• Journal of the Korean Society for Geothermal and Hydrothermal Energy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.40-46
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• 2016

In order to improve air quality of indoor environment, studies of the underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system for application in buildings are actively in progress based on temperature and air flow distribution. However, although the age of air is the major evaluation parameter, there has been very little study on this parameter for the UFAD system. In this study, we investigated the age of air to reach the air diffuser, which is installed at the bottom of the interior by the UFAD system. Computational fluid dynamics simulations showed no regular pattern to the maximum value of the age of air in accordance with air flow rate and the velocity at air diffuser. These factors can be deduced from air movement by considering that air emitted from air conditioners was rotated according to the bottom shape of the floor, and then, the age of air in the rotation center was increased. The average age of air of internal interior was reduced considerably as the flow velocity at the underfloor air diffuser was increased from 0.5 m/s to 1.0 m/s However, the age of air was not substantially affected with change in the air volume. Moreover, when the flow velocity at the underfloor air diffuser was higher than 1.0 m/s, the age of air showed no significant difference with change in air volume or height of measurement. These results imply that indoor air quality is more substantially influenced by flow velocity than air volume, and the appropriate flow velocity is 1 m/s or more.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.313-323
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to assess exposure to black carbon(BC) among forklift operators and to identify environmental and occupational factors influencing their BC exposure. Methods: We studied a total of 23 forklift operators from six workplaces manufacturing paper boxes. A daily BC exposure assessment was conducted during working hours from January to April 2017. A micro-aethalometer was used to monitor daily BC exposure, and information on work activities was also obtained through a time-activity diary(TAD) and interviews. BC exposure records were classified into four categories influencing BC exposure level: working environment, workplace, forklift operation, and job characteristics. Analysis of variance(ANOVA) was used to compare average BC exposure levels among the four categories and the relationships between potential factors and BC exposure were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Results: The operators' daily exposure was $12.9{\mu}g/m^3$(N=9,148, $GM=7.5{\mu}g/m^3$) with a range: $0.001-811.4{\mu}g/m^3$. The operators were exposed to significantly higher levels when they operate a forklift in a room ${\leq}20,000m^3$($AM=12.3{\mu}g/m^3$), in indoor workplaces($AM=16.3{\mu}g/m^3$), when they operate a forklift manufactured before 2006 ($AM=13.2{\mu}g/m^3$), a forklift with a loading limit of four-tons($AM=27.1{\mu}g/m^3$), with a roll and bale type clamp($AM=17.1{\mu}g/m^3$), and with no particulate filter($AM=15.7{\mu}g/m^3$). Conclusions: Occupational factors including temperature, smoking, season, daytime, room volume($m^3$), location of operating, and manufacturing era and model of forklift influenced the BC exposure of forklift operators. The results of this study can be used to minimize the BC exposure of forklift operators.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.14-21
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• 2010

In this study, the preferences with regard to floral design in a public space and the correlation between such preferences and the image features of the floral design types were identified. Based on the review of the related literature, the floral designs placed in a public space were classified into three types(the flower bed, container, and three-dimensional sculpture types) according to physical factors, and were classified into two types(the indoor and outdoor types) according to environmental factors. In the floral-design type classified by physical and environmental factors, the flower bed and outdoor types, respectively, were highly preferred. The factor that was found to have the greatest influence on the preference for the flower bed type was 'well-orderedness', which included the adjective categories 'harmonious', 'clean', and 'simple'; that which was found to have the greatest influence on the preference for the outdoor-type floral design was 'identity', which included the adjective categories 'symbolic', 'distinctive', 'harmonious', 'impressive', and 'clean'. It can thus be concluded that the plants that are effectively displayed in a public space can express the nature and identity of the city itself, can be a yardstick for giving value to the city and for evaluating it, and can be important components of the urban landscape. A design that is suitable for the purpose of each public space and that reflects the factors that exert an influence on the users' floral-design type preference should thus be developed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.535-544
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• 2024

In the rapidly advancing landscape of computer vision (CV) technology, there is a burgeoning interest in its integration with the construction industry. Camera calibration is the process of deriving intrinsic and extrinsic parameters that affect when the coordinates of the 3D real world are projected onto the 2D plane, where the intrinsic parameters are internal factors of the camera, and extrinsic parameters are external factors such as the position and rotation of the camera. Camera pose estimation or extrinsic calibration, which estimates extrinsic parameters, is essential information for CV application at construction since it can be used for indoor navigation of construction robots and field monitoring by restoring depth information. Traditionally, camera pose estimation methods for cameras relied on target objects such as markers or patterns. However, these methods, which are marker- or pattern-based, are often time-consuming due to the requirement of installing a target object for estimation. As a solution to this challenge, this study introduces a novel framework that facilitates camera pose estimation using standardized materials found commonly in construction sites, such as concrete forms. The proposed framework obtains 3D real-world coordinates by referring to construction materials with certain specifications, extracts the 2D coordinates of the corresponding image plane through keypoint detection, and derives the camera's coordinate through the perspective-n-point (PnP) method which derives the extrinsic parameters by matching 3D and 2D coordinate pairs. This framework presents a substantial advancement as it streamlines the extrinsic calibration process, thereby potentially enhancing the efficiency of CV technology application and data collection at construction sites. This approach holds promise for expediting and optimizing various construction-related tasks by automating and simplifying the calibration procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1018-1022
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• 2011

Nowadays, with improvement of economical income and life qualities, life pattern changes have been brought such as increasing of avocational activities. Consequently, following those life trends, utilization of car is getting increased. Thus, the perceptions of car have been changed from the only means of transport in the past to a 2nd residental space. that is why the car's endo environmental factors are getting so important. Air conditioner regulating air ventilization in vehicle's indoor automatically sets the right temperature based on the differences of indoor and outdoor's temperature with development of advanced functions to provide better environmental qualities in vehicle. However, even those advanced techniques for functional development are got so diverse though, the essential technique for preventing the growth of bateria and mold inside of the air conditioner are not even severals. Especially, evaporator one of the vehicle air conditioning equipments generates cooled air by vaporizing refrigerant in liquid state with the water as the adduct for this reactions. It has structural difficulties for water vaporation then cause the growth of germs. That's why this reseach was focused on the way of eliminating germs in the vehicle air conditioner efficiently. Direct air sterilizer by using UVC(Ultraviolet C) is manufactured and that performances are evaluated.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.304-312
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to examine bioaerosols in indoor air in public restrooms, as well as to assess the effects of air temperature and relative humidity on bioaerosol levels. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in ten male and ten female restrooms. An air sampler (Anderson type) was used for sampling total suspended bacteria (TSB), Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), Gram-positive bacteria (GPB), opportunistic bacteria (OP), Staphylococcus spp., and total suspended fungi (TSF). Results: The levels of TSB were $10-10^2CFU/m^3$ and TSF $10-10^2CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GNB level was $0-10CFU/m^3$, and GPB and OP levels were $10-10^2CFU/m^3$. Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were detected in 90% of the restrooms. The GPB level was higher in the female restrooms than in the male restrooms (p < 0.05). TSB, GNB, and TSF showed higher levels in restrooms in buildings over 30 years old (p < 0.01). The main effect of air temperature or relative humidity and interaction effect of the two factors on the TSB level were significant (p < 0.05), while the effect of relative humidity on the TSF level was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results indicate that there is a wide variation in the bioaerosol levels among different restrooms. The observed differences in bioaerosol levels reflect different building histories. The effects of air temperature and/or relative humidity reveal that bioaerosol levels may vary according to season or time of day. Future research is needed to further characterize the relation between the bioaerosol levels and surface contamination in restrooms.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2013

Objective: Building materials can generate radon in indoor environments. This study aims to assess the radon concentrations of studio apartments around a university. Methods: 25 studio apartments around a University in Gyoungsan, Korea were measured for concentrations of radon. We evaluated the radon concentrations by using short-term continuous radon monitors at the studio apartments around the university, and analyzed the correlation between indoor radon concentration and factors affecting it, such as year of construction. Results: The average concentration of radon was 2.03 pCi/L(75.11 $Bq/m^3$)${\pm}1.34$ in the studio apartments. This radon level was lower than the radon standard for public use facilities in Korea and US EPA's standard of 4 pCi/L. However the measured radon levels were much higher than those previously reported in conventional dwellings. There was a statistically correlation between year of construction and radon concentrations in studio apartment buildings. Conclusion: It is suggested that recently built studio apartments might be constructed with phosphogypsum board that features higher radon emissions, and occupants are highly exposed to radon.

• Architectural research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.81-92
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• 2014

This study discusses the features of the lighting and ventilation regulations for residential buildings in Hong Kong. Given the compact built environment and public concerns about the environmental quality of housing, various lighting and ventilation regulations have been enacted in Hong Kong. The application of building regulations on the micro scale and incentive systems on the macro scale are present, and the governments' calls for more active participation of the private sector and use of the building environmental assessment tools were also noted. Unlike South Korea, however, Hong Kong was found to adopt more performance-based standards, consider the external factors of the lighting and ventilation conditions together with the indoor elements, and provide specific design guidelines. Notwithstanding the different climatic conditions and socio-political contexts of Hong Kong and South Korea, these findings provide some policy implications for the South Korean government in its efforts to achieve a healthy environment for high-rise, high-density housing. It is suggested that the South Korean government adopt more on-site measurement methods to reflect the environmental conditions accurately and broaden the scope and scale of the implementation of the lighting and ventilation regulations with more specific, practical planning and design guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2009

In this study, the space gamma dose rates in the apartments structured with concrete were measured in accordance with construction year. In addition, the environmental radiation rates coming from the subway platforms and the road tunnels were analyzed in the equivalent dose by multiplying the absorbed dose with the radiation weighting factors. The space gamma dose rates measured in apartments were higher than those of outdoor which was $0.08{\sim}0.11uSv/h$ in the natural conditions. Especially, the older construction year is, the higher becomes space gamma dose rate. The average gamma dose rates in the subway platforms were measured. In the case of Busan and Daegu subway, the earlier the opening year is, the higher becomes dose rate. However, the dose rates of Seoul subway Lines were high overall, regardless of opening year. Seoul subway Line 6 showed the highest value of 0.21uSv/h. The gamma dose rate in road tunnels was higher than one of the outdoor and increased with opening year like as apartment. In dose rate comparison of the concrete structures with the outdoor, therefore, the space gamma dose rate of indoor is higher than one of the outdoor and the older structures have a higher dose rate.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.E
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• pp.1-17
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• 2000

In this study, the concentrations of particulate organic constituents of environmental tobacco smoke(ETS) were determined using an environmental smog chamber, where ETS is the sole source of target compounds. ETS was generated in a 30 ㎥ environmental chamber by a number of different cigarettes, including the Kentucky 1R4F reference cigarette and eight commercial brands. A total of 12 experimental runs was conducted, and target analytes included a group of ETS markers both in vapor and particulate phase and a class of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbos(PAHs) associated with ETS particles. The mass concentrations of PAH in ETS particles were also determined. The average contents of benzo(a) pyrene and benzo(a) anthracene in ETS particles for the commercial brands were 12.8 and 21.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/g, respectively, There values are all somewhat higher than those determined previously by other studies. Results form the chamber study are further used to estimate the average and variability of cigarette yields for target compounds associated with ETS. Finally, ratios of RSP to the surrogate standards of UVPM, FPM and solanesol were calculated for each sample. The average conversion factors factors for the eight commercial brands were 7.3, 38, and 41 for UVPM, EPM, and solanesol, respectively. The UVPM and FPM factors are in good agreement with the recently published values. Whereas there might be a substantial difference in the solanesol content among cigarettes produced in different countries, the variability is somewhat greater than those of UVPM and FPM, Unfortunately, comparison of the PAH yield data from this study with literature values was complicated by a lack of consistency in cigarette smoke generating methodology. Validation of the PAH yields was also difficult due to a lack of information on the ETS related PAH in the literature. From and engineering viewpoint , however, these data on the cigarette yields of ETS components may still provide useful information to studies on the mathematical modeling of indoor air quality management regarding tobacco smoke as a source of interest, or to studies on the assessment of human exposure to ETS.