• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2012

Litterfall dynamics in forests are assessed by estimating biomass production and decomposition. However, there have been few studies on how litter dynamics impact the health and management of ecosystems. Here, a new approach to measure and assess ecosystem function is presented based on conventional methods using littertraps, litterbags, and the mass on the forest floor. To assess the status of litter dynamics, the decay rate (k) was estimated from a litterbag experiment, and removal rates ($k_i$) were determined from mass balance on the forest floor at 21 sites on three mountains in South Korea. The $k_3$ (organic mass ratio of $O_i$ and $O_e+O_a$ + A horizons in November) values in an equilibrium state in South Korea were within the range of $k{\pm}0.174$ when considering the annual variation of litterfall production. This study also suggests that sampling sites for these types of studies should be in the middle, not at the ends, of steady slopes on the forest floor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.115-120
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• 1997

Environmental Product Life Cycle Management is an activity for defining and describing the product, process or activity environmentally. Especially, the main responsibility for the environmental impact of products lies in the design phase of product. Designers cany a heavy responsibility to determine technical, economic and ecological properties of the product. So in order to help designers, structured understanding and application of treating large amount of data and infonnation should be considered. This paper presents a methodological approach for decision supporting to build Product Life Cycle Management system and show a set of database modeling. Additionally, a key issue for databases is the quality of the provided information.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to measure the environmental effects of different alternative building materials. The following building materials were tested: clay bricks, cement wall, and red-clay plaster. Four mock-up models were constructed using clay bricks, cement wall, red-clay plaster and the last model as the control model. The effects of the above four building materials on temperature, humidity, the emissions of formaldehyde, and V.O.C were measured. This experiment was conducted during September. The conclusions are as follows. Clay bricks were able to control temperature, humidity and filter formaldehyde by itself. The environment within the cement wall was not affected by the humidity changes outside. Red-clay plaster walls had little impact on the environment because it is very thin.!

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2016

Major objectives of the study were to analyze chemical and biological influences of the river ecosystem on the artificial weir construction at three regions of Sejong-Weir (S_j-W), Gongju-Weir (G_j-W), and Baekje-Weir (B_j-W) during 2008-2012. After the weir construction, the discharge volume increased up to 2.9 times, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) and electrical conductivity (EC) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Also, the decrease of total phosphorus (TP) was also evident after the weir construction, but still hyper-eutrophic conditions, based on criteria by , were maintained. Multi-metric model of Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) showed that IBI values averaged 21.0 (range: 20-22; fair condition) in the B_wc, and 14.3 (range: 12-18; poor condition) in the A_wc. The model values of IBI in S_j-W and G_j-W were significantly decreased after the weir construction. The model of Self-Organizing Map (SOM) showed that two groups (cluster I and cluster II) of B_wc and A_wc were divided in the analysis based on the clustering map trained by the SOM. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was similar to the results of the SOM analysis. Taken together, this research suggests that the weir construction on the river modified the discharge volume and the physical habitat structures along with distinct changes of some chemical water quality. These physical and chemical factors influenced the ecosystem health, measured as a model value of IBI.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.745-756
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• 2023

Growing stringent global regulations in Korea poses a threat to corporate sustainability. Companies must respond strategically to navigate these regulations and avoid greenwashing. Objective of this research was to analyze how Korean companies are responding to the global trend of reducing plastic use and propose improved management strategies. Seven indicators were developed to assess companies' post-plastic strategies and applied to analyze the sustainability reports of Amore Pacific and LG Household & HealthCare. These indicators included, 1) disclosure of plastic raw materials used by weight or volume, 2) disclosure of recycled plastic raw materials used by weight or volume, 3) disclosure of waste recycling, reuse amounts, and disposal using waste treatment method 4) strategies to reduce environmental impact of plastics, 5) plastic packaging, reduce, recycle, reuse, and composting (in the real environment), 6) plastic management roadmap for the circular economy, and 7) education for sustainable plastic management. Based on the review of considered companies, we propose in-listed sustainable plastics management strategies: disclosing the ratio of plastic raw materials and recycled raw materials for all products, considering recycling rate throughout the product value chain, and not only for the production phase, reviewing carbon dioxide emissions based on life cycle assessment rather than reducing plastic consumption, studying the biodegradability of biodegradable plastics in natural environment such as soil, considering the consumer's perspective.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.251-270
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to offer the basic data and method for assessing the naturaliness of temple environment by applying the ecological index of plant to quantitatively and objectively assess the flora and to understand the flora distributed in major temple forest. The ecological index of plant was based in the surveyed flora. The whole flora were summarized as 535 taxa including 103 families, 310 genera, 426 species, 5 subspecies, 82 varieties and 22 forms. And, the numbers of taxa in the Beopheungsa were 267 taxa, 314 taxa of the Daeseungsa and 296 taxa of the Seongjusa. The rare plants were 9 taxa including Aristolochia contorta, Viola albida, Arisaema heterophyllumand so forth, and the Korean endemic plants were 11 taxa including Clematis trichotoma, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Vicia chosenensis and so forth. The specific plants by floristic region were 51 taxa including Wistaria floribunda, Celtis aurantiaca, Angelica gigas and so forth, and the pteridophyta were 26 taxa including Osmunda japonica, Polystichum braunii, Onoclea orientalis and so forth. The naturalized plants were 35 taxa including Fallopia dumetorum, Conyza canadensis, Xanthium strumarium and so forth, the invasive alien plants were 3 taxa including Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aster pilosus and Eupatorium rugosum. In the results of analysing the ecological index of plant in whole temple forests, RI(Rare Index) was 1.7%, 2.1% of EI(Endemic Index), 9.5% of SI(Specific Index), 1.2 of PI(Pteridophyta Index) and 6.5% of NI(Naturalized Index) in narrow sense. In broad sense, FI(Flora Index) was 11.0%, 1.5% of RI, 3.4% of EI, 4.8% of SI, 10.1% of PI, 10.9% of UI(Urbanized Index) and 25.0% of DI(Disturbed Index). The FI of the Daeseungsa was the highest among the three temple forests. In narrow sense, the RI, SI, NI and DI of the Beopheungsa was high, the seongjusa was higher the EI and SI. In broad sense, the RI and SI of the Beopheungsa, the EI, SI and PI of the Seongjusa, the UI is high in the Daeseungsa. In future, if we will analyze ecological index of plant in other temple forests, we will offer the help to establishing the plan of conservation and restoration on ecosystem in whole temple forests.Environmental Specimen Banks (ESBs) are playing pivotal role in monitoring the effect of environmental pollution on the ecosystem based on the retrospective analysis of the representative samples collected regularly and stored in cryogenic condition.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.200-207
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• 2019

The movement distance and home range size of Pelophylax chosenicus were identified in the rice paddy and ecological park as alternative habitats from July to November 2017. A total of 39 frogs were tracked by radio tracking method. As a result, the average move distance in the population of rice paddy was 11.7 ± 1.9 m (n = 64) and the population of ecological park was 24.7 ± 4.3 m (n = 39). The move distance between the two populations was significantly different. The mean MCP of the population of rice paddy was 181.2 ± 110.8 m² (n = 11) and the population of ecological park was 416.1 ± 276.2 m² (n = 10), but there was no significant difference. The population area of rice paddy was 4,160 m² (Kernel density 95%) and the core area was 1,080 m² (Kernel density 50%). The population area (Kernel density 95%) of ecological park was 5,391 m² and the core area (Kernel density 50%) was 736 m². This study shows that it is appropriate to construct the area of alternative habitat for P. chosenicus at least 1.33 ha, and it is more advantageous for the ecological park to be constructed than the paddy field with high development pressure and human interference. If the rice paddies were to be abandoned for several years, or to be used traditional farming methods, such as refraining from using agricultural machinery and chemicals, they could be used as alternative habitat for P. chosenicus.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.207-227
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• 2007

본 연구는 오늘날 범지구적 차원에서 심각한 수준에 있는 생태계 파괴에 대한 사회학적 함의를 정립하는 데 목적이 있다. 이를 위해 먼저 생태계의 개념과 구조를 살펴보고, 다음으로 인간활동으로 인한 생태계 파괴의 메커니즘을 분석하고, 마지막으로 그 메커니즘에 기초하여 생태계 파괴에 대한 사회학적 함의를 정립하였다. 생태계로서의 자연은 인간 없이 존재할 수 있지만 인간은 자연 없이는 생존할 수 없다. 따라서 생계위기는 곧 인간의 위기다. 그럼에도 불구하고 18세기 산업혁명 이후 풍요성과 편리성 추구를 위한 인간의 활동 결과 지구는 점용환경용량을 2.5배 초과되었다. 이것은 인간이 범한 모순이다. 이 모순을 해결하면서 사회발전을 추진하자는 이념으로 1987년 지속가능발전이 제창되었고, 지속가능발전은 1990년대 중반에 지속가능사회로 대치되었고, 2000년대에 와서는 지속가능사회가 생태적 근대화로 대체되었다. 18세기 산업혁명 이후 풍요성과 편리성 증대를 위한 인간의 활동으로 생태계가 파괴되기 시작한 후, 생태계를 보전하면서 사회발전을 추진하자는 생태적 근대화 이념이 출현까지의 역사적 과정은 정(正)-반(反)-합(合)의 변증법 과정으로 이론화될 수 있다. 산업혁명 이전의 농업사회 때는 인간의 활동이 점용환경용량 범위 안에서 이루어졌기 때문에 환경문제가 없었다. 이 시대는 생태적 지속가능성이 유지되었기 때문에 생태적 합(合)의 상태라고 할 수 있다. 산업혁명 이후 인간의 활동이 생태계의 점용환경용량을 초월시킨 것은 생태계에 반(反)이 작용한 것이다. 따라서 범지구적 차원에서 환경문제의 심각성을 인식하고 지속가능발전을 위한 정책이 도입되기 이전까지 생태계는 정(正)과 반(反)이 대립상태에서 공존하였다. 1990년대 이후 생태적 지속가능성을 위한 각종 지속가능발전정책의 도입은 정(正)과 반(反)의 대립을 통해 다시 생태학적 합(合)의 상태를 지향하는 과정이라고 할 수 있다.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.231-245
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• 2010

The the purpose of this study was to analyze of the vegetation structure and phytosociological changes in the area adjacent to GeumJeong Mountain Fortress for fifteen years. The result of this study was as follows; Of the 8 quadrates, site of the North Gate 2 was having a highest in the number of extinct trees, 15 kinds. This is probably due to trampling effect caused by climbers' steps. Site of the West Gate 1 and South gate 1 each had 8 kinds of extinct trees, respectively. The number of newly appeared trees was highest at site of the North Gate 1, (8 kinds) followed by the sites of South gate 1 and South gate 2, respectively (5 kinds). The highest decrease in number of tree species was observed in North Gate 1, therefore, there is a strong relationship between vegetation diversity and the number of users of the available spaces. In order to revitalize the unstable vegetation structure of the Area Adjacent to GeumJeong Mountain Fortress, Robinia pseudo-acacia has to be well maintained in the shrub tree layer, and vines, such as Smilax china, Humulus japonicus, and Pueraria thungergiana, should be removed. To recover natural vegetation, dead leaf layer should be protected, and more shrub trees need to be planted. In the understory and shrub tree layer, multi layer tree planting is highly recommended to recover natural vegetation and increase tree diversity. In order to improve bad soil condition caused by trampling effect of recreational users, special treatments to the soil structure are required, such as mulching and raking soil. Also, depending on its soil damage from users trampling, the areas in the park should be divided into usable areas and user limited areas by the sabbatical year system. To improve the soil acidity due to acidic rain, soil buffering ability should be improved by activating microorganisms in the soil by using lime and organic material.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.357-372
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• 2006

The excessive land activities in farming can cause soil erosion, inundation by a flood, and fallow. So far land evaluation has been analyzed using the land use limitation derived from the excessive land activities. This study was done for evaluating the agricultural fields by using 3 land use limitations, inundation potential, soil erodibility potential, and fallow potential. The study area is Ibang-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam-province, Korea. A logistic regression model was applied to recognize the inundation potential by a flood in the Nakdong river basin. And potential soil erodibility index (PSEI) was derived from USLE model to analyze the soil erodibility potential. And a probability model from a logistic regression model was applied to detect the fallow potential. Therefore, we found 220.7ha for the 4th grade and 86.1ha for the 5th grade was analyzed as water damage potential. Large area near Nakdong river have problem to grow the rice due to the damage by water inundation. And 213.6ha for the 3rd grade and 103.3ha for 4th grade was detected as a result of the analysis of soil erosion potential. The soil erosion potential was high when within-field integrity of soil was not stable, or the kinetic energy was high or the slope length was long due to a steep slope of a specific land. And 869.1ha for 3rd grade, 174.9ha for 4th grade, and 110.6ha for 5th grade was detected to be distributed having the fallow potential. Especially, a village, having a steep mountain, had 249.5ha for the 3rd grade, which was 28.7% of total area showing the 3rd grade. Finally, Three villages, including An-ri, Geonam-ri, Songgok-ri, showed they had largest area of the suitable land in the study area. These villages had similar topographic condition where they were far from Nakdong river, and they had relatively higher elevation and flat lands.