• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.6_2
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• pp.1881-1890
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• 2021

Particulate matter (PM) affects the human, ecosystems, and weather. Motorized vehicles and combustion generate fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which can contain toxic substances and, therefore, requires systematic management. Consequently, it is important to monitor and predict PM_2.5 concentrations, especially in large cities with dense populations and infrastructures. This study aimed to predict PM_2.5 concentrations in large cities using meteorological and chemical variables as well as satellite-based aerosol optical depth. For PM_2.5 concentrations prediction, a random forest (RF) model showing excellent performance in PM concentrations prediction among machine learning models was selected. Based on the performance indicators R², RMSE, MAE, and MAPE with training accuracies of 0.97, 3.09, 2.18, and 13.31 and testing accuracies of 0.82, 6.03, 4.36, and 25.79 for R², RMSE, MAE, and MAPE, respectively. The variables used in this study showed high correlation to PM_2.5 concentrations. Therefore, we conclude that these variables can be used in a random forest model to generate reliable PM_2.5 concentrations predictions, which can then be used to assess the vulnerability of schools to PM_2.5.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2021

In surface image velocimetry, a wide area of a river is photographed at an angle to measure its velocity, inevitably causing image distortion. Although a distorted image can be corrected into an orthogonal image by using 2D projective coordinate transformation and considering reference points on the same plane as the water surface, this method is limited by the uncertainty of changes in the water level in the event of a flood. Therefore, in this study, we developed a tilt image correction technique that corrects distortions in oblique images without resetting the reference points while coping with changes in the water level using the geometric relationship between the coordinates of the reference points set at a high position the camera, and the vertical distance between the water surface and the camera. Furthermore, we developed a distortion correction method to verify the corrected image, wherein we conducted a full-scale river experiment to verify the reference point transformation equation and measure the surface velocity. Based on the verification results, the proposed tilt image correction method was found to be over 97% accurate, whereas the experiment result of the surface velocity differed by approximately 4% as compared to the results calculated using the proposed method, thereby indicating high accuracy. Application of the proposed method to an image-based fixed automatic discharge measurement system can improve the accuracy of discharge measurement in the event of a flood when the water level changes rapidly.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.302-307
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• 2018

From 2014 to 2016, approximately 5% of okra fruit were observed displaying gray mold symptoms at the research field of Jeollabuk-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Korea. The symptoms observed were water-soaked, brown or gray spots, and abundant mycelial with conidia appearing on the infected fruit. Initial infection commenced from the base of fruit and gradually moved to the pod, where it finally resulted in collapse. Colonies on potato dextrose agar were gray to grayish brown, felted and cottony expanding 65-80 mm after one week. The fungus formed several black sclerotia ranging $1.0-3.5{\times}0.5-3.0mm$ on the Petri dish after two weeks. The conidia were one-celled, ellipsoidal or ovoid, colorless or pale brown, and $6.2-15.4{\times}5.0-10.4{\mu}m$. Conidiophores arose solitary or in groups, straight or flexuous, septate, with an inflated basal cell brown to light brown, and measured $85-450{\times}10.0-40.0{\mu}m$. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer rDNA, the fungus was identified as Botrytis cinerea Pers. Pathogenicity of a representative isolate was proved by artificial inoculation, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of B. cinerea on okra in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.762-768
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• 2019

Doellingeria scabra Thunb. (syn. Aster scaber Thunb.), a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, is frequently found in the wild mountain regions of Korea. This aim of this work was to measure the characteristics of patchiness of D. scabra in a local population on Mt. Maebong in Taeback-ci, Gangwon-do. The spatial distribution pattern of this species was estimated by analyzing ecological data by methods including the index of dispersion, Lloyd's mean crowding, and Morisita's index. The mean population density of the D. scabra population was 2.94. The D. scabra individuals were uniformly or randomly distributed in small-scale plots and were aggregately distributed in two large-scale plots ($16{\times}32m^2$ and $32{\times}32m^2$). The mean crowding ($M^*$) was 0.916. The mean patchiness index (PAI) was 0.796. Morisita's coefficient tended to decrease the density of the population as the plot size increased. The expected value of Eberhardt's index ($I_E$) in the local population was 2.623. Moran's I of D. scabra significantly differed from the expected value in 6 of 8 cases (75.0%). The first five classes were positive, with four showing statistical significance, indicating similarity among individuals in the first four distance classes (I-IV, 8 m), The results presented here could provide a theoretical basis for the conservation of D. scabra (Korean: chamchwi) and for the rehabilitation and sustainable management of forest ecosystems on Mt. Maebong, as well as on other mountains.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2019

Eutrophication has occurred due to the inflow of various water pollutants in many Korean reservoirs with low depth, and algal blooms of surface layer and low oxygenation of deep layer have repeated every year. There are several existing technologies to alleviate the stratification of reservoirs, but it is difficult to apply them in field sites due to the necessity of electric power and low economic efficiency. In this study, a non-powered water circulation system using natural energy of wind and water flow has been developed, and two test-beds constructed in the reservoirs with different conditions and examined its field applicability. Through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, it has been shown that the water circulation system could induce the downward flow to mitigate the stratification between surface and deep layers, and its influence radius could reach about 30 m. As a result of long-term monitoring of the test-beds, various water quality improvement effects have been observed such as moderation of DO fluctuation by water circulation, reduction of DO supersaturation and prevention of excessive pH rising. In order to improve the applicability of the water circulation system, it is considered necessary to review countermeasures against flood and depth conditions of each reservoir.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.408-421
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• 2019

This study estimated and analyzed the incremental profits to compare the imported buff-tailed bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, and their pollination alternatives. A result of the analysis showed that the incremental profit, which is defined as the sales revenue minus the common production cost, was higher when using pollinator insects than when using the artificial pollination and that the incremental costs were lower when using domestic bumblebees or artificial pollination than when using imported bumblebees or honeybees. The incremental profits of each alternative were 46,801 million won for imported bumblebees, 47,170 million won for domestic bumblebees, 46,975 million won for honeybees, and 29,839 million won for artificial pollination. The incremental profit means the accounting profit that can be realized from each alternative. However, not all of the accounting profits can be attributed to pollen-mediated alternatives since they include potential costs such as imputed rent or normal profits. Considering the opportunity costs, which are the potential costs, it appears that the alternative of using imported bumblebees can lead to an economic loss. It means that fruit and vegetable farmers can expect additional economic profits if they choose other alternatives instead of using imported bumblebees.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.541-552
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• 2018

The implementation of drought measures in the upstream areas of river basins is seldom considered with respect to water supply. However, the demand for such measures is increasing rapidly owing to the occurrence of severe droughts, and interventions on streams and the water supply are needed. Physical interventions are an option to prevent streams from becoming dry and to maintain stream water flow, but dam construction is challenging because of environmental and ecological considerations. Here, a feasibility study was conducted to assess the potential effects of sand dams, which are widely used in arid regions in Africa. The SWAT-K model, which is a hydrologic model used for Korean watersheds, is used to estimate the flow rate of water in an ungauged watershed. The changes in water storage of the sand-dammed reservoir and in downstream flow rates are estimated for two types of sand dam (natural and dredged). The results show that sand dams are capable of increasing the downstream flow rate during normal conditions and of mitigating water supply problems caused by the withdrawal of water during drought periods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2019

One of the most serious problems with concrete small dams or barriers installed in small/median rivers is the deposit of sediments, especially, in Korea. An effective way to discharge such sediments to downstream is to construct a bypass pipe under the river bed. However, efficiency may become lowered if ripraps are entered into the bypass pipe. Therefore, in this study, we derived the threshold condition for the exclusion of ripraps from the bypass pipe using 3D numerical analysis. Upstream flow of the small dam was assumed to be stationary, and the energy concept was applied to the control volume containing the bypass pipe and its periphery. As a result, when the ratio of the water level difference between upstream and downstream to the diameter of the riprap was approximately equal to 1.2, the threshold condition for exclusion of the stones or riprap from the bypass pipe was affirmatively determined. If the characteristics of the adsorptive sediment adversely affecting the river environment in the future would be taken into account, results from this study are expected to put to practical use in the management of concrete small dam with bypass pipe system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.4
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• pp.461-467
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to utilize Kozak's stem taper model to develop both a stem taper equation and a stem volume table for Criptomeria japonica, a tree species distributed across Korea. A total of 1,000 sample trees were cut and collected across the country to measure their diameters by stem height. The equation was then used to estimate examine their stem shapes. Our results show that the Fitness Index for the equation was 98.7%, the Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) was -0.0142, and the MAD was 1.1640, thus indicating a high level of fitness. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was also found from the analysis of discrepancies between a current table and the new table used in this study. It is therefore suggested that the new table-with data from actual stands-will contribute to enhancing the accuracy of national and municipal forest statistics and reducing losses caused by imprecise data on available forest resources.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.106-118
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• 2021

Global governments and initiatives have attempted and integrated various organizational efforts to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), presenting a new paradigm of sustainable development to address global issues (climate change, poverty eradication, and human rights). Recently, investment in sustainable finance has expanded to finance the attainment of goals set out in the Paris Agreement and SDGs. Non-financial factors such as environment, social responsibility, and governance (ESG) have become intangible assets that determine the future competitiveness and profitability of companies. Domestic and foreign institutional investors and asset management companies have been expanding their investments based on the ESG performance of companies. In this study, we aim to derive international standards and initiatives that require disclosure of information on corporate social responsibility activities and ESG performance and analyze construction companies' ESG activities and performance levels. The results of this study can be used as the basis to develop platforms for the construction industry ESG ecosystem and the measurement and management of intangible assets. These could ultimately contribute to overcoming the crisis in the future due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering net-zero emissions, and preventing fatal workplace accidents in the construction industry.