• Title/Summary/Keyword: Ecological Urban

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Microbe Hunting: A Curious Case of Cryptococcus

  • Bartlett Karen H.;Kidd Sarah;Duncan Colleen;Chow Yat;Bach Paxton;Mak Sunny;MacDougall Laura;Fyfe Murray
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.199-206
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    • 2005
  • C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gattii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns.

An Evaluation of the Phenomenon of Heat-Island Effect by Multi-Criteria Methods (다항목 평가기법의 적응을 통한 열섬현상의 평가)

  • Lee Jung-Min;Do Hu-Jo;Ra Jung-Hwa;Kim Soo-Bong;Jung Eung-Ho
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.14 no.11
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    • pp.1005-1014
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    • 2005
  • The purpose of this research was to present multi-criteria which were related to the heat island and find methods which decreased heat island affection on the ecological landscape planning. The results of this study were as follows. According to the analysis of surface temperatures, the first grade was the outside-city like a mountain and its temperature was less than $13.0^{\circ}C$. The fifth grade was the downtown, industrial area and its temperature was more than $26.9^{\circ}C$. Therefore, the result was seen the serious heat-island effect. The results of field survey, the closer to the first grade, the higher the value of green coverage. The closer to the fifth grade, the higher the value of impermeability surface, paving materials and colors. According to the correlation analysis, the temperature had high correlation with impermeability surface, paving materials and colors. According to the simple regression analysis, permeability surface, green coverage, topography, impermeability surface, paving materials f: colors, human impact related with surface temperatures. To plan for the decrease of Heat-Island Effect needed the extension of green space, decrease of impermeability surface. This research suggested data for urban green plan and decrease of heat island effect, but there was a limit to get the objective method for grade classification because of lacking in the basic data, the research of multi-criteria will be accomplished continuously.

Reference information for realizing ecological restoration of river: A case study in the Bongseonsa stream

  • Park, Sung Ae;Kim, Gyung-Soon;Pee, Jung-Hun;Oh, Woo-Seok;Kim, Hye-Soo;Lee, Chang Seok
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.235-243
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    • 2013
  • In Korea, where the plain land is greatly deficient as a mountainous nation, most of riparian zones were transformed into agricultural fields and urban areas. Excessive use of the land, which is close to river, makes the rivers enduring severe pollution stresses. Disappearance of riparian buffer, which plays a function of filter in the riverside, appears as a main factor aggravating water pollution of rivers. In this respect, it is imperative to restore the lost riparian vegetation. This study found out restoration models of riparian vegetation from the Bongseonsa stream, which has remnant riparian vegetation patches as a conservation reserve. Feasible reference information applicable for restoration of riparian vegetation was shown in the species level in the order of herb, shrub, and tree and sub-tree zones as far away from the waterway. Those information could contribute to restoring integrate and healthy rivers and streams beyond simple landscaping differently from the other restoration projects when they will be applied to the restoration project to be carried out in the future. In addition, the spatial range of river and stream, background that riparian zone disappeared in Korea, and application plan of the obtained reference information were discussed.

A Study on the Biotope's Characters of the Mixed Rural City(II) - The Analysis of Change in Land Uses and Forest Structure of Sunghwan in Chonan City using Remote Sensing - (도농통합형 도시에 있어서 생물서식처 공간특성에 관한 연구(II) - 천안시 성환읍의 토지이용변화추이와 녹지구조변화를 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Jin-Hee;Bang, Kwang-Ja;Kim, Hoon-Hee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.38-47
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    • 1999
  • The mixed rural city is adjusting to change by urbanization. The recent landcover change in mixed rural city is an important factor that changes structure and function of regional ecosystem. Landscape ecology is an integrated ecology widely available for environmental science such as nature conservation and sustainable land-use planning. As the concern about environmental quality rises, many studies are trying to create and conservate for biotop. The creation of biotop is related to the plan and management of the effective landuse because the important factor to change the structure and function of ecological area in the country. This study was carried out to establish the foundation of the landuse plan to analyze the change of landuse and to plan the scheme in creating biotop and landuse. We used the approach of ecological landscape and using landscape indices with RS(Remote Sensing) and GIS(Geographic Information System) technology, spatio-temporal variations of areas and distribution of forest patches were examined in the Sunghwan in Chonan from 1985 to 1996. A result of this study showed that the area of forest and paddy decreased by urban sprawl. The size of patch in the forest and agriculture had been smaller and irregular form, heterogeneity of size of forest and agriculture patches within sub-basin was increased, pattern of forest and agriculture patches decreased the corridor and network from 1985 to 1996.

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Thermal Environment Characteristics of Permeable Block Pavements for Landscape Construction (조경용 투수성 블록 포장의 열환경 특성)

  • Han Seung-Ho;Ryu Nam-Hyong;Kang Jin-Hyoung
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.34 no.2 s.115
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    • pp.18-25
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    • 2006
  • This study aims to measure and to analyze the thermal environment characteristics of the various permeable pavement materials such as grass pavement (GREEN BLOCK PARK), stone and grass pavement (GREEN BLOCK STEP), stone pavement (GREEN BLOCK MOSAIC) and wood pavement (WOOD BLOCK) under the summer outdoor environment. The thermal environment characteristics measured in the study includes the changes of surface temperature during the day, changes of the temperature on each pavement layer, and long and short wave radiation of each pavement surface. The experimental condition is based on the data on the hottest temperature (August 5, 2005, $34.0^{\circ}C$) of the you. Some of main findings are: 1) The heat environment was worse on the wood pavements than on the stone pavement. This is mainly due to the low albedo of the wood pavements (0.37) while the albedo value of stone pavements is 0.41. Small heat capacity of the wood pavements also contributes to this difference. 2) The heat environment was worse on the stone pavements than on the turf pavements. This was mainly due to the evapotranspiration of the plant growth layer of the turf pavements. 3) The peak surface temperature was the highest on the wood pavements ($56.1^{\circ}C$). The peak surface temperatures on the stone pavements, the stone-grass pavements and the grass pavements were $43.1^{\circ}C,\;40.1^{\circ}C\;and\;37.9^{\circ}C$, respectively. 4) To improve the thermal environments in the urban area, it is recommended to raise the albedo of the pavements by brightening the surface color of the pavement materials. Further studies on the pavement materials and the construction methods which can enhance the continuous evapotranspiration from the pavements surface are needed.

Socially Sustainable Design Characteristics of Yerba Buena Garden in San Francisco (샌프란시스코 Yerba Buena Garden의 사회적 지속가능디자인 특성)

  • Lee, Yeunsook;Yoon, Hyegyung
    • KIEAE Journal
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.61-68
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    • 2008
  • The development of urbanization in the twentieth century according to the rampant growth of industrialization not only brought about the improvement of life-quality but also induced us to reconsider the contemporary issues such as crisis of echo system which made us aware of the values and significance of the system and sustainable environments. As sustainability has been recognized as the holistic concept, it has been highlighted as one of the core concepts in the studies with the present ecological perspective. Particularly, as the plan of urbanization in Korea which had been based on the deconstruction has been converted into the regeneration, economic and cultural regeneration is also demanded for the future plan besides material regeneration. This study aims to scrutinize various attributes of socially sustainable designs in Yerba Buena Garden of San Francisco, USA which has been globally well known as a successful example of urban regeneration. By way of visit-and-observation of the place, the research for the study was conducted during the month of December, 2007. Three researchers visited Yerba Buena Garden to observe and take photographs and to obtain relevant data and public documents in local public library. Socially sustainable design was measured on the basis of such principles; social facilitation, permeability and accessibility, safely and emotional stability, softness and feminism, and child care convenience. Relevant data were systematically organized to support and prove the above principles. The result of the study is expected to effectively be utilized for Korean environment plan and design as a benchmarking guidelines against the crisis of degeneration and the aging society with the lowest birthrates in the world.

Experimental Techniques for Evaluating the Success of Restoration Projects

  • Robinson, George R.;Handel, Steven-N.l;Mattei, Jennifer
    • The Korean Journal of Ecology
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2002
  • The ecological background of a restoration project is complex and difficult to betermine without experimentation. A useful context for experiments is the well-studied process of natural succession, because the factors that drive or inhibit succession are also at work during reclamation (a form of primary succession) and restoration (which often resembles secondary succession). Using experimental studies on urban wasteland reclamation, we have tested for factors that stimulate or inhibit succession during early phases of woodland development in the Northeastern United states. The emphasis has been on mutualisms (seed dispersal, pollination, and mycorrhizae) and microsite limitations in the recruitment, growth, and reproduction of woody plants. Using plantings of seeds, seedlings, and clusters of reproductively mature plants on abandoned landfills, we have observed that (1) soil microsite deficiencies lead to very poor germination (<0.1$\%$) and seedling survival (<0.01$\%$) of most native species; (2) seed dispersal by birds is a significant and reliable source of woody plant recruitment; however (3) proximity effects are strong, with most (up to 95$\%$) of seed rain falling in the vicinity of planted clusters that are closest to putative seed sources; and (4) remnant natural woodlands are critical components of the recruitment process. To emphasize the last point, in one case, we found that the destruction of approximately 50$\%$ of nearby natural woodland vegetation led to a commensurate decline in seed rain. In another case, we found that the species richness of recruits was strictly limited by the species composition of nearby source plant communities, with no evidence of community enrichment by long distance dispersal over 5 years. We conclude from these results that the size and proximity of remnant natural populations are critical considerations when planning reclamation and restoration programs that rely on natural successional processes.

Practical Use of Vegetated Porous Pavement for the Construction of Grass Parking Lot (잔디주차장 시공을 위한 잔디블록 활용방안)

  • Han, Seung-Ho;Kang, Jin-Hyoung;Choi, Joon-Soo;Yang, Geun-Mo;Yoon, Yong-Han;Ku, Tae-Ik;Kim, Won-Tae
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.18 no.9
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    • pp.1011-1015
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    • 2009
  • The vegetated porous pavement can be installed as an alternative way to replace the traditional pavement, which contributes less to the water circulation system in the urban area. This study aims to an investigation based on the shadow and pressure of the vehicle system, where the turfgrass get grown and the green block get constructed on the grassy parking lot. This study might achieve these conclusions, in the case of use 'green block' makes grass parking lot, plant a kind of 'zenith' and takes sod thickness 40 mm are more efficient for turfgrass growth in the early times. In the case of parking over 8 hours in a day, after 5 weeks turfgrass growth would come into reduce. So over 4 hours parking and after 9 weeks, we need consider to setting up green block in grassy parking lot. The grassy ground would get pressured by the vehicles' load and it would bring into some damage due to the load after 3 weeks. So we should put the grass's growth root point under the designed a top of 'green block' level. When the vehicle amounts and parking density is in a low level, it could be an environmentally friendly product.

Present Condition and Preferences on Well-being Elements in Apartments (아파트의 웰빙요소 도입현황과 선호도)

  • Choi, Yoon-Jung
    • Journal of the Korean housing association
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.61-72
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    • 2007
  • The purposes of this study were to summarize the concept of well-being and well-being apartment, to grasp the present condition of apartments which were introduced with well-being elements, and to find out the consumer preferences on well-being elements for apartment planning. Library and internet surveys were performed to summarize the concept of well-being and well-being apartment and to grasp the present condition of apartments which were introduced with well-being elements. Questionnaire survey was carried out from 2nd to 22nd of June 2005, to investigate the preferences on well-being elements for apartment planning. The respondents were 250 residents who are from thirties to fifties and living in urban area. As results, respondents think that 'living for health of body and mind' about concept of well-being and 'certificated apartments by green building rating system' or 'apartments introduced ecological factor' about concept of well-being apartment. They answered that 'yes' about 'Do you have intention to buy well-being apartment?'. The elements in aspect of complex planning having the preference were revealed that promenade for complex design, ecological garden or walking space for landscape design, outdoor exercise space for outdoor design, and security system for foundation equipment. The elements having the preference in aspect of public facilities were fitness room for sports & health facility and study room for cultural facility. The preferred elements in aspect of building and unit design were roof garden for building design, multi-functional room for unit floor plan, natural surface material for interior surface, ventilation system for indoor environment, control system for home automation, and food waste machine for home electronics.

Landscape Design for the National Athlete Training Camp (국가대표 선수 훈련원 마스터플랜 설계경기 조경계획)

  • Kim Ah-Yeon;Yoo Seon-Keun;Oh Hyung-Seok
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.33 no.6 s.113
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    • pp.109-126
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    • 2006
  • As the national interest in sports has been increased over time, sports facilities and sports complex are considered more than just physical environments for training athletes or watching games. Sports facilities now become symbolic spatial devices to represent the national and cultural pride of any countries. The existing national training camp located in Taenung, Seoul is gotting outdated and degraded. The polluted air in the city risks athletes' health condition. The government planned to construct the second training camp at Jincheon, Chungbuk at the area of $2,171,910m^2$. The Korea Sports Council called for proposals to envision the future training camp, and they held a design competition from August to November, 2005. The first phase was to present the masterplan for the entire site including training buildings, outdoor training facilities, dormitories, a visitor center, a research center, education and administration buildings. Considering the size of the site, the planning process required a strong relationship between landscape and architecture. This study tries to provide general explanations on the winning proposal focused on the landscape-related issues. It also attempts to have reference points for contemporary planning and design issues to situate the project in the stream of continuing design effort to avoid the dichotomy between nature and culture. The landscape proposal for the new national taming camp suggests four main strategies; 1) The camp has two intersecting and interweaving parks which represent the natural and urban order. 2) The entire site is organized and networked by the flow of landscape called landscape ribbon in terms of topography, vegetation, and water flow. 3) The landscape is choreographed through the time and process. 4) The ecological process and the digital contents are juxtaposed in the landscape. This winning proposal is the first step to portray the national vision for the sustainable environment coexisting with sports industry. Landscape in this proposal is an active agent to network various parts of the site which enables landscape to be infrastructure. Landscape design in this proposal should be considered open-ended strategies rather than determined concrete forms and its engaging further development will be tested in following Design-Build phase.