• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.9
• /
• pp.1087-1099
• /
• 2017

Emergy methodology was used to analyze the biophysical basis of Korean agriculture and assess its sustainablility. Total yearly emergy input into Korean agriculture was $7.72{\times}10^{22}sej/yr$ in 2013. Purchased inputs were the dominant emergy source, accounting for 90.1% ($6.95{\times}10^{22}sej/yr$) of the annual input. This clearly indicates that the Korean agriculture is a modern, industrialized system that depends mostly on market goods and services derived from nonrenewable resources. The monetary equivalent of the total emergy input was 18.9 trillion \/yr, 1.5 times greater than the total production cost from farm expense surveys. Emergy return on investment of Korean agriculture was low, with an emergy yield ratio of 1.11. Korean agriculture appears to exert pressure on the environment as revealed by the high environmental loading ratio of 9.30. With very low emergy input from renewable sources (9.7%) and high environmental pressure, Korean agriculture is not sustainable, with an emergy sustainability index of 0.12. This study suggests that higher use efficiency of and lower dependence on nonrenewable purchased inputs need to be prioritized in an effort to enhance the sustainability of Korean agriculture.

• Proceedings of the Korean Reliability Society Conference
• /
• 2011.06a
• /
• pp.319-328
• /
• 2011

The failure of LCC analysis is recognized as a serious risk for companies in fast-paced business environment. LCC analysis has been mentioned and analyzed only in accounting perspectives, but recently engineering perspectives of LCC analysis based on the execution of appropriate procedures become more important than the accounting perspectives. Especially, the practical use of reliability engineering related methodologies is recognized as a key factor for the LCC analysis. For the practical use of reliability methods, LCC analysis for unexposed problems is a key issue, and utilizing FMEA and FTA techniques is needed to solve the unexposed problems. Reliability, maintainability, availability, and safety should be evaluated by the LCC analysis with the reliability methods, so we study methodologies for the LCC analysis. Present Worth can be calculated by multiplication of Annual Equivalent Cost and PWAF. Reliability engineering related methods are needed for the process of dividing Present Worth into PWAF, and the practical use of reliability methods can improve accuracy of LCC analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.104-117
• /
• 1998

Rising concern about climate change has evoked interest in the potential for urban vegetation to help reduce the level of atmospheric CO\sub 2\, a major heat-trapping gas. This study quantified the functio of home energy savings and carbon emission reduction by shading, evapotranspiration and windspeed reduction of urban vegetatioin in Chuncheon. Tree and shrub cover averaged approximately 13% in residential land. The effects of shading, evapotranspiration and windspeed reduction annually saved heating energy by 2.2% and cooling energy by 8.8%. The heating and cooling energy savings reduced carbon emissions by 3.0% annually. These avoided emissions equaled the amount of carbon emitted annually from fossil fuel consumption by a population of about 1,230. Carbon emission reduction per residential building was 55kg for detached buildings and 872 kg for multifamily buildings. Urban vegetation annually decreased heating and cooling energy cost by ￦1.1 billions, which were equivalent to annual savings of ￦10,000 savings and carbon emission reduction due to tree plantings in the wrong locations, while windspeed reduction had a great effect. Plantings fo large trees close to the west and east wall of buildings, full tree plantings on the north, and avoidance of shade-tree plantings or selection of solar-friendlytrees on the south were recommended to improve the function of building energy savings and carbon emission reduction by urban vegetation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.363-370
• /
• 2013

Small scale hydropower is one of most attractive and cost-effective energy technologies for installation within sewage treatment plants. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of a semi-kaplan micro-hydropower (MHP) system for application to sewage treatment plants with high flow fluctuations and a low head. The semi-kaplan MHP is equipped with an adjustable runner blade, and is without a guide vane, so as to reduce the incidence of mechanical problems. A MHP rating 13.4 kWp with a semi-kaplan turbine has been considered for Kiheung Respia sewage treatment plant, and this installation is estimated to generate 86.8 MWh of electricity annually, which is enough to supply electricity to over 25 households, and equivalent to an annual reduction of 49 ton $CO_2$. The semi-kaplan turbine showed a 90.2% energy conversion efficiency at the design flow rate of 0.35 $m^3/s$ and net head of 4.7 m, and was adaptable to a wide range of flow fluctuations. Through the MHP operation, approximately 2.1% of total electricity demand of Kiheung Respia sewage treatment plant will be achievable. Based on financial analysis, an exploiting MHP is considered economically acceptable with an internal rate of return of 6.1%, net present value of 15,539,000 Korean Won, benefit-cost ratio of 1.08, and payback year of 15.5, respectively, if initial investment cost is 200,000,000 Korean Won.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.373-380
• /
• 2004

In this study, the emission rate of pollutant was modified according to the published standards, and the distribution of pollutant concentration was analyzed for each vehicle velocity. This modified emission rate was applied to a model tunnel and it was proved that the required air quantity was reduced to 49%, compared to the PIARC method. From the simulation result, it was proved by using statistics that the most sensitive factor among them is the friction coefficient and it was modified to the value in the range of 0.018 to 0.021. It is also expected that the required air quantity can be decreased form 14.4% to 19.2% according as the coefficient is applied to the domestic model tunnels. In conclusion, it is proposed that the number of jet fans can be reduced and the annual operating cost can be curtailed as well.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.409-420
• /
• 2012

Since the Industrial Revolution, CO2 levels have been increasing with climate change. In this study, Analyze time-series changes in snow cover quantitatively and predict the vanishing point of snow cover statistically using remote sensing. The study area is Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. 23 image data of Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM+, spanning the 27 years from June 1984 to July 2011, were acquired. For this study, first, atmospheric correction was performed on each image using the COST atmospheric correction model. Second, the snow cover area was extracted using the NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) algorithm. Third, the minimum height of snow cover was determined using SRTM DEM. Finally, the vanishing point of snow cover was predicted using the trend line of a linear function. Analysis was divided using a total of 23 images and 17 images during the dry season. Results show that snow cover area decreased by approximately $6.47km^2$ from $9.01km^2$ to $2.54km^2$, equivalent to a 73% reduction. The minimum height of snow cover increased by approximately 290 m, from 4,603 m to 4,893 m. Using the trend line result shows that the snow cover area decreased by approximately $0.342km^2$ in the dry season and $0.421km^2$ overall each year. In contrast, the annual increase in the minimum height of snow cover was approximately 9.848 m in the dry season and 11.251 m overall. Based on this analysis of vanishing point, there will be no snow cover 2020 at 95% confidence interval. This study can be used to monitor global climate change by providing the change in snow cover area and reference data when studying this area or similar areas in future research.