzhou, China, last month from the 16th to the 19th, and the International Elevator Safety Conference 2012 was held in parallel on the 16th and 17th.

At the conference, 'Korea's Elevator Information System', presented by Kim Yong-yi, Safety Improvement Division, Ministry of the Interior and Safety of Korea, attracted great attention. In particular, the presentation was aimed at Chinese elevator system representatives from the China Elevator Association and the Special Equipment Safety Inspection Bureau, and is expected to lead to in-depth discussions on the introduction of Korea's elevator information system in China.

"This is the second time we have organized the event to consider the introduction of an elevator information system that combines elevators and IT at the national level, following the presentation to a visiting Russian delegation in February," Kim Yong-i told this publication. "We will raise Korea's awareness and status through such exchanges between countries."

Currently, China is a huge market with 300,000 new elevators installed annually. Therefore, safety, maintenance, and management cannot be neglected. In response, the elevator information system attaches a unique license plate with a QR code to each elevator and systematically manages elevator location and history information to provide customized services for each user group, such as manufacturers, maintenance companies, and inspection agencies.

In addition, the system is attracting attention as an excellent system that reflects the latest technology trends while enhancing elevator safety, as it uses accumulated data to generate information on elevator failures and accident predictions and realizes mobile-based, field-centered smart work.

"The system, which began construction in Korea last year, systematically manages the entire process from installation to disposal for elevators in public facilities used by the public and provides services to enhance elevator safety," said Kim Yong-i. "In particular, it can shorten rescue time by providing rescue information such as location in the event of a trapped elevator accident, and prevent property loss due to forced opening of the door."

In addition, the computerization of self-checklists can strengthen the responsibility of installation and maintenance companies by providing a scientific and efficient maintenance foundation, such as analyzing the replacement cycle of major parts such as motors and ropes and providing mobile services, and can easily identify unauthorized elevators used without permission or illegal elevators operating beyond the expiration date. In addition, in the event of a malfunction, risk prediction information can be provided to sites in similar environments to create a preemptive disaster response system.

Therefore, we plan to introduce the elevator information system not only to China but also to Japan and Southeast Asia, laying the foundation for Asia to lead the global elevator market in the future. "More than half of the world's 100 tallest skyscrapers are located in Asia," said Kim Yong-yi, the minister, predicting that the Asia-Pacific region, centered on Korea, China, and Japan, will dominate the global elevator market.

The first step in introducing an elevator information system is to build basic data such as elevator installation status and accident statistics. After that, the company will take a step-by-step approach by combining the management system with IT and introducing the elevator information system. "Currently, there is a lack of basic data for each of the 31 provinces in China compared to the huge number of elevators," said Kim Yong-yi, the ministry's chief of staff. "Through the elevator information system, we will build data within the boundaries of the law and make it big data in the form of a cloud so that it can become a systematic elevator management." "The final goal is to protect elevator users," he added.

The elevator information system made its debut at the Elevator Safety Day event in October last year, and in November, the first elevator license plate was attached to the Kyobo Building on Gwanghwamun-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul. As of the end of April 2012, about 35% (160,000) of the nation's 450,000 elevators have been equipped with elevator license plates, and 100% of elevator license plates will be installed by the end of November to expand the service network nationwide starting in December. To improve the mobile phone call rate in elevators, the ministry plans to complete about 90% of the installation by next year, starting from September, when telecommunications companies will develop a public repeater to reduce investment costs.

Going forward, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to prevent confusion and improve utilization by promoting the system and maximizing its effectiveness, such as the website, center phone number, and the use of elevator license plates during the installation of the plates nationwide. In addition, it plans to inform the world about the elevator information system through international conferences and exhibitions to support the overseas expansion of Korea's representative brand, e-government, and exchange elevator information. Meanwhile, representatives from the China Elevator Association are planning to visit Korea next month to discuss and review the overall aspects of the elevator information system system.