• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2002

This study tested the usefulness of landscape indices for quantifying forest fragmentation due to linear development projects. Research was carried out in the middle-upper Nakdong River watershed, which has been affected by the expressway building, or national road-widening. Landscape indices were calculated from the forest cover maps before and after road-building using FRAGSTATS 3.1. We could successfully demonstrate the forest fragmentation based on landscape indices; (1) patch size decreased, and edge density and patch density increased (2) roads simplified patch shapes, especially in the larger patches, (3) patch core area size decreased, and core area density increased, (4) the distance increased between the focal patch and each of the other patches within the search radius (=1km) as a result of roads. We suggest several important needs for future researches, including continued investigation of scaling issues, development of indices that measure specific components of spatial pattern, and study of the relationships between forest fragmentation and ecological processes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2016

Objectives: Outdoor workers are exposed to thermally stressful work environments. In this study, heat stress indices for harbor workers in summer were calculated to evaluate thermal comfort based on a human heat balance model. These indices are Physiological Subjective Temperature (PST), Dehydration Risk (DhR), and Overheating Risk (OhR) according to respective stage of cargo work in a harbor. In addition, we constructed a forecast system to provide heat stress information. Methods: Thermophysiological indices in this study were calculated using the MENEX model (i.e. the human heat balance model), which used as inputs the meteorological parameters, clothing insulation, and metabolic rate for each stage of cargo work in the harbor of Masan over the course of seven days, including a four-day heat wave. The forecast heat stress information constructed for Masan harbor was based on meteorological data supported by the Dong-Nae Forecast from the KMA (Korea Metrological Administration) and other input parameters. Results: According to higher metabolic rate, thermophysiological indices showed a critical level. In particular, PST was evaluated as reaching the 'Very hot' or 'Hot' level during all seven days, despite the heat occurring over only four. It is important in a regard to consider the work environment conditions (i.e. labor intensity and clothing in harbor). On a webpage, the forecast thermophysiological indices show as infographics to be easily understand. This webpage is comprised of indices for both current conditions and the forecast, with brief guidance. Conclusion: Thermophysiological indices show the risk level to health during a heat wave period. Heat stress information could help to protect the health of harbor workers. Further, this study could extend the applicability of these indices to a variety of outdoor workers in consideration of work environments.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

This study was conducted to estimate climax index by eco-morphology for major 36 tree and sub-tree species in natural deciduous forests so as to interpret seral position of each species in the forest community. Fourteen eco-morphological characters which were considered to be associated with successional gradient in the forest were selected for the study. Four levels per character for each species were given on a standardized scale of increasing climax, and the index was computed by the proportion of the sum of total scores, expressed by percent values. With calculated mean value of 54.8 for all indices, Carpinus cordata had the highest index value of 90.5, and Populus davidiana recorded the lowest of 13.2. The most climax group, greater than 70 of the index, contained only 8 species, intermediate group, between 41 to 70 of the index, had 23 species, and the most pioneer group, less than 40 of the index comprised 5 species. The result has noticed that the large number of species would take advantage of most diverse resource and niche in the intermediate stage of the sere in the forest. By cluster analysis all 36 species were subjected to be classified into several species groups which had common similar eco-morphological characteristics. The indices were additionally plotted on the two dimensional graph to recognize the positions related to the light absorption factor and reproduction factor. The climax index of tree and sub-tree species developed by this study could be applied to understand the present status of successional stage on the basis of species composition by the method of summing up the indices. And comparison of forest successional stage among various forest communities could be done by summing up the climax indices of composed species in each community. However, this kind of applied methodology should be limited to the forest of similar species composition and site condition.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.113-190
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• 2002

The purpose of this paper is to perform empirical studies on the impact of pollution intensity on international competitiveness using 1993 and 1998 data, and to estimate the change in environmental regulation level faced by the firms during 1993~1998. Collecting relevant data and providing them for further studies in the area are another purposes of the paper. The first method is the regression of various indices of international competitiveness on factor costs, such as labor, capital, R&D and pollution abatement costs. Goal of the regression analysis is to estimate the scarcity and comparative advantage effect of each production factor, especially environmental resource. Regression results show that those industries which employ more environmental resource have higher comparative advantage in both years, which implies that Korean firms are endowed with abundant environmental resource compared to other countries. The second method is to compute the relative scarcity indices(HOVL indices) of production factors, proposed by Leamer based on Vanek's generalized Hecksher-Ohlin Theorem. This method estimates the relative scarcity of production factors by computing factor costs embodied in import and export of commodities. This method shows similar results as the regression method; i.e., trade pattern of production factors implies that the manufacturing sector in Korea is endowed with abundant environmental resource compared to other countries. Considering population density, water resource endowment, intensity of economic activity per unit area and current air and water pollution levels, it is evident that Korea is never endowed with abundant environmental resource compared to other countries. Then the abundance of environmental resource revealed by the trade patterns of commodities and production factors implies that Korea's environmental regulation level is excessively generous compared to environmental capacity, and that this increased the environmental resource endowment supplied to firms and thus distorted the inter-industry comparative advantages. Both regression and HOVL methods, on the other hand, show that overall environmental regulation level faced by the firms has been strengthened during 1993~1998.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.461-487
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• 2000

Kang et al. (1999) computed a composite environmental index in Korea by practicing the survey for environmental experts. They used the weighted sum form among feasible aggregation forms. In this study, we carry out the survey for both experts and non-experts to see the degree of differences of the weights for nine types of environmental problems between two groups. In addition, we apply different aggregation forms such as linear sum, weighted sum, root-sum-power, root-mean-square forms and compare these four outcomes. We found no significant discrepancy in the trends of composite indices. In case we rely on the weights provided by the experts, the composite index, on average, has been increased annually by about 7.2% over the 1986~1997 period, which informs us that overall environmental quality in 1997 has been worse than in 1986 by about 1.8 times.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a key component in the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystem. However, it has been rarely explored, particularly complex river watershed dominated by natural and anthropogenic sources, such as various effluent facility and livestock. The current research developed a new analytical method for TOC/TN (Total Organic Carbon/Total Nitrogen) stable isotope ratio, and distinguish DOM source using stable isotope value (δ¹³C-DOC) and spectroscopic indices (fluorescence index [FI] and biological index [BIX]). The TOC/TN-IR/MS analytical system was optimized and precision and accuracy were secured using two international standards (IAEA-600 Caffein, IAEA-CH-6 Sucrose). As a result of controlling the instrumental conditions to enable TOC stable isotope analysis even in low-concentration environmental samples (<1 mgC L^-1), the minimum detection limit was improved. The 12 potential DOM source were collected from watershed, which includes top-soils, groundwater, plant group (fallen leaves, riparian plants, suspended algae) and effluent group (pig and cow livestock, agricultural land, urban, industry facility, swine facility and wastewater treatment facilities). As a result of comparing characteristics between 12 sources using spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC values, it were divided into four groups according to their characteristics as a respective DOM sources. The current study established the TOC/TN stable isotope analyses system for the first time in Korea, and found that spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC are very useful tool to trace the origin of organic matter in the aquatic environments through library database.

• 월간산업보건
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• s.326
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• pp.64-65
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• 2015

• 월간산업보건
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• s.326
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• pp.66-67
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• 2015

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to seek AEI(Air Environmental Indices), PSI(Pollutant Standard Index) and the urban air quality control goal(the best available alternative energy program) by assessing the best ratio of energy types used in urban enterprises, based on harmful health effect and air quality standard and costs. This study is focused on an urban area(Puchun), where area sourcees are associated with heavy traffic, large population, and its industrial sources with large emissions. In the first step, air modeling, estimation of AEI and PSI, and benefit-cost analysis were carried out. In the second step, we assessed that 660 scenarios about the ratio of B-C oil, light oil and LNG used in urban enterprises with regard to air quality and cost. In the third step, the best available alternative energy program was selected for the ratio of energy species(B-C oil, light oil and LNG) by using the lexicographic method. From the emission analysis, main source of $NO_2$ is identified as industries and air quality is evaluated according to the ratio of B-C oil, light oil and LNG used in urban enterprise. The modeling data of TSP, $SO_2$, $NO_2$, CO, $O_3$, by ISC3 and PBM are respectively $118{\mu}g/m^3$, 0.027ppm, 0.025ppm, 2.0ppm, 0.55ppm in indurstrial area. That data are close to Environmental Air Quality Standard. By means of sensitivity analysis, we obtained the difference in concentration between the areas(Nae-dong, Joong-dong) according to the ratio of B-C oil, light oil and LNG used in the industries. From the result of alternatives assessment the lowest AEI value and cost, the ratio of B-C oil, light oil and LNG are 2.5%, 20%, 77.5%, respectively.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.204-218
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• 2024

In this study, we evaluate the applicability of domestic and international forest fire indices in Korea. To accomplish this objective, we first compare the structures of widely-used forest fire indices worldwide. Then, the application results of these forest fire indices are evaluated by comparing them with the annual and seasonal variations in actual forest fire occurrences in Korea. Finally, we select indices suitable for domestic application and propose directions to improve their appropriate applicabilities. The considered forest fire indices include MI, KBDI, FFWI, and mFFWI developed in the United States, NI, ZhI, and MNI developed in Russia, and DWI developed in Korea. This study considers the East Coast region as a study area, and the number of forest fire occurrences is referenced from the forestry statistics yearbook provided by the Korea Forest Service. As results, first, most forest fire indices do not adequately reproduce the actual annual forest fire occurrences as its variation is so small. However, most indices are found to effectively represent the monthly variations. Based on the correlation analysis between forest fire indices and actual forest fire occurrences, mFFWI, MI, ZhI, and DWI are selected as suitable indices for the East Coast region. However, these indices are still not satisfactory to adequately represent the forest fire occurrences in Korea, suggesting the need for further improvements. Each index has its own different aspects to be improved and, therefore, evaluation of these indices may be available only after further improvements are completed.