• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2017

Objective: This paper presents a study to evaluate the WBGT index for assessing the effects of a wide range of outdoor weather conditions on human responses. Background: The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index was firstly developed for the assessment of hot outdoor conditions. It is a recognised index that is used world-wide. It may be useful over a range of outdoor conditions and not just for hot climates. Method: Four group experiments, involving people performing a light stepping activity, were conducted to determine human responses to outside conditions in the U.K. They were conducted in September 2007 (autumn), December 2007 (winter), March 2008 (spring) and June 2008 (summer). Environmental measurements included WBGT, air temperature, radiant temperature (including solar load), humidity and wind speed all measured at 1.2m above the ground, as well as weather data measured by a standard weather station at 3m to 4m above the ground. Participants' physiological and subjective responses were measured. When the overall results of the four seasons are considered, WBGT provided a strong prediction of physiological responses as well as subjective responses if aural temperature, heart rate and sweat production were measured. Results: WBGT is appropriate to predict thermal strain on a large group of ordinary people in moderate conditions. Consideration should be given to include the WBGT index in warning systems for a wide range of weather conditions. However, the WBGT overestimated physiological responses of subjects. In addition, tenfold Borg's RPE was significantly different with heart rate measured for the four conditions except autumn (p<0.05). Physiological and subjective responses over 60 minutes consistently showed a similar tendency in the relationships with the $WBGT_{head}$ and $WBGT_{abdomen}$. Conclusion: It was found that either $WBGT_{head}$ or $WBGT_{abdomen}$ could be measured if a measurement should be conducted at only one height. The relationship between the WBGT values and weather station data was also investigated. There was a significant relationship between WBGT values at the position of a person and weather station data. For UK daytime weather conditions ranging from an average air temperature of $6^{\circ}C$ to $21^{\circ}C$ with mean radiant temperatures of up to $57^{\circ}C$, the WBGT index could be used as a simple thermal index to indicate the effects of weather on people. Application: The result of evaluation of WBGT might help to develop the smart clothing for workers in industrial sites and improve the work environment in terms of considering workers' wellness.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.60-74
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• 2018

This study was to investigate the pedestrian's thermal environments in the North Sidewalk of E-W Street during summer heatwave. We carried out detailed measurements with four human-biometeorological stations on Dongjin Street, Jinju, Korea ($N35^{\circ}10.73{\sim}10.75^{\prime}$, $E128^{\circ}55.90{\sim}58.00^{\prime}$, elevation: 50m). Two of the stations stood under one row street tree and hedge(One-Tree), two row street tree and hedge (Two-Tree), one of the stations stood under shelter and awning(Shelter), while the other in the sun (Sunlit). The measurement spots were instrumented with microclimate monitoring stations to continuously measure microclimate, radiation from the six cardinal directions at the height of 1.1m so as to calculate the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) from 24th July to 21th August 2018. The radiant temperature of sidewalk's elements were measured by the reflective sphere and thermal camera at 29th July 2018. The analysis results of 9 day's 1 minute term human-biometeorological data absorbed by a man in standing position from 10am to 4pm, and 1 day's radiant temperature of sidewalk elements from 1:16pm to 1:35pm, showed the following. The shading of street tree and shelter were mitigated heat stress by the lowered UTCI at mid and late summer's daytime, One-Tree and Two-Tree lowered respectively 0.4~0.5 level, 0.5~0.8 level of the heat stress, Shelter lowered respectively 0.3~1.0 level of the heat stress compared with those in the Sunlit. But the thermal environments in the One-Tree, Two-Tree and Shelter during the heat wave supposed to user "very strong heat stress" while those in the Sunlit supposed to user "very strong heat stres" and "exterme heat stress". The main heat load temperature compared with body temperature ($37^{\circ}C$) were respectively $7.4^{\circ}C{\sim}21.4^{\circ}C$ (pavement), $14.7^{\circ}C{\sim}15.8^{\circ}C$ (road), $12.7^{\circ}C$ (shelter canopy), $7.0^{\circ}C$ (street funiture), $3.5^{\circ}C{\sim}6.4^{\circ}C$ (building facade). The main heat load percentage were respectively 34.9%~81.0% (pavement), 9.6%~25.2% (road), 24.8% (shelter canopy), 14.1%~15.4% (building facade), 5.7% (street facility). Reducing the radiant temperature of the pavement, road, building surfaces by shading is the most effective means to achieve outdoor thermal comfort for pedestrians in sidewalk. Therefore, increasing the projected canopy area and LAI of street tree through the minimal training and pruning, building dense roadside hedge are essential for pedestrians thermal comfort. In addition, thermal liner, high reflective materials, greening etc. should be introduced for reducing the surface temperature of shelter and awning canopy. Also, retro-reflective materials of building facade should be introduced for the control of reflective sun radiation. More aggressively pavement watering should be introduced for reducing the surface temperature of sidewalk's pavement.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1115-1129
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• 2016

To analyze human thermal environments in protected horticultural houses (plastic houses), human thermal sensations estimated using measured microclimatic data (air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar and terrestrial radiation) were compared between an outdoor area and two indoor plastic houses, a polyethylene (PE) house and a polycarbonate (PC) house. Measurements were carried out during the daytime in autumn, a transient season that exhibits human thermal environments ranging from neutral to very hot. The mean air temperature and absolute humidity of the houses were $14.6-16.8^{\circ}C$ (max. 22. $3^{\circ}C$) and $7.0-12.0g{\cdot}m^{-3}$ higher than those of the outdoor area, respectively. Solar (K) and terrestrial (L) radiation were compared directionally from the sky hemisphere (${\downarrow}$) and the ground hemisphere (${\uparrow}$). The mean $K{\downarrow}$ and $K{\uparrow}$ values for the houses were respectively $232.5-367.8W{\cdot}m^{-2}$ and $44.9-55.7W;{\cdot}m^{-2}$ lower than those in the outdoor area; the mean $L{\downarrow}$ and $L{\uparrow}$ values were respectively $150.4-182.3W{\cdot}m^{-2}$ and $30.5-33.9W{\cdot}m^{-2}$ higher than those in the outdoor area. Thus, L was revealed to be more influential on the greenhouse effect in the houses than K. Consequently, mean radiant temperature in the houses was higher than the outdoor area during the daytime from 10:45 to 14:15. As a result, mean human thermal sensation values in the PMV, PET, and UTCI of the houses were respectively $3.2-3.4^{\circ}C$ (max. $4.7^{\circ}C$), $15.2-16.4^{\circ}C$ (max. $23.7^{\circ}C$) and $13.6-15.4^{\circ}C$ (max. $22.3^{\circ}C$) higher than those in the outdoor area. The heat stress levels that were influenced by human thermal sensation were much higher in the houses (between hot and very hot) than in the outdoor (between neutral and warm). Further, the microclimatic component that most affected the human thermal sensation in the houses was air temperature that was primarily influenced by $L{\downarrow}$. Therefore, workers in the plastic houses could experience strong heat stresses, equal to hot or higher, when air temperature rose over $22^{\circ}C$ on clear autumn days.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.870-878
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• 2003

The maintenance of thermal equilibrium between the human body and its environment is one of the primary requirements for health, wellbeing and comfort. For the effective control of indoor thermal environment, thermostat or humidistat is used. But, it is not sufficient to control the indoor thermal environment using only one or two parameters as human response for the indoor comfortable environment. So an environmental thermal index is required for the control of indoor thermal environment effectively. In this study, a PMV sensor has been developed which has integrated from various kinds of individual sensors for temperature, humidity, air velocity, radiant temperature. After applying the PMV and PPD equation, it is possible to monitor the indoor thermal environment with the sensor system, which is adopted to the circuit for optimization according to the human response with the metabolic rate and activities. The measurement was carried out to verify the performance of the integrated sensor system in comparison with existing measurement system, the PMV meter. As a result, the possibility of applying the PMV sensor to control the indoor thermal environment simultaneously was examined.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.153-170
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• 2013

This study was conducted to analyze the thermal comfort in the urban neighborhood park and to obtain a plan for improvement of the thermal environment. First, in the result of the analysis of the distribution characteristics of the park's main thermal environment factors and differences among types of space, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed did not show a clear difference spatially. However, the median radiant temperature showed great differences according to the openness of the space and the covering material. According to the evaluation of thermal comfort by types of space based on derived thermal environmental factors, the PMV value of the square was the highest at 4.39, the paths showed 2.58, greenery 1.90, and resting spaces 0.42. In the result of the PMV regression model established for the evaluation of the significance of these thermal environment factors that decide thermal comfort, it showed that the relative significance to the PMV was as follows in decreasing order: median radiant temperature(1.084), wind speed(-0.280), temperature(0.013), and relative humidity(-0.009). When conducting a scenario analysis on the areas with need for improvement in thermal environment, it was found that through reflectivity, color and the change in the physical properties of packing materials the thermal comfort felt by the body could be improved, and it is believed that through this the improvement plan can be established.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.319-327
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• 2001

The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of thermal radiation environments on human thermal comfort, depending on different canyon types and surface materials on the human thermal comfort in a housing complex in Pohang city, Korea. For this purpose, the operative temperature and new effective temperature were calculated based on the modified mean radiant temperature of canyon models variated by the existence of direct radiation existence, surface materials, and the width and length of the street spaces in a housing complex. These indices for the canyon have been calculated from the meteorological data of Pohang city, which include air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, global solar radiation and cloud. And the monthly averages of these climate factors measured at noon have been used. The results are as follows: (1) It is revealed that the short-wave radiosity reached the human body is affected by direct solar radiation and surface materials, and the long-wave radiosity by canyon types. (2) The existence of direct solar radiation, the kinds of surface materials and canyon types affect operative temperature($OT_n$) and new effective temperature($ET^*{_n}$). (3) The analysis of the human heat balance in the canyon indicates that the influence of radiation on human body is marc likely to be affected by the existence of direct solar radiation on human model.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.86-92
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• 2010

One of the limitation of wood as building materials is its flammability. The purpose of this paper is to examine the combustion properties of the Pinus rigida and Castanea savita which are grown in Korea and meet the desirable characteristics for use of construction materials. The cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1) was used to determine the heat release rate (HRR) and fire smoke index, as well as CO and $CO_2$ production and smoke obscuration. The $HRR_{mean}$ of the Castanea savita and Pinus rigida at $50\;kW/m^2$ of radiant heat flux was $70.4\;kW/m^2$ and $68.5\;kW/m^2$. Furthermore, the THR of Castanea sativata was 120.8 MJ/kg and it was higher than the THR of Pinus rigida ($81.9\;MJ/m^$). These results are depend on the bulk density of tested wood species. The Castanea savita has high $CO_{mean}$ yield and high CO/$CO_2$ yield compared with that of Pinus rigida.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.12-21
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• 2019

In order to investigate the effect of various pavement materials (artificial grass, natural grass, and clay sand) on the human thermal environment, the microclimate data in early autumn (air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and shortwave and longwave radiation) were measured and compared on each surface. The mean air temperature, humidity and wind speed of the pavement materials did not differ significantly and showed the greatest difference in the mean radiant temperature. Natural grass, which has the highest albedo, has the highest amount of shortwave radiation. The artificial turf had the highest surface temperature and the highest amount of longwave radiation. In the human thermal environment index PET, artificial grass > clay sand > natural grass. Natural grass had a maximum 2/3 level lower and a mean 1/2 level lower in PET as compared to artificial grass. The clay sand pavement had a maximum 2/3 level lower and a mean 1/3 level lower than the artificial grass. Natural grass had a maximum 1/3 level lower than the clay sand pavement. Their UTCIs showed smaller differences than the PETs. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully choose materials from the planning stage when designing outdoor spaces, including playgrounds.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2017

Objectives: A hospital is a complex building that serves many different purposes. The indoor environment in a hospital plays a major role in patient well-being and the work efficiency of the hospital staff. This study was conducted to evaluate overall comfort in two major hospitals over the course of one year. Methods: Various indoor environmental conditions were measured in two general hospitals for one year (April 2014 to April 2015). Monitoring alternated between the hospitals at one month per respective monitoring session. The indoor air temperature, relative humidity (RH), mean radiant temperature and air velocity were measured in order to calculate the predicted mean vote (PMV). Carbon dioxide concentration, noise level and illumination level were concurrently measured and applied to the overall IEQ acceptance model for the hospitals (IEQh). Results: The IEQh at the two general hospitals was different at five spaces within a building. The IEQh for summer and winter were significantly different. Real-time IEQh demonstrated that indoor comfort was affected by the hospital's operating hours due to operation of the HVAC system. The percentage of indoor comfort in the hospitals was higher using PMV than IEQh. Conclusion: IEQh in the hospitals was different at locations with different purposes. Indoor comfort assessment using IEQh was stricter than with PMV. Additional research is needed in order to optimize the IEQh model.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to provide the thermal comfort range according to the residential style and clothing level at radiant floor heating space, and compare the annual energy consumption and energy cost for each condition. Lower neutral point temperature has been stood for floor sitting style than chair sitting style, which appears that the thermal sensation was affected by local heat transfer between floor surface and the human body. The result of research indicates that neutral point temperature was in inverse proportion with the clothing level. It is interpreted that the increasing of clothing level results decrement of heat loss from human body, and is available to achieve same thermal comfort at lower room temperature. It was analyzed that the floor sitting style is more economical residential style than the chair sitting style, because the energy consumption of the floor sitting style is saved by 6.0% in average to compare with that of the chair sitting style. It is analyzed that energy consumption has been decreased by 13.5% with the clothing level of 1.2 Clo than with that of 1.0 Clo, and decreased by 18.0% than with that of 0.8 Clo, which explains that the energy saving can be achieved with the variation in life habit to increase the clothing level.