• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.478-490
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• 2017

Objectives: The association of air pollution levels and land-use types with changes in the prevalence of allergic diseases (allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) was investigated for seven metropolitan cities in Korea Methods: Data on daily hospital visits and admissions (of those under 19 years old) for 2003-2012 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Cooperation. Meteorological data on daily mean temperature, humidity, and air pressure were obtained from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Daily mean or maximum concentration data for five pollutants ($PM_{10}$, $O_3$, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and CO) as measured at air quality monitoring sites operated by the Ministry of Environment were used. We estimated excess risk and 95% confidence intervals for the increasing interquatile range (IQR) of each air pollutant using Generalized Additive Models (GAM) appropriate for time series analysis. Results: In this study, we observed a significant association between the IQR increases of air pollutants and the prevalence risk of allergic diseases (allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) in all metropolitan cities after adjusting for temperature, humidity, and air pressure at sea level. Among the air pollutants, $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ were associated with the prevalence of asthma, and $O_3$ was associated with only allergic conjunctivitis in regression analysis. However, in GAM analysis considering land-use, $O_3$ and $SO_2$ were associated with allergic conjunctivitis, PM10, O3, NO2, and CO were associated with allergic rhinitis, and $PM_{10}$, $O_3$ and $NO_2$ were associated with asthma in industrial area. Conclusion: This study found a significant association between air pollution and the prevalence of allergic related diseases in industrial areas. More detailed research considering mixed traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and conducting meta-analyses combining data of the all cities is required.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.371-384
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• 2015

Although GOCI has potential for land surface monitoring, there have been only a few cases for land applications. It might be due to the lack of reliable land products derived from GOCI data for end-users. To use for land applications, it is often essential to provide cloud-free composite over land surfaces. In this study, we proposed a cloud detection method that was very important to make cloud-free composite of GOCI reflectance and vegetation index. Since GOCI does not have SWIR and TIR spectral bands, which are very effective to separate clouds from other land cover types, we developed a multi-temporal approach to detect cloud. The proposed cloud detection method consists of three sequential steps of spectral tests. Firstly, band 1 reflectance threshold was applied to separate confident clear pixels. In second step, thick cloud was detected by the ratio (b1/b8) of band 1 and band 8 reflectance. In third step, average of b1/b8 ratio values during three consecutive days was used to detect thin cloud having mixed spectral characteristics of both cloud and land surfaces. The proposed method provides four classes of cloudiness (thick cloud, thin cloud, probably clear, confident clear). The cloud detection method was validated by the MODIS cloud mask products obtained during the same time as the GOCI data acquisition. The percentages of cloudy and cloud-free pixels between GOCI and MODIS are about the same with less than 10% RMSE. The spatial distributions of clouds detected from the GOCI images were also similar to the MODIS cloud mask products.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.251-260
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• 2016

Groundwater flow due to hydraulic gradients across a geologic barrier surrounding a dam reservoir can cause swamps or wetlands to form on the downstream side of the dam, thereby restricting land use. The difference in head between the reservoir level and the downstream groundwater level creates a hydraulic gradient, allowing water to flow through the geologic barrier. We constructed a drainage system at the Daecheong dam to study the effects on groundwater levels and soil moisture contents. The drainage system consisted of a buried screened pipe spanning a depth of 1-1.5 m below a land surface. Groundwater levels were monitored at several monitoring wells before and after the drainage system was installed. Most well sites recorded a decline in groundwater level on the order of 1 m. The high-elevated site (monitoring well W1) close to the reservoir showed a significant decline in groundwater level of more than 2 m, likely due to rapid discharge by the drainage system. Soil moisture contents were also analyzed and found to have decreased after the installation of the drainage system, even considering standard deviations in the soil moisture contents. We conclude that the drainage system effectively lowered groundwater levels on the downstream side of the dam. Furthermore, we emphasize that water seepage analyses are critical to embankment dam design and construction, especially in areas where downstream land use is of interest.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.473-488
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• 2021

A new physical/statistical diagnostic downscale model has been developed for use to improve near-surface air temperature forecasts. The model includes a series of physical and statistical correction methods that account for un-resolved topographic and land-use effects as well as statistical bias errors in a low-resolution atmospheric model. Operational temperature forecasts of the Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System (LDAPS) were downscaled at 100 m resolution for three months, which were used to validate the model's physical and statistical correction methods and to compare its performance with the forecasts of the Korea Meteorological Administration Post-processing (KMAP) system. The validation results showed positive impacts of the un-resolved topographic and urban effects (topographic height correction, valley cold air pool effect, mountain internal boundary layer formation effect, urban land-use effect) in complex terrain areas. In addition, the statistical bias correction of the LDAPS model were efficient in reducing forecast errors of the near-surface temperatures. The new high-resolution downscale model showed better agreement against Korean 584 meteorological monitoring stations than the KMAP, supporting the importance of the new physical and statistical correction methods. The new physical/statistical diagnostic downscale model can be a useful tool in improving near-surface temperature forecasts and diagnostics over complex terrain areas.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.463-478
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• 1997

This paper examines the impact of large-scale tidal flat reclamations on environment by analyzing land use change, ocean cultivation, water quality, sea biota and climate in Shiwha, Sosan and Saemankeum districts. The data used in this paper include Landsat TM images and documents related to population, industry, water quality, sea biota and climate at the time of the pre- and post-reclamation. Many times of field reclamations contribute to the creatation of newly available land for urban and industrial development, but cause environmental degradation significantly. The increase of pollution load and the change of coastal ecology, also cause some changes of climatic element such as relative humidity. As tidal flats were reduced, the area of ocean cultivation and the population of fishing industries were decreased. Conceming the sustainable development. it is necessary to carry out a careful environmental impact assessment accumulating monitoring environmental data continuously by using GIS techniques.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.145-151
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• 2009

Recently the water quality management policy has been changed from managing the point source to controlling the nonpoint sources (NPSs) because of TMDL program. Most NPSs are accumulated on the surface during dry periods. These accumulated pollutants are washed-off during a storm event and highly impairing the water quality of the receiving water bodies. Usually NPS has high uncertainty and is hard to control because of the variability of the rainfall and watershed characteristics. Also, NPS is derived from various land uses. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is studying and monitoring the pollutant loads from each land use since 2007 to determine the unit pollutant loads. This research was a part of long-term monitoring program conducted to characterize the washoff and provide the mean EMC of artificial grassland. The average EMCs result of BOD, COD, DOC, SS, TN, NH4-N, NO3-N, TP, and PO4-P of the artificial grassland were deterined to 8.2, 17.5, 11.3, 110.1, 3.07, 0.20, 0.75, 0.86 and 0.08 mg/L, respectively. The results of statistical analysis conducted showed a low correlation to the contaminants.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.63-72
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• 2005

Grounwater level applied on dredged and reclaimed clay layer was assumed to be the same value under design criterion as field test one, but actually differences are found through the monitoring test. In this study, a case study of measuring residual groundwater level is performed in ground improvement construction of Gwangyang container terminal and hinterland. With priority given to residual groundwater level measured during construction and management period of 9 years, it is investigated that residual groundwater level (R. GWL) could be applied reasonably to the design, construction, and use stages of the container harbor and land development.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2014

The application of the mechanized tunnelling has been extended in recent years. There are at present different approaches that are used in the design of segmental tunnel linings supported in mechanized tunnels. Even though segmental lining is utilized for mechanized tunnels, its behaviour is still quite unclear under in situ stress and there is a lack of data regarding the distribution of stresses inside segmental linings. So far no single effective calculation method exists for segmental lining design. The lack of clear solutions makes the use of segmental lining to be more expensive due to the adoption of greater safety factors. Therefore, a particular attention must be given in order to obtain data from monitored tunnels which permits to validate design methods. In this study, strain measurements, which were conducted during the construction of twin tunnels in the Bologna-Florence railway line, have been presented. The behaviour of segmental lining during the excavation and the influence of a new tunnel excavation on an existing tunnel have been shown through the measured data. The data are then compared with the results obtained with Einstein and Schwartz's method and Duddeck and Erdmann's method, which permits to highlight the fact that the two analytical methods underestimate structural forces induced in the segmental lining and then must be used with caution.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.33-40
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• 2006

The water of rivers and lakes in Korea is the main sources for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. However, various pollutants washed-off from watershed area make worse and worse the water quality. Particularly, the changes of land uses in watershed area is the main pollutant sources in many cases in Korea, it is usually called to nonpoint pollution sources. In this reason, the Ministry of Environment are programing the total maximum daily load for four major large rivers in order to improve the water quality by controlling the watershed area. Therefore, this research was performed to estimate the total pollutant input from watershed areas to lakes of Ganwol and Boonam located in Chungnamdo. The AGNPS water quality model and monitoring were used to estimate the pollutant loading rates with unit pollutant concentration of each land use. The main landuse of the research area are forest, wet and dry paddy field and small urban area. The research shows that the pollutant sources in Ganwol and Boonam lakes are from the various landuses. In this manuscripts, the results will provide important informations for mitigating the pollutants to the lakes.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 2012

In this study, to analyze the stream health using fish assemblage and make effective management, we conducted fish monitoring in the Hoeya River basin and neighboring streams. A total of 33 species classified into 12 families were collected from 29 sites in 2007. Dominant species was Zacco platypus (Relative abundance, RA: 24.8%), and subdominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (RA: 16.2%). Eight Korean endemic species and 4 exotic species were identified. Moreover, two species (Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis and Hemiculter eigenmanni) were translocated from other basin. To evaluate stream health of the study sites, Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) was applied, based on fish assemblages. Overall, IBI values were "C (Fair)" or "D (Poor)" condition, according to the grade except two sites which recorded "B (Good)". The correlation between land use pattern of surrounding watershed and IBI was analyzed to verify impact of development on stream health using fish assemblage. As a result, when percentage of the developmental groups increased, IBI values were decreased (Pearson correlation, r=-0.425, p=0.022). In contrast, increment of percent forest and grass land was positively correlated with IBI (r=0.556, p=0.002). The agricultural group and IBI did not significantly correlate with each other (r=-0.231, p=0.333). In this study, we identified a relationship between land use of surrounding watershed and stream health using fish data (i.e. IBI). These results could be provided useful fundamental information to establish management and restoration plan in the Hoeya River basin and other rivers distributed in Korea.