• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze the change of environmental capacity in Yong-in City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea through calculation of ecological footprint indices and analysis of their changes, and to suggest implications for urban development and planning. In this study, we analyzed ecological footprints of 1993, 2003, and 2013 to understand the patterns of land use changes and development in Yong-in City. We also compared the GIS land cover maps and ecological footprint indices to figure out land cover changes associated with resource consumption in Yong-in City. As a result, we found the following three lessons. First, the ecological footprint indices of Yong-in City are 3.20(gha) in 1993, 6.50(gha) in 2003, and 11.15(gha) in 2013. This implies that the ecological footprint of Yong-in City is much larger than 1.80(gha), the globally required ecological footprint per capita and 3.56(gha), the average ecological footprint of South Korea. Second, the forest ecological footprint of Yong-in City was calculated as the largest, followed by the ecological footprints of energy, food, and built environment. In particular, the forest ecological footprint was the most rapidly increased from 0.002(gha) in 1993 to 7.32(gha) in 2013, followed by energy ecological footprint from 0.87(gha) to 2.38(gha). This implies that the provision and consumption of timber are seriously unbalanced, and energy consumption is unsustainable because of the rapid increase of residential and commercial land development in the city. Third, our analysis of the rapid increase of forest ecological footprint indicates that the disturbed forest areas are concentrated in the increased built environment areas. We also observed that the increase of energy ecological footprint indices was caused largely by the increase of the commercial and road areas. This implies that Yong-in City should minimize forest disturbance and expand green areas for future in the city. In addition, this may provide a reasonable ground that the city should reduce the use of fossil fuels and facilitate the use of renewable energy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.463-472
• /
• 2015

Solar radiation data are important data that can be used as basic research data in diverse areas. In particular, solar radiation data are essential for diverse studies that have been recently conducted in South Korea including those for new and renewable energy resource map making and crop yield forecasting. So purpose of this study is modification of Heliosat-II method to estimate solar irradiance in Korea by using COMS-MI imagery. For this purpose, in this study, errors appearing in ground albedo images were corrected through linear transformation. And method of producing background albedo map which is used in Heliosat-II method is modified to get more finely tuned one. Through the study, ground albedo correction could be successfully performed and background albedo maps could be successfully derived. Lastly, In this study, solar irradiance was estimated by using modified Heliostat-II method. And it was compared with actually measured values to verify the accuracy of the methods. Accuracy of estimated solar irradiance was 30.8% RMSE(%). And this accuracy level means that solar irradiance was estimated on 10% higher level than previous Heliosat-II method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.96 no.6
• /
• pp.639-643
• /
• 2007

The use of forest biomass resources produced by forest tending and residual forest biomass that was not gathered on commercial thinning or cutting area was estimated to be come into the spotlight as bioenergy sources in these days of new high oil price. With considering these problems, This study was investigated about possibility with biomass calculation and convertibility to fossil fuel in these area. Total forest tending area in the year 2005 was 294, 115 ha and the yield gathered from these area was $143,747m^3$. It is equivalent to biomass of 115,000 ton and caloric value of 533,199Gcal. However, the potential and additional yield that is residual in forest stands was 2,483,000 ton. It is equivalent to 11,133 billion won of oil which is 20 times of the actual yield produced by forest tending. Therefore, these amount of biomass has a substitution effect of the fossil fuel. Moreover, the residual biomass that is not gathered at commercial thinning and cutting area was 475,000 ton. It is equivalent to 2,206,235 Gcal of heating value and about 2,211 billion won of oil. This potential amount could be a new energy source to be a substitution effect of fossil fuel. It is time to be interested in the forest biomass as a renewable and environment-friendly resource and its substitution effect of fossil fuel.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.165-175
• /
• 1994

An emergy analysis of the main energy flows driving the economy of humans and life support systems was made including environmental energies, fuels, and imports, all expressed as solar emjoules. The total emergy use (4, 373 E20 sej/yr) is 90 per cent from imported sources, fuels and goods and services. The emergy flows from the environment are modest, because the share of global inputs such as ruin and geological uplift flux is modest. Consequently, the ratio of outside investment to attracting natural resources is already large, like other industrialized countries. The population level is already in excess of carrying capacity. The emergy use per person in Korea indicates a moderate emergy standard of living, even though the indigenous resource is very poor. If the present economy were running entirely on stored reserves of fuels, soils, woods, etc., it would last about 2 years. Its carrying capacity for steady state on its renewable sources is only 3.3 million people, compared to 43.3 million in 1991. Continued availability of foreign oil at a favorable balance of emergy trade, currently about 7 to 1 net emergy, is the basis for present economic activity and must decrease as the net emergy of foreign oil purchased goes down. Close economic integration with Middle East may determine how long this is possible in the future.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.163-173
• /
• 2022

Research and development of biofuels as one of the means to mitigate global warming and to avoid fossil fuel depletion has occurred for more than 30 years. However, there has only been limited distribution of a few first- and second-generation biofuels, and widespread supply and consumption of biofuels is still far from a reality. Although a relatively recently studied third-generation biofuel derived from seaweed biomass has been shown to have many advantages, it is yet to be deployed in commercial-scale seaweed biorefineries. This review paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of seaweed biorefineries for the entire value chain covering from seaweed and its cultivation to biofuel production based on an extensive literature search and the author's experience of conducting feasibility studies pertaining to seaweed biorefineries for over 10 years. For this purpose, the literature survey will cover the current status of seaweed production and its research and development worldwide, conversion technologies for biofuel production from seaweed based on bench-scale experiments, and large-scale techno-economic feasibility studies for seaweed conversion to biofuels and bioenergy. In addition, the main problems expected with the commercialization of seaweed-based biofuels will be identified. Finally, the current status of seaweed biorefinery technology and the author's views on its promising future will be summarized.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.76-85
• /
• 2023

Demand for hydrogen as a renewable energy resource is increasing. However, unlike conventional fossil fuels, hydrogen requires a dedicated refueling station for fuel supply. A risk assessment of hydrogen refueling stations must be undertaken to secure the infrastructure. Therefore, in this study, a risk assessment for hydrogen refueling stations was conducted through both qualitative and quantitative risk assessments. For the qualitative evaluation, the hydrogen dispenser module was evaluated as two nodes using the hazard and operability (HAZOP) analysis. The risk due to filter clogging and high-pressure accidents was evaluated to be high according to the criticality estimation matrix. For the quantitative risk assessment, the Hydrogen Korea Risk Assessment Module (Hy-KoRAM) was used to indicate the shape of the fire and the range of damage impact, and to evaluate the individual and social risks. The individual risk level was determined of to be as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). Additional safety measures proposed include placing the hydrogen refueling station about 100m away from public facilities. The social risk level was derived as 1E-04/year, with a frequency of approximately 10 deaths, falling within the ALARP range. As a result of the qualitative and quantitative risk assessments, additional safety measures for the process and a safety improvement plan are proposed through the establishment of a restricted area near the hydrogen refueling station.