• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2019

With an increasing demand of timber production, the use of heavy machinery in forest management has significantly increased, causing the changes of soil physical properties and the decline of long-term site productivity. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of logging slash (non-slash, slash $7.3kg/m^2$, and slash $11.5kg/m^2$) and machine passes(harvester 1 pass and forwarder 1 to 10 passes) on soil physical properties at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths in harvester and forwarder operations and also to estimate the degree of soil surface disturbance. The results indicated that soil bulk density in the non-slash treatment site increased 10 %~29 % (25~139 % in soil penetration resistance) at all soil depths, compared with the slash treatment site(slash $11.5kg/m^2$). Therefore, the creation of a slash mat could be an effective way to minimize the changes of soil physical properties. In addition, 92 % of total soil compaction in slash treatment site was created within harvester 1 pass and forwarder 5 passes. In non-slash treatment site, 84 % of total soil compaction was created within first harvester and forwarder passes. The results showed that slash treatment was effective to reduce soil compaction caused by machine passes and also it is necessary to create designed forwarding trails for minimizing soil compaction area at timber harvesting sites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.142-142
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• 2017

본 연구에서는 파프리카를 자동 수확하기 위한 시스템 개발의 일환으로 파프리카 재배환경에서 획득한 영상 내에 존재하는 파프리카 영역과 비 파프리카 영역의 RGB 정보를 입력으로 하는 인공신경망을 설계하고 학습을 수행하고자 하였다. 학습된 신경망을 이용하여 영상 내 파프리카 영역과 비 파프리카 영역의 구분이 가능 할 것으로 사료된다. 심층 신경망을 설계하기 위하여 MS Visual studio 2015의 C++, MFC와 Python 및 TensorFlow를 사용하였다. 먼저, 심층 신경망은 입력층과 출력층, 그리고 은닉층 8개를 가지는 형태로 입력 뉴런 3개, 출력 뉴런 4개, 각 은닉층의 뉴런은 5개로 설계하였다. 일반적으로 심층 신경망에서는 은닉층이 깊을수록 적은 입력으로 좋은 학습 결과를 기대 할 수 있지만 소요되는 시간이 길고 오버 피팅이 일어날 가능성이 높아진다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 소요시간을 줄이기 위하여 Xavier 초기화를 사용하였으며, 오버 피팅을 줄이기 위하여 ReLU 함수를 활성화 함수로 사용하였다. 파프리카 재배환경에서 획득한 영상에서 파프리카 영역과 비 파프리카 영역의 RGB 정보를 추출하여 학습의 입력으로 하고 기대 출력으로 붉은색 파프리카의 경우 [0 0 1], 노란색 파프리카의 경우 [0 1 0], 비 파프리카 영역의 경우 [1 0 0]으로 하는 형태로 3538개의 학습 셋을 만들었다. 학습 후 학습 결과를 평가하기 위하여 30개의 테스트 셋을 사용하였다. 학습 셋을 이용하여 학습을 수행하기 위해 학습률을 변경하면서 학습 결과를 확인하였다. 학습률을 0.01 이상으로 설정한 경우 학습이 이루어지지 않았다. 이는 학습률에 의해 결정되는 가중치의 변화량이 너무 커서 비용 함수의 결과가 0에 수렴하지 않고 발산하는 경향에 의한 것으로 사료된다. 학습률을 0.005, 0.001로 설정 한 경우 학습에 성공하였다. 학습률 0.005의 경우 학습 횟수 3146회, 소요시간 20.48초, 학습 정확도 99.77%, 테스트 정확도 100%였으며, 학습률 0.001의 경우 학습 횟수 38931회, 소요시간 181.39초, 학습 정확도 99.95%, 테스트 정확도 100%였다. 학습률이 작을수록 더욱 정확한 학습이 가능하지만 소요되는 시간이 크고 국부 최소점에 빠질 확률이 높았다. 학습률이 큰 경우 학습 소요 시간이 줄어드는 반면 학습 과정에서 비용이 발산하여 학습이 이루어지지 않는 경우가 많음을 확인 하였다.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1994

135 and 136 pine cones were sampled from age class of II to VI Korean pine trees for the study of their physical properties in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The length, width, weight, volume, and the largest projected area of cones were measured, and the specific gravity, apparent volume ratio sphericity, and roundness were calculated. Regression analysis were performed for the weight, volume, and projected area to the cone length and width. The length, and major and minor diameters of the cone stalks were measured and analyzed. 1. The range of the length of cone stalks was 0 to 47.3mm. The average length of stalks were 9mm ('91) and 10mm('92), respectively. Cross section of the stalks was ellipse with average major and minor diameters of 9.1mm and 10.1mm, and 8.6 and 8.7mm in 91 and 92, respectively. 2. The length of pine cones distributed from 8cm to 17cm and the average length were about 13cm('91, '92). The width varied from 5cm to 9.5cm and the average width were 6.7cm('91) and 6.9cm('92). The ratios of the length to the width were 0.56('91) and 0.65('91) and the shape of the cones were found to be ellipse with minor diameter of 1/2 to 2/3 of the major diameter. 3. The roundnesses and sphericity of cones were 0.74 and 0.75('91), 0.63 and 0.67('92), respectively. The average of the largest projected area of cones were $85.3cm^2$('91) and $93.1cm^2$('92) and the criterion areas were $71.0cm^2$ and $74.5cm^2$, respectively. 4. Cone weights were from 83g to 467g('91 and '92) and averages were 186g('91) and 220g('92). The average specific gravities were 0.89 and 0.96('91 and '92). The true volumes were $212cm^2$('91) and $230cm^2$('92), and the average bulk volume was $321cm^2$('91, '92). The average apparent volume ratios of cones were 35% ('91) and 28% ('92), respectively. 5. The weight and the volume were proportional to the length of the cone multiplied by the width squred and the largest projected area was proportional to the length multiplied by the width of cones.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.278-283
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• 1984

Shearing characteristics of cornstalks were investigated under quasi-static conditions at various knife approach angles and shear angles in order to determine their importance to the cutting action of mowers. Corn variety used in this study was pioneer that was grown in the field of Chungnam National University. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The shearing process had two shearing stages in cornstalks, which was different from those of rice and other forage crops due to the hard crust. 2. Force and energy of shear were decreased progresively with height of the cornstalks. 3. The minimum shear force occured at shear angle of about $60^{\circ}$ and approach angle of about $10^{\circ}$ 4. The condition of minimum shear energy coincides with that of minimum shear force. 5. Effects of knife approach angles were more significant than those of shear angle for force and energy of shear.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.569-575
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• 1982

Mechanical properties of rice plants were tested to determine compressive force, bending force, tensile force and shear force for improvement of harvesting machines and for efficient utilization of rice culm during the proper harvesting period. Rice varieties used in this study were two Japonica varieties with Irri 348 and Jinju, and two $Indica{\times}Japonica$ hybrids with Seogwang and Taebaeg, which were grown in the standard fertilization field of Chungnam Rural Development Office. Also Jinju and Taebaeg were tested to elucidate the shearing characteristics which included shear force-strain relationship, shear force and shear energy according to the position from the ground level, the shearing angle to the rice culm, and the moisture content. 1. Compressive force, bending force, tensile force and shear force were higher In Japonica varieties than $Indica{\times}Japonica$ hybrids. 2. Shear force to overall culm length decreased progressively to upper positions in Jinju variety but a constant shear force was approximately showed between the ground level and the position of 21cm in Taebaeg variety. 3. Shear force and shear energy increased with increase of the cross sectional area, and the rates of increase were high in general up to the cross sectional area of $10mm^2$ and then they became dull very much. 4. Shear force and shear energy decreased with decrease of moisture content of rice culm after cutting up to the moisture content of 60% (w. b.) and then they did not change significantly.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.511-516
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• 2003

Computer vision technology has been utilized as one of the most powerful tools to automate various agricultural operations. Though it has demonstrated successful results in various applications, the current status of technology is still for behind the human's capability typically for the unstructured and variable task environment. In this paper, a man-machine interactive hybrid decision-making system which utilized a concept of tole-operation was proposed to overcome limitations of computer image processing and cognitive capability. Tasks of greenhouse watermelon cultivation such as pruning, watering, pesticide application, and harvest require identification of target object. Identifying water-melons including position data from the field image is very difficult because of the ambiguity among stems, leaves, shades. and fruits, especially when watermelon is covered partly by leaves or stems. Watermelon identification from the cultivation field image transmitted by wireless was selected to realize the proposed concept. The system was designed such that operator(farmer), computer, and machinery share their roles utilizing their maximum merits to accomplish given tasks successfully. And the developed system was composed of the image monitoring and task control module, wireless remote image acquisition and data transmission module, and man-machine interface module. Once task was selected from the task control and monitoring module, the analog signal of the color image of the field was captured and transmitted to the host computer using R.F. module by wireless. Operator communicated with computer through touch screen interface. And then a sequence of algorithms to identify the location and size of the watermelon was performed based on the local image processing. And the system showed practical and feasible way of automation for the volatile bio-production process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2014

This study was conducted to provide field-based harvesting study information which can be used to select an optimal cable system for certain work conditions on steep grounds (> $20^{\circ}$ ground slope) in Korea. To accomplish this study objectives, we evaluated three cable yarding systems (RME-300T tower-yarder, Chuncheon tower-yarder, FARMI tractor winch) working in typical work conditions for their yarding productivity and operational efficiency. Those yarders are commonly used for removing logs or trees on steep grounds in Korea. Under the same work conditions (average DBH of tree to be cut, 20 cm; yarding distance, 60 m; lateral yarding distance, 10 m; and machine utilization rate, 70%), the average productivities were $33.04m^3$/day, $38.47m^3$/day, and $14.17m^3$/day for RME-300T, Chuncheon tower-yarder, and FARMI, respectively. Our standardized cost comparison study also showed that the yarding cost was highest at $37,835won/m^3$ with FARMI, followed by RME-300T at $25,105won/m^3$ for the same work conditions. We found the lowest yarding cost with the Chuncheon tower-yarder at $20,520won/m^3$ which was resulted primarily from high yarding productivity at the yarding distance (60 m). Our analysis suggested that a small machine such as FARMI could be a low-cost yarding machine option for a cable yarding job with a short yarding distance (40 m or less). The Chuncheon tower-yarder is well suited for a mid-range yarding distance job in Korea, ranged between 40 to 140 m. If yarding distance were longer than 140 m, the RME-300T tower yarder appears to be most cost-effective.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 1998

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of chemical and mechanical treatment at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of autumn oat (Avena sativa L.). The chemical drying agent/mower conditioner ($K_2CO_3$ 2%, conditioning, $K_2CO_3$ 2% + conditioning and control) were treated at different harvest stages (late boot, heading and bloom stage) for hastening hay manufacture in the autumn of 1996. After field dry, square bales were made by hay baler, and the dry matter(DM) loss and visual estimation of oat hay were evaluated after storing two months. In general, the field drying rate of oat was slow, regardless of harvest stage. Mechanical and chemical + mechanical treatment were effective, but the effectiveness of chemical alone was very low. With mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 2 days compared with control. The DM loss of hay was higher at boot stage(51.4%) than at heading stage (21.1%), and the DM loss was reduced by mechanical and chemical + mechanical combined treatment. The visual score (leafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay after storing was high in mechanical and chemical + mechanical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. The nutritive value (ADF, NDF, digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical and chemical + mechanical, but the quality by chemical alone was similar compared with control. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of autumn oat, but the drying efficiency of the chemical drying agent was very low. However, it is suggested that hay-making of oat in autumn is very hard though using mower conditioner.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.4
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• pp.583-592
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the operational time and productivity of logging operation by chain saw, yarder attached on tractor, tower-yarder, mini-truck, mini-forwarder, and chipping operations by mini-chipper, large-chipper in order to develop the efficient logging operation system for utilization of forest-biomass. As a result, the average felling and bucking time using chain saw at the site 1 and 2 was observed to be 182.7 sec/cycle and 518.5 sec/cycle respectively. The average yarding time was 202.5 sec/cycle using yarder attached on tractor and 295.1 sec/cycle using tower-yarder. The average forwarding time was 2,073 sec/cycle using mini-truck and 2,248.4 sec/cycle using mini-forwarder. The operational time of felling and bucking using chain-saw can be delayed according to the direction of fallen trees. The selection of felling direction is very important to yarding operation because the direction between width-yarding and felling are interrelated. Productivity can be improved through educating and training operators in the yarding operations. Mini-forwarder is needed to use because of higher productivity and lower cost than mini-truck. The operational productivity of felling and bucking by chain saw was $66.96m^3/man{\cdot}day$ and $43.86m^3/man{\cdot}day$ at site 1 and 2 respectively. The yarding productivity was $5.68m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by yarder attached on tractor, $10.74m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by tower-yarder. The forwarding productivity was $21.29m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by mini-truck, $28.57m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by mini-forwarder. The chipping productivity was $4.42m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by mini-chipper, $21.87m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by large-chipper.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.30 no.1 s.108
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• pp.45-55
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• 2005

Knowledge of the relationship between crop yield and yield-limiting factors is essential for precision farming. However, developing this knowledge is not easy because these yield-limiting factors are interrelated and affect crop yield in different ways. In this study, data for grain yield and yield-limiting factors, including crop chlorophyll content, soil chemical properties, and topography were collected for a small (0.3 ha) rice paddy field in Korea and a large (36 ha) upland corn field in the USA, and relationships were investigated with path analysis. Using this approach, the effects of limiting factors on crop yield could be separated into direct effects and indirect effects acting through other factors. Path analysis provided more insight into these complex relationships than did simple correlation or multiple linear regression analysis. Results of correlation analysis for the rice paddy field showed that EC, Ca, and $SiO_2$ had significant (P<0.1) correlations with rice yield, while pH, Ca, Mg, Na, $SiO_2,\;and\;P_2O_5$ had significant correlations with the SPAD chlorophyll reading. Path analysis provided additional information about the importance and contribution paths of soil variables to rice yield and growth. Ca had the highest direct effect (0.52) and indirect effect via Mg (-0.37) on rice yield. The indirect effect of Mg through Ca (0.51) was higher than the direct effect (-0.38). Path analysis also enabled more appropriate selection of important factors limiting crop yield by considering cause-and-effect relationships among predictor and response variables. For example, although pH showed a positive correlation (r=0.35) with SPAD readings, the correlation was mainly due to the indirect positive effects acting through Mg and $SiO_2$, while pH not only showed negative direct effects, but also negatively impacted indirect effects of other variables on SPAD readings. For the large upland Missouri corn field, two topographic factors, elevation and slope, had significant (P<0.1) direct effects on yield and highly significant (P<0.01) correlations with other limiting factors. Based on the correlation analysis alone, P and K were determined to be nutrients that would increase corn yield for this field. With the help of path analysis, however, increases in Mg could also be expected to increase corn yield in this case. In general, path analysis results were consistent with published optimum ranges of nutrients for rice and com production. We conclude that path analysis can be a useful tool to investigate interrelationships between crop yield and yield limiting factors on a site-specific basis.