Dr. Sowon Choi is a Research Professor at the Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Eco Materials Technology, POSTECH. Her research focuses on AI-enabled project management, engineering knowledge graphs, natural language processing, predictive maintenance, process optimization, and digital transformation for steel and plant engineering. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Plant System Engineering from POSTECH and a B.Com. in Marketing and International Business from the University of Auckland.

• B.Com., Marketing and International Business (Double Major), The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 2006.
• M.S., Plant System Engineering (Project Management), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea, 2015.
• Ph.D., Plant System Engineering (Project Management), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea, 2022.

• Assistant Manager, Education and Direct Retail Sales Team, Paris Croissant Co., Ltd., Apr. 2000–Apr. 2001
• Principal Researcher, Consulting Division, Korea Marketing & Distribution Consulting Co., Ltd., Oct. 2010–Feb. 2012
• Senior Researcher, Consulting Division, Korea Marketing & Distribution Consulting Co., Ltd., Mar. 2008–Sep. 2010
• General Manager, Research Planning Group, Taekyung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Sep. 2012–Mar. 2016
• Principal Researcher, Consulting Business Division, Korea PMI Consulting Group Co., Ltd., Aug. 2019–Mar. 2020
• Research Professor, Pohang Institute of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 2026.7 ~
• Principal Researcher, Pohang Institute of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 2022.9 - 2026.6

• SciProfiles: https://sciprofiles.com/profile/1015716
• Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7687-0534
• Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57226501136&origin=AuthorProfile

• Ontology 자율운항 피지컬 AI 모델 개발 및 활용 POSTECH Project Management Lab.

Intl. 2021

AI and Text-Mining Applications for Analyzing Contractor’s Risk in Invitation to Bid and Contracts for Engineering Procurement and Construction Projects Energies 14(15), 4632. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154632 Choi, Su Jin; Choi, So-Won; Kim, Jong-Hyun; and Lee, Eul-Bum

The Engineering Machine-Learning Automation Platform (EMAP): A Big-Data-Driven AI Tool for Contractors’ Sustainable Management Solutions for Plant Projects Sustainability 13(18), 10384. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810384 Choi, So-Won; Lee, Eul-Bum; and Kim, Jong-Hyun

Intl. 2022

Contractor’s Risk Analysis of Engineering Procurement and Construction Contracts Using Ontological Semantic Model and Bi-Long Short-Term Memory Technology Sustainability 14(11), 6938. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116938 Choi, So-Won and Lee, Eul-Bum

An AI-Based Automatic Risks Detection Solution for Plant Owner’s Technical Requirements in Equipment Purchase Order Sustainability 14(16), 10010. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610010 Kim, Chae-Yeon; Jeong, Jong-Gwan; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

Intl. 2023

Knowledge Retrieval Model Based on a Graph Database for Semantic Search in Equipment Purchase Order Specifications for Steel Plants Sustainability 15(7), 6319. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076319 Cha, Ho-Jin; Choi, So-Won; Lee, Eul-Bum; and Lee, Duk-Man

Machine Learning-Based Tap Temperature Prediction and Control for Optimized Power Consumption in Stainless Electric Arc Furnaces of Steel Plants Sustainability 15(8), 6393. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086393 Choi, So-Won; Seo, Bo-Guk; and Lee, Eul-Bum

Modeling of Predictive Maintenance Systems for Laser-Welders in Continuous Galvanizing Lines Based on Machine Learning with Welder Control Data Sustainability 15(9), 7676. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097676 Choi, Jin-Seong; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

A Prediction Model for Spot LNG Prices Based on Machine Learning Algorithms to Reduce Fluctuation Risks in Purchasing Prices Energies 16(11), 4271. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16114271 Yang, Sun-Feel; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

A Question-Answering Model Based on Knowledge Graphs for the General Provisions of Equipment Purchase Orders for Steel Plants Maintenance Electronics 12(11), 2504. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12112504 Lee, Sang-Hyuk; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

Prediction Modeling of Flue Gas Control for Combustion Efficiency Optimization for Steel Mill Power Plant Boilers Based on Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) Energies 16(19), 6907. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16196907 Lee, Sang-Mok; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

Intl. 2024

Development of Cycloid-Shaped Roll Charging Chute for Sintering Process for Energy Decarbonization and Productivity Improvement in Steel Plants Energies 17(7), 1536. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071536 Kwon, Woo-Hyeon; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

Auto-Routing Systems (ARSs) with 3D Piping for Sustainable Plant Projects Based on Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization of 2D Drawings and Specifications Sustainability 16(7), 2770. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072770 Kang, Dong-Han; Choi, So-Won; Lee, Eul-Bum; and Kang, Sung-O

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment During Simultaneous Operations in Industrial Plant Maintenance Based on Job Safety Analysis Sustainability 16(21), 9277. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219277 Kwon, Sung-Jin; Choi, So-Won; and Lee, Eul-Bum

Intl. 2025

ADS-LI: A Drone Image-based Segmentation Model for Sustainable Maintenance of Lightning Rods and Insulators in Steel Plant Power Infrastructure Sustainability Kim, Hyeong-Rok; Choi, So-Won;, Lee, ,Eul-Bum*; and Kim, Geon-Woo

Study on Energy Efficiency and Maintenance Optimization of Run-Out Table in Hot Rolling Mills Using Long Short-Term Memory-Autoencoders Energies Yun, Ju-Woong; Choi, So-Won; Lee, Eul-Bum*

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Approach to Optimizing Boiler Power Generation Efficiency: The Advanced Boiler Combustion Control Model Energies Lee, Kyu-Jeong; Choi, So-Won; Lee, Eul-Bum*

IP 2020

EPC 플랜트 및 엔지니어링 프로젝트의 의사 결정 지원을 위한 계약 리스크 추출 프로그램 산업용SW, 저작권 등록일: 20201030 최소원

IP 2025

Spot LNG 가격 예측 방법, 시스템 및 컴퓨터 프로그램 특허출원번호: 10-2025-0036355, 대한민국, 출원일:20250321 양선필, 이을범, 최소원

IP 2024

Natural language processing (NLP) 및 large language models (LLM) 기술을 이용한 설계 룰(Rule) 기반 엔지니어링 배관 설계 자동화 시스템 특허출원번호: 10-2024-0176753, 대한민국, 출원일: 20241202 양왕성, 이을범, 최소원, 강성오

IP 2023

지식 그래프 모델 생성 장치 및 방법 특허출원번호: 10-2023-0185195, 대한민국, 출원일: 20231218 차호진, 이을범, 최소원

IP 2021

클라우드 기반의 머신러닝 플랫폼과 사전정의 모델을 활용한 엔지니어링 데이터 관리 및 분석 장치 특허등록번호: 10-2315668-000, 대한민국, 등록일: 20211015 김종현, 권지수, 이을범, 최소원

Monograph 2022

Natural Language Processing-Based Automated Contract Risk Analysis and Development of the Engineering Machine-Learning Automation Platform (EMAP) for Plant Projects Ph.D. Dissertation, Plant System Engineering (Project Management), POSTECH, 2022 Choi, So-Won

2020

Best Presentation Award Winner - Sowon Choi, UKC 2020 - CEA Symposium

2022

Selected for the R&D Career Return Support Program for Women Scientists and Engineers, WISET

2009

해양플랜트 글로벌 허브 구축사업, 해외마케팅 — 지식경제부, 동남권 선도사업지원단, 2009–2012

2015

해양플랜트 산업의 국산화 확대를 위한 로컬 콘텐츠 전략 수립 연구 — 한국해양수산개발원, 2015

2015

고로 기반 제선 공정의 CO₂저감량 평가용 기초 모델 개발 — 산업통상부 / 주관기관: POSCO, 2015.12–2017.04

2016

철강 플랜트의 가상건설(Virtual Construction) 적용을 위한 기준 체계 수립 — POSCO, 2016.03–2017.02

2016

PB(Solution based Platform Business) 기술 상용화를 위한 대형 엔지니어링 프로세스 최적화 — POSCO, 2016.04–2017.04

2016

4D/5D BIM 기술을 활용한 가상시공 업무의 정착 및 확산을 위한 프로젝트 연구 — POSCO, 2016.12–2018.02

2017

해외 인프라 공정-원가 통합관리체계 EVMS(Earned Value Management System)의 고도화 및 구축 운영 지원 — 포스코E&C, 2017.01–2017.12

2017

플랜트 상세설계 단계의 지능형 통합관리 지원 시스템 개발 — 산업통상부 / 주관기관: 한국CMC, 2017.04–2019.12

2017

시스템 엔지니어링(SE) 개념 기반의 설계-구매 연계 구매엔지니어링 관리지원 시스템 개발 — 산업통상부 / 주관기관: 에스앤에스ENG, 2017.10–2019.12

2018

3D 스캐닝 및 모델링 업무 표준화를 통한 가상시공 최적화 및 시험 적용 — POSCO, 2018.03–2019.02

2018

AI 기반 엔지니어링 빅데이터 통합 분석 지원 시스템 개발 — 산업통상부 / 주관기관: 위세아이텍, 2018.09–2021.07

2021

발주자 설비사양서로부터 기술요구 사항을 자동 탐지하는 AI 기반 리스크 검출 모델 개발 — POSCO, 2021.03–2022.02

2022

철강플랜트 설비PO문서 기반 Knowledge Graph(KG) 개발 및 GP의 LD 금액 산출 AI 모델 개발 — POSCO홀딩스, 2022.05–2023.02

2022

탄소저감 모델과 연계된 AI 기반 3D 배관-케이블 경로 자동 설계 최적화 시스템 개발 — 산업통상부 / 주관기관: 도프텍, 2022.04–2024.12

2024

2전강 2ACL 소둔로의 내부 점검을 위한 무인이동형 점검시스템과 AI 기반 설비 이상 예측모델 개발 — POSCO, 2024.07–2025.06

2025

포스코 투자 완성도 및 경쟁력 제고를 위한 자문용역 연구보고서 — POSCO, 2025.04–2025.11

2025

화학 공정 위험성 예측·진단 AI 솔루션 개발 및 실증 — 과학기술정보통신부 / 주관기관: 스위트케이, 2025.05–2026.12

2026

자율운항선박 AI 데이터 플랫폼 기술개발

• LLM
• GraphRAG
• Knowledge Graph
• Ontology

2026

뿌리 업종 제조현장 사고 예측·예방을 위한 AI 제조 안전시스템 기술개발

• Job Safety Analysis (JSA)
• 뿌리산업

2013

Liquidated Damages on Oil & Gas EPC Contracts: Application to Offshore Projects — Offshore Plant Design Research Society Fall Symposium, 2013

2015

Local Content Requirements on Global Oil & Gas Projects: Impact on Offshore EPC Contractors and Its Strategies — Korean Society of Ocean Engineers Spring Symposium, 2015

2015

Local Content Requirements on Global Oil & Gas Projects — Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers Fall Symposium, 2015

2020

Lexicon-Based Natural Language Processing and Semantic Analysis of Contractual Risks on Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Projects — ICCIS 2020, Jaipur and Kota, India, Dec. 26–27, 2020

2021

Syntactic Analysis for Decision-Making Support System in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Field — ICCTA 2021, Vienna, Austria, Jul. 13–15, 2021

2021

An AI-Based Automatic Risks Detection Solution of Plant Owner’s Requirements in Equipment Purchasing Orders — UKC 2021, Los Angeles, USA, Dec. 15–18, 2021

2022

Automatic Detection and Comparison Technique for General Conditions of Technical Documents — ICCTA 2022, Vienna, Austria, May 12–14, 2022

2022

Predictive Maintenance for Turbofan Engines Based on Remaining Useful Life Analysis with Machine-Learning and Big-Data Applications — BDE 2022, Beijing, China, May 26–28, 2022

2022

Application of Big Data and Machine-Learning Technology to Mitigate Contractor’s Design Risks for EPC Projects — ICCEPM 2022, Las Vegas, USA, Jun. 20–23, 2022

2022

Table Recognition and Comparison Technology with AI in Technical Specifications for Equipment Purchasing Orders — UKC 2022, Washington, D.C., USA, Aug. 17–20, 2022

2023

Development of Digital Rules for Optimal Auto-Routing Design of Pipe — IALCCE 2023, Milan, Italy, Jul. 2–6, 2023

2023

Automated Estimation Model for Liquidated Damages in General Provisions of Equipment Purchasing Orders — UKC 2023, Dallas, USA, Aug. 2–5, 2023

2023

Knowledge Graph-Based Purchase Order Knowledge Retrieval Model for Steel Plants — ICCIS 2023, Chongqing, China, Oct. 20–22, 2023

2024

U-Net Architecture-Based Image Segmentation Model Development for Defect Detection in Hot Rolling Mill — CIGOS 2024, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Apr. 4–5, 2024

2024

A Delay Liquidated Damages Mitigation Model Based on Earned Schedule and Earned Value Management System Concepts — 41st ISARC, Lille, France, Jun. 3–5, 2024

2024

Development of Artificial Intelligence-Based Automatic Piping Route Design Technology for EPC Projects — UKC 2024, San Francisco, USA, Aug. 21–24, 2024

2024

Application of an Advanced Dijkstra Algorithm for Automation Systems of 3D Piping Routing — ICCIS 2024, Shenzhen, China, Oct. 18–20, 2024

2025

Hazard Identification Model for Concurrent Works in Steel Plant Maintenance Using Job Safety Analysis — ICCCBDA 2025, Chengdu, China, Apr. 25–27, 2025

2025

Development of a Combustion Pattern Optimization Model for Steam Power Plants Based on Random Forest Algorithm — UKC 2025, Atlanta, USA, Aug. 5–9, 2025

2025

Exhaust Gas Guidance Model to Enhance Combustion Efficiency for Power Plant Boilers Using Partial Least Squares Regression — ICPEA 2025, Shanghai, China, Oct. 23–25, 2025

2025

Engineering Optimization of Boiler and Evaporative Cooling Waste Heat Recovery Systems for Steel Mill in Reheating Furnaces — ELECS 2025, Athens, Greece, Dec. 21–23, 2025

2020

The 33rd US-Korea Conference (UKC) 2020

• Best Presentation Award Winner - CEA, Sowon Choi
• Paper number: U20CEA-14-1
• An Al-based Automatic Risks Detection Solution of Plant Owner's Requirements in Equipment Purchasing-Order