• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.77-89
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• 2021

In this study, a method has been proposed to improve the performance of hydraulic property estimation model developed by Jeong et al. (2020). In their study, low-dimensional features of the annual groundwater level (GWL) fluctuation patterns extracted based on a Denoising autoencoder (DAE) was used to develop a regression model for predicting hydraulic properties of an aquifer. However, low-dimensional features of the DAE are highly dependent on the precipitation pattern even if the GWL is monitored at the same location, causing uncertainty in hydraulic property estimation of the regression model. To solve the above problem, a process for generating the GWL fluctuation pattern for conditioning the precipitation is proposed based on a conditional variational autoencoder (CVAE). The CVAE trains a statistical relationship between GWL fluctuation and precipitation pattern. The actual GWL and precipitation data monitored on a total of 71 monitoring stations over 10 years in South Korea was applied to validate the effect of using CVAE. As a result, the trained CVAE model reasonably generated GWL fluctuation pattern with the conditioning of various precipitation patterns for all the monitoring locations. Based on the trained CVAE model, the low-dimensional features of the GWL fluctuation pattern without interference of different precipitation patterns were extracted for all monitoring stations, and they were compared to the features extracted based on the DAE. Consequently, it can be confirmed that the statistical consistency of the features extracted using CVAE is improved compared to DAE. Thus, we conclude that the proposed method may be useful in extracting a more accurate feature of GWL fluctuation pattern affected solely by hydraulic characteristics of the aquifer, which would be followed by the improved performance of the previously developed regression model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.736-744
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• 2009

The abrupt failure of slope caused by a concentrated rainfall would be a disaster in this country. Specially, the soil slope may be collapsed by the rainfall seepage, however, there is not much information for the mechanism of slope failure during rainfall. As analyzing the stability of slope by rainfall, the conventional method is to put the ground-water level on the surface of slope. However, it may provide the over-reinforcement for the slope stability. Futhermore, although over-reinforcement for the slope was fulfilled, the possibility of potential slope failure still exists. In this study, the slope stability by the conventional design method and the causes of unstable slope during rainfall were investigated. To analyze the slope stability by rainfall, the computer program SEEP/W for the analysis of seepage was used. As changing the intensity and duration of rainfall in SEEP/W, the analysis were performed. After completion of analysis, the porewater pressure data from SEEP/W was applied to SLOPE/W. As a results of this analysis, it is not reasonable that the groundwater level is going up to the surface of slope during rainfall. Therefore, the conventional reinforcement for the slope stability is not obvious to satisfy the criterion safety factor during rainfall. The reasonable counterplan is to install drainage hole on the surface of slope in order to prevent erosion and debris flow.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.565-580
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• 2023

In this study, we reviewed and summarized comprehensive roles and importance of natural analogue studies for demonstrating the safety and improving the reliability of the safety for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. We also investigated domestic and foreign status of natural analogue studies in order to study and substantiate complex and various radionuclide behaviors in subsurface disposal environments. In addition, we investigated and uranium behaviors in groundwater and rock in uranium deposits including domestic uranium deposits in Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt and biogeochemical interactions in geological environments. Although there are many limitations and uncertainties in directly using the information and data for uranium behaviors obtained from uranium deposits in the disposal safety assessment, the information and data can be utilized in the disposal safety assessment and safety case construction both in qualitative and partly quantitative ways.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2022

The mobility and transport of radioactive cesium are crucial factors to consider for the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal sites in granite. The retardation of radionuclides in the fractured crystalline rock is mainly controlled by the hydrochemical condition of groundwater and surface reactions with minerals present in the fractures. This paper reports the experimental results of cesium sorption to the Wonju Granite, a typical Mesozoic granite in Korea, performed in an anaerobic chamber that mimics the anoxic environment of a deep disposal site. We measured the rates and amounts of cesium (¹³³Cs) removed by crushed granite samples in different electrolyte (NaCl, KCl, and CaCl₂) solutions and a synthetic groundwater solution, with variations in the initial cesium concentration (10^-5, 5×10^-6, 10^-6, 5×10^-7 M). The cesium sorption kinetic and isotherm data were successfully simulated by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (r²= 0.99) and the Freundlich isotherm model (r²= 0.99), respectively. The sorption distribution coefficient of granite increased almost linearly with increasing biotite content in granite samples, indicating that biotite is an effective cesium scavenger. The cesium removal was minimal in KCl solution compared to that in NaCl or CaCl₂ solution, regardless of the ionic strength and initial cesium concentration that we examined, showing that K⁺ is the most competitive ion against cesium in sorption to granite. Because it is the main source mineral of K⁺ in fracture fluids, biotite may also hinder the sorption of cesium, which warrants further research.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.191-205
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• 1997

Measurements on subsurface movement of the Songsanri tomb site including the Muryong royal tomb was conducted using a tiltmeter system for the period of 15 months form July 7, 1996 to September 30, 1997. Two coordinate tilt monitoring data shows the biggest movement rate of 2.3mm/m/yr toward south in the frontal wall(N-S tilt) of the Muryong royal tomb. Southward tilting of bricks above the southern fire place in the western wall of the Muryong royal tomb is a proof of southward tilting of the royal tomb since its excavation in 1971. The eastern wall of the Muryong royal tomb is also tilting toward inside the tomb with the rate of 1.523mm/m/yr. Furthermore, tilting rate of wall increases twice in rainy season. It is interpreted tbat infiltration of water into the tomb and nearby ground in rainy season results in dangerous status for the safety of tomb structure. On the whole, normal component tilting of the walls of the 5th tomb is large than its shear component. It shows a small displacement toward one direction without no abrupt change in its direction and amount of tilting. The tilting rate of walls of the 6th tomb is about 8.8mm/m/yr in the dry season which is much bigger than those of other tombs in rainy season. Deformation events of walls of the tombs are closely related to amount of precipitation and variation of temperature. In comparison with different weather conditions, tilting is much bigger during the period of rainy weather than sunny weather. It is interpreted that rainwater flew into the turm through faults and nearby ground. High water content in nearby ground resulted strength of ground. The tilting event of walls shows a hysterisis phenomenon in analysis of temperature effect on tilting event. The walls tilt rapidly with steep rising of temperature, but the tilted walls do not come back to original position with temperature falling. Therefore, a factor of steep increase of the temperature must be removed. It means the tomb have to be kept with constant temperature. The observation of groundwater level using three boreholes located in construction site and original ground represented that groundwater level in construction site is higher than that of original ground during the rainy season from the end of June to August. It means that the drainage system of the Muryong royal tomb is worse than original ground, and it is interpreted that the poor drainage system is related to safety of tomb structure. As above mentioned, it is interpreted that artificial changes of the tomb environment since the excavation, infiltration of rainwater and groundwater into the tomb site and poor drainage system had resulted in dangerous situation for the tomb structure. According to the result of the long period observation for the tomb site, it is interpreted that protection of the tomb site from high water content should be carried out at first, and the rise of temperature by means of the dehumidifier inside the tomb must be removed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.231-247
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• 2024

In the field of high-level radioactive waste disposal targeting deep rock environments, hydraulic characteristic information serves as the most important key factor in selecting relevant disposal sites, detailed design of disposal facilities, derivation of optimal construction plans, and safety evaluation during operation. Since various rock types are mixed and distributed in a small area in Korea, it is important to conduct preliminary work to analyze the hydrogeological characteristics of rock aquifers for various rock types and compile the resulting data into a database. In this paper, we obtained hydraulic conductivity data, which is the most representative field hydraulic characteristic of a high-depth volcanic bedrock aquifer, and also analyzed and evaluated the field data. To acquire field data, we used a high-performance hydraulic testing system developed in-house and applied standardized test methods and investigation procedures. In the process of hydraulic characteristic data analysis, hydraulic conductivity values were obtained for each depth, and the pattern of groundwater flow through permeable rock joints located in the test section was also evaluated. It is expected that the series of data acquisition methods, procedures, and analysis results proposed in this report can be used to build a database of hydraulic characteristics data for high-depth rock aquifers in Korea. In addition, it is expected that it will play a role in improving technical know-how to be applied to research on hydraulic characteristic according to various bedrock types in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.7-14
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• 2019

The compacted bentonite buffer is one of the major components of an engineered barrier system (EBS) for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), and it is considered the best candidate for the buffer material. The buffer is located between disposal canisters and near-field rock mass, and it interrupts the release of radionuclide from disposal canisters and protect them from the penetration of groundwater. At initial disposal condition, degree of saturation of the compacted bentonite buffer decreases because of high thermal quantities released from the disposal canisters. However, the degree of saturation of the compacted bentonite buffer gradually increases caused by inflow of groundwater. The saturated and unsaturated behavior of the buffer is a very important input data since it can determine the safety performance of EBS. Therefore, this paper investigated water retention capacity (WRC) for the Korean compacted bentonite buffer. The WRC of the compacted bentonite buffer was derived by measuring volumetric water content and water suction when temperature variation was between 24℃~125℃ considering decrease of degree of saturation with respect to temperature increase. The WRC was also derived with the same volumetric water content under the room temperature condition, and it showed 1~15% larger water suction than high temperature condition.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

The aim of this study is the safety and an accident prevention in limestone terrain by the underground tunneling. The geology of the study area consists of a Paleozoic sedimentary sequence dominated by limestone, sandstone, shale, and carbonaceous shale. The sequence gently dips to the northeast but the joint contains steep with variable trend. A significant fracture zone is developed in the limestone and shale beds, sub-parallel to bedding, and follows in part the limestone-sandstone contact. Monitoring of groundwater levels in the area shows marked fluctuations in the water table, which repeatedly rose to a level of -4 m before sinking to -15 m. These cycles occurred in mid-May, 2007 and in early and middle June. The data indicate that these fluctuations were unrelated to rainfall that occurred during the study period. We infer that the fluctuations were associated with the development of underground karstic networks along the deep fracture zone, and overlying ground subsidence is likely related to the rapid sinking of groundwater and the associated strong downward suction force.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.419-443
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• 2007

Recently, the branch-out of foreign companies into domestic markets through M&A and the opened followed by the Free Trade Agreement(FTA) with America have made the environmental site assessments of specific site more necessary. In this study, through case study of conducting actual environmental site assessment by use of a toolbox approach at a large scale of chemical plant with various contaminants located in a coastal area, the problems of guideline of domestic environmental assessment of soil were complemented. And an efficient and economical assessment was achieved. All six steps such as basic investigation, environmental site history survey, sampling and analysis, installation of monitoring wells and hydrogeological survey, and data interpretation were conducted in this study. All results of document survey, geological lineament analysis, field geology survey of surrounding area, geophysical prospecting of the site, hydraulic conductivity, measurement of groundwater flow rate and direction, sampling and analysis at each step were associated and estimated as an integrated tool box approach. As a consequence of this study, toolbox approaches were very useful techniques for contamination level and site characterization of subsurface media. The given conditions to conduct a basic survey for domestic soil environment assessment of site by use of existing documents, as well as interviews with the owner/manager/user of all adjacent properties and thorough review of all practically reviewable records pertaining to the property and surrounding properties within "Guideline for Soil Environment Assessment" radii are very poor. As a result, the application of toolbox approach in the environment site assessment of site is not only more efficient and economical, but also could be very useful assessment to integrate the soil and groundwater contamination.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.3-11
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to survey the oil contamination around the Mountain Baegun at Uiwang city to obtain the preliminary data for bioremediation. For measuring the oil concentrations and physical properties from soil, we analyzed BTEX. TPH and pH, organic content, water content, pormeability coefficient, gravity, porosity and used the purge & trap method for analyzing BTEX. Using the Accelerated Solvent Extractor, we pretreated the samples and then analyzed TPH using GC-FID as soon as possible. From the analysis results, maximum concentration of TPH was 24.773mg/kg and BTEX was 101.7mg/kg. The results of TPH at the Mountain Baegun were higher than the enforcement standard of soil contamination(Korea) and the BTEX concentrations were also higher than the advisory standard of soil contamination(Korea). From these results, the Mountain Baegun may requires to remedy the oil-contaminated soil. In addition, we performed the field bioremediation test for five weeks at the Mountain Baegun using the microbial additives that were developed by our laboratory. From the results of the field test, we could find the about 95% of the oil was removed from the contaminated soil in five weeks. So we consider that it is the one of the useful solutions to remedy the oil-polluted site.