• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2013

Anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, primarily through radiative forcing from carbon dioxide, continue to challenge earth's climate. This study quantified $CO_2$ storage and uptake by dominant forest types and age classes in the middle region of Korea. In addition, the role of forest landscapes in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ against $CO_2$ emissions based on energy consumption was evaluated. Mean $CO_2$ storage and uptake per unit area by woody plants for three forest types and four age classes were estimated applying regression equations derived to quantify $CO_2$ storage and uptake per tree; and computations per soil unit area were also performed. Total $CO_2$ storage and uptake by forest landscapes were estimated by extrapolating $CO_2$ storage and uptake per unit area. Results indicated mean $CO_2$ storage per unit area by woody plants and soils was higher in older age classes for the same forest types, and higher in broadleaved than coniferous forests for the same age classes, with the exception of age class II (11-20 years). $CO_2$ storage by broadleaved forests of age class V (41-50 years) averaged 662.0 t/ha (US$331.0 hundred/ha), highest for all forest types and age classes evaluated. Overall, an increased mean $CO_2$ uptake per unit area by woody plants was evident for older age classes for the same forest types. However, decreased $CO_2$ uptake by broadleaved forests at age class V was observed, compared to classes III and IV with an average of 27.9 t/ha/yr (US$14.0 hundred/ha/yr). Total $CO_2$ storage by woody plants and soils in the study area was equivalent to 3.4 times the annual $CO_2$ emissions, and woody plants annually offset the $CO_2$ emissions by 17.7%. The important roles of plants and soils were associated with 39.1% of total forest area in South Korea, and $CO_2$ emissions comprised 62.2% of the total population. Therefore, development of forest lands may change $CO_2$ sinks into sources. Forest landscape management strategies were explored to maintain or improve forest roles in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ levels.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.3-12
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• 2012

The slowdown of private building industry resulted in growth of remodeling market as a way to improve energy performance. Remodeling is considered more cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for energy efficient building than new construction. Since 2008, Seoul has promoted Building Retrofit Project (BRP) preponderantly to attract energy-saving renovation by supporting building owners to switch building system into energy-saving system when they remodel their old buildings. According to 2012 press release, 254 Private sectors participated in this green building project and annually reduced 41000ton of greenhouse gas emission, 14000TOE, which also result in 7.5 billion won energy cost savings per year. The paper focuses on the building envelope remodeling as a way to improve energy efficiency. Different components of the building envelope such as wall insulation, window, and shading, were applied to the baseline model and the comparison was analyzed to come up with the ideal solution. This study only assesses the building envelope as to suggest the way to redesign the better energy performing building. Offering solution focusing on the architectural feature is essential because it will provide basic information and standard when remodeling a building for energy efficiency, especially, for the nonresidential buildings used as rental offices.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.217-226
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• 2017

Although the effects of climate change are universal, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are considered to be most vulnerable. SIDS heavily rely on imported oil and fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation, which makes them economically vulnerable and exposed to fluctuating oil price. Among the reasons SIDS highly depend on diesel fuel is due to the dispersed population living in remote islands which means, providing electricity through on on-grid system is difficult. Fiji as one of the SIDS, has actively promoted renewable sourced energy through a national plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In order to determine how feasible implementing a renewable energy (RE) system will be in Fiji, this study chose a remote island called Mavuva Island to test application of a hybrid RE system using HOMER. A combination of energy storage system (ESS), solar photovoltaic (PV) and diesel generator turns out to be the most cost effective and optimal configuration, resulting in effective greenhouse gas reduction for the given region.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.3740-3747
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• 2009

To protect the citizens' health of Gyeongju and to secure basic data for the assessment of health and environmental risk, distribution characteristics of meteorological elements were investigated and numerical simulation of wind field using RAMS model was carried out. In addition, measurement and analysis of air pollutants, forecasting the behavior air pollutants using ISC-AEROMOD view, and health and environmental risk-influenced zones were defined through managing air polluting materials to prevent health damage and property damage. According to the survey results of air pollution in Gyeongju and surroundings, average annual concentration of air pollutants in Gyeongju was slightly lower than that in Pohang and Ulsan areas, but concentration of particulate matters and nitrogen dioxide at Gyeongju Station Square and Yonggang Crossing were sometimes higher than that in Pohang and Ulsan areas. Results of the modeling of moving and diffusion of air pollutants that affect citizens' health showed that parts of the 1st through 4th industrial complexes together with POSCO were included in particulate matters and sulfur dioxide influenced areas in Pohang Steel Complex area, and that Haedo-dong, Sangdae-dong, Jecheol-dong and Jangheung-dong in Pohangnam-gu represented locally worsened air quality due to a quantity of air pollutant emission from dense steel industries and large scale industrial facilities.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.spc
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• pp.149-156
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• 2019

Assessing the hydrological safety of existing dams against climate change and providing appropriate adaptation measures are important in terms of sustainable water supply and management. Korean major dams ensure their safety through periodic inspections and maintenance according to 'Special Act on the safety control and maintenance of establishments'. Especially when performing a full safety examination, principal engineer must assess the hydrological safety and prepare for potential risks. This study employed future probable maximum precipitation (PMP) estimated using outputs of regional climate models based on RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 greenhouse-gas emission scenarios to assess climate change impact on existing dam's future hydrological safety. The analysis period was selected from 2011 to 2040, from 2041 to 2070, and from 2071 to 2100. Evaluating the potential risk based on the future probable maximum flood (PMF) for four major dams (A, B, C, I) showed that climate change could induce increasing the overflow risk on three dams (A, B, I), although there are small differences depending on the RCP scenarios and the analysis periods. Our results suggested that dam managers should consider both non-structural measures and structural measures to adapt to the expected climate change.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Recently, the government has been working feverously to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emission by enacting Basic Act on Low Carbon Green Growth at the national level. Improving the insulation performance of building exterior and insulator can reduce the energy in the building sector. This study is about developing light-weight foamed concrete insulation panel that can be applied to buildings to save energy and to find the optimal condition for the development of insulation materials that can save energy by enhancing its physical, kinetic and thermal characteristics. Various experimental factors and conditions were considered in the study such as foam agent types (AES=Alcohol Ethoxy Sulfate, AOS=Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate, VS=Vegetable Soap, FP=Fe-Protein), foam agent dilution concentration (1, 3, 5%), and foam percentage (30, 50, 70%). Experiment results indicated that the surface tension of aqueous solution including foam agent, was lower when AOS was used over other foam agents. FP produced relatively stable foams in 3% or more, which produced unstable foams containing high water content and low surface tension when diluted at low concentration. Depending on foam agent types, compressive strength and thermal conductivity were similar at low density range but showed some differences at high concentration range. In addition, when concentrations of foam agent and foaming ratio increased, pore size increased and open pores are formed. In all types of foam agent, thermal conductivity were excellent, satisfying KS standards. The most outstanding performance for insulation panel was obtained when FP 3% was used.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.33-43
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• 2019

Considerable efforts have been made to reduce greenhouse gas emission around the world to cope with climate change. The government is implementing G-SEED certification to promote energy efficient building design. This study aims to verify the effectiveness of the G-SEED certification system by analyzing the actual energy use of certified and non-certified office buildings. For this purpose, the energy consumption of 135 certified and 142 non-certified office buildings was analyzed according to the seasonal characteristics, building size and number of floors, approval year, and certification grade. The energy saving effects of certified buildings was about 50% higher than that of non-certified buildings. The seasonal energy consumption of buildings is closely related to the heating degree-days. The energy consumption of certified and non-certified buildings decreases with increasing approval year. On the other hand, the energy consumption according to building size and certification grade is not related. This study provides meaningful basic data of G-SEED certification system for future improvement. As the building energy performance standards are strengthened over the years, it is necessary to make the individual score of G-SEED certified projects open to the public to configure the factors of energy efficiency.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

UN-REDD (United Nations programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in Developing Countries) and AR-CDM (Afforestation/Reforestation-Clean Development Mechanism) is currently being emerged as one of important mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide in relation to the deforestation. Discussion on North Korea as UN-REDD/AR-CDM project target continues with a view to preventing deforestation and to securing CER(certified emission reduction) for South Korea. The forests in Mt. Baekdu are degraded, deforestation is occurred, nevertheless, portion of forested area is still high, where both REDD and AR-CDM investment potential are quite high. Accordingly, this study is intended to explore a simultaneous registration potential to UNREDD/AR-CDM for Mt. Baekdu although separate registration to UN-REDD or AR-CDM has already gained worldwide recognition as a typical method in the process of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reduction project. The results indicate that selecting UN-REDD or AR-CDM in accordance with sub-watershed forest condition could capture 53.2% more carbon dioxide than REDD alone and 21.9% more than AR-CDM alone. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a realistic evidence to introduce carbon sequestering project in accordance with sub-watershed forest condition.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-321
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• 2006

Atmospheric Acid Deposition: Nitrogen Saturation of Forests: Volume weighted annual average wet deposition of nitroge at 33 sites in Korea during 1999-2004 ranged 7.28 to $21.05kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ with average $12.78kgN{\cdot}ha^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$, which values are similar level with nitrogen deposition of Europe and North America. The temperate forests that suffered long-term high atmospheric nitrogen deposition are gradually saturated with nitrogen. Such nitrogen saturated forest watersheds usually leach nitrate ion ($NO_3^-$) in stream water and soil solution. It may be likely that Korean forest ecosystems are saturated by much nitrogen deposition. In leaves with nitrogen saturation ratios of N/P, N/K and N/Mg are so enhanced that mineral nutrient system is disturbed, suffered easily frost damage and blight disease, reduced fine-root vitality and mycorrhizal activity. Consequently nitrogen saturated forests decrease primary productivity and finally become forest decline. Futhermore understory species are replaced the nitrophobous species by the nitrophilous one. In soil with nitrogen saturation uptake of methane ($CH_4$) is reduced and emission of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrous oxide ($N_{2}O$) are increased, which gases are greenhouse gas accelerating global warming.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.1603-1614
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• 2010

As the Kyoto protocol and Bali road-map, our country is expected to be included to the emission reduction controlled country of greenhouse gas, so we are now urgent situation to take an action in the level of government. In this research, environment friendly rail logistics and combined transport were treated to meet with the green growth policy of our government. Major problems of Ui-wang ICD suggested in this research are short of yards, unutilized public CY, inconvenience use by non-share holders. It is necessary to improve rail logistic infrastructure, that is, additional expansion of yard, direct operation by KORAIL and regular unloading system are needed. such improvement can not be solved just by the endeavor of business body. Rail logistic infra & Integrated freight terminal has a tendency of SOC, which require tremendous amount of investment, so there are some limit in doing by private sector itself, now it's time to do by the government level. The improvement of rail logistic infrastructure in the level of government is possible by the policy of environment friendly green logistic support which is related with Logistic Policy Basic Law, so government should prepare detailed directives to activate Integrated freight terminal.