• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.5_3
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• pp.835-850
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• 2022

Microplastics have arisen as a worldwide environmental concern, becoming ubiquitous in all marine compartments, and various researches on monitoring marine microplastics are being actively conducted worldwide. Recently, application of a remote detection technology that enables large-scale real-time observation to marine plastic monitoring has been conducted overseas. However, in South Korea, there is little information linking remote detection to marine microplastics and some field studies have demonstrated remote detection of medium- and large-sized marine plastics. This study introduces research cases with remote detection of marine plastics in South Korea and overseas, investigates potential feasibility of using the remote detection technology to marine microplastic monitoring, and suggests some future works to monitor marine microplastics with the remote detection.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

If the inside of a building collapses due to a disaster such as fire, collapse, or natural disaster, the physical security inside the building is likely to become ineffective. Here, physical security is needed to minimize the human casualties and physical damages in the collapsed building. Therefore, this paper proposes an algorithm to minimize the damage in a disaster situation by fusing existing research that detects obstacles and collapsed areas in the building and a deep learning-based object detection algorithm that minimizes human casualties. The existing research uses a single camera to determine whether the corridor environment in which the robot is currently located has collapsed and detects obstacles that interfere with the search and rescue operation. Here, objects inside the collapsed building have irregular shapes due to the debris or collapse of the building, and they are classified and detected as obstacles. We also propose a method to detect rescue requesters-the most important resource in the disaster situation-and minimize human casualties. To this end, we collected open-source disaster images and image data of disaster situations and calculated the accuracy of detecting rescue requesters in disaster situations through various deep learning-based object detection algorithms. In this study, as a result of analyzing the algorithms that detect rescue requesters in disaster situations, we have found that the YOLOv4 algorithm has an accuracy of 0.94, proving that it is most suitable for use in actual disaster situations. This paper will be helpful for performing efficient search and rescue in disaster situations and achieving a high level of physical security, even in collapsed buildings.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.216-226
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• 2023

Since nylon 66, a polyamide resin, has been developed and applied to toothbrush bristles, plastic consumption has increased rapidly every year, along with the increase in the amount of plastic discarded. Among the various forms of plastic debris produced by the decomposition of plastics, microplastics with a size of less than 5 mm are widely distributed in the environment, which poses a threat not only to the environment but also to animals and humans. The pathway through which microplastics enter the human body is known as ingestion by water and food, inhalation from air, and skin contact. Microplastics introduced into the human body affect human health. Recently, food-related studies have begun to be reported among microplastics-related studies, and analyses of the presence of microplastics in processed foods, such as canned foods, dried seaweed, beverages, beer, milk, sugar, and honey, are underway. Here, we present trends in the production and consumption of plastics, the generation of microplastics, the route of human inflow and human risk, and the microplastics present in processed foods, which are limited but have recently been reported. Thus far, studies on microplastics and risk assessment in processed foods have been insufficient, but microplastics are gradually being recognized as a factor that affects the environment and food. Future studies are expected to have implications for regulations regarding microplastics present in processed foods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.3
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• pp.340-351
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• 2023

Landslides are major natural geological hazards that cause enormous property damage and human casualties annually. The vulnerability of mountainous areas to landslides is further exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Soil depth is a crucial parameter in landslide and debris flow analysis, and plays an important role in the evaluation of watershed hydrological processes that affect slope stability. An accurate method of estimating soil depth is to directly investigate the soil strata in the field. However, this requires significant amounts of time and money; thus, numerous models for predicting soil depth have been proposed. However, they still have limitations in terms of practicality and accuracy. In this study, 71 seismic survey results were collected from domestic mountainous areas to estimate soil depth on hill slopes. Soil depth was estimated on the basis of a shear wave velocity of 700 m/s, and a database was established for slope angle, elevation, and soil depth. Consequently, the statistical characteristics of soil depth were analyzed, and the correlations between slope angle and soil depth, and between elevation and soil depth were investigated. Moreover, various soil depth prediction models based on slope angle were investigated, and corrected linear and exponential soil depth prediction models were proposed.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.71-83
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• 2010

In this study, the volume of shoreline retreat at sea-cliffs in the Taean peninsula(West Coast of Korea) was estimated and their erosion and seasonal landforms characteristics changes were investigated through multi-temporal aerial photographs and field survey. Based on the analysis of aerial photographs through ortho-correction, the results show that the length of shoreline and erosion area increase as erosion at sea-cliffs occurs in Pado-li and Dundu-li. To obtain the seasonal quantitative landforms changes and retreat of sea-cliffs, we marked top, middle, and bottom datum-points, from which the distance to the nearest bedrock was repeatedly measured. In these regions, the retreat of sea-cliffs gradually increases in spring to summer, but gradually decreases in autumn. In particular, the typhoon that has a great influence on the Korean peninsula in July to September in summer would drastically increase the retreat of sea-cliffs in comparison with other seasons. As the outcrop of sea-cliffs repeats freezing and thawing in winter, the retreat of sea-cliffs increases a little due to active mechanical weathering. To know the erosion and seasonal landforms changes of sea-cliffs, we took pictures of them in every month and then analyze their condition. The retreat of sea-cliffs was repeatedly occurred by the circulation of the erosion of sea-cliff base, landslides, the formation of slope sediment debris and their erosion, in that order.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2023

Bentonite is a type of rock that has been used as a traditional mineral medicine. It has a variety of pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat jaundice, diarrhea, and hemostasis. In modern medicine, it is used as a raw material and additive for medicines such as antacids, gastrointestinal protective agents, and laxatives. Bentonite produced in Korea was produced through diagenesis or hydrothermal alteration of tertiary volcanic debris distributed in the Pohang and Gyeongju areas. It is mainly used for industrial purposes such as papermaking, paint, civil engineering, casting, and animal feed. Recently, technology is being developed to use it in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In this study, the geochemical characteristics of bentonite were identified by analyzing the main components and trace elements of 40 and 21 types of bentonite produced in the Gampo Gyeongju and Yeonil Pohang area. Also it were classifed by formation envrionment of bentonite deposits in the Gampo and Yeonil. As a result of the study, bentonite from the reserch area may be cased by argillic alteraton that alkali elements are removed form basaltic rocks by hydrothermal fluids and AI-CCPI alteration indices wrere also indentified argillic alteraton. It was found that there is a correlation between the behavior characteristics of heavy metal elements (P b, Cr, As) and the hydrothermal alteration of bentonite in the reserch area.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2009

The analyses of minor and trace elements in glass debris were performed using LA-ICP-MS in order to identify manufacturers using real commercial samples. At first, a calibration curve was made using standard glass samples of NIST 610, 612, 614 and 616. $^{29}Si$ was used as an internal standard, and the ratios of metal/Si for each metal were compared with their concentrations. Based on elements in each sample and standard materials, 24 metals were quantified and the LOD in analysis, according to the blank sample, was in the range of 0.11 mg/kg (Ti)-4.91 mg/kg (Ca). Eleven samples from two manufacturers were collected and five sub-samples were taken from each sample for analysis. 15 elements (Co, Ce, Ca, Mn, Sr, Ba, Li, Rb, U, La, Th, Na, Al, Zr and Hf) were selected to identify manufacturers because some elements (Cu, Cr, Cd and Ni) were below the detection limit and some elements (Ti, Pr, Mg, Nb, Nd) were absent in the analysis of standards and others (Pb and Sn) had a problem of homogeneity. The attempts to identify manufacturers and the manufacturing period were performed through a triangular diagram. In the manufacturer discrimination by discriminant analysis, a canonical discriminant function was made based on Mn, Ce and Rb, and each sample could be identified.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2B
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

Effective interception area of street grate inlets was decreased by clogging with trash, debris, and sand. It also decreased the interception capability of grate inlets and increased the inundation area in street. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the clogging characteristics and interception capability change by clogging for appropriate design and management of grate inlets. Hydraulic experimental apparatus which can be changed the gutter transverse slopes, longitudinal slopes of street and clogging condition of grate inlet ($40{\times}50cm$) was installed for this study. 81 total experiments were conducted with 8 different clogging condition. The interception capacities of grate inlets clogged curb direction are smaller than those of clogged flow direction. As the longitudinal slopes of street increase, the interception capacity of grate inlet decreases due to splash-over phenomena. This is also observed at grate inlets which has no clogging condition. In general, 50% of clogging factor was selected in design of grate inlet in foreign country. The clogging factor for same clogging condition are suggested 0.25~0.65 in domestic urban area.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.5-11
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• 2023

Economic damage is occurring due to landslides and debris flows that occur when the ground artificially created for roads or photovoltaic power generation facilities is weakened by rainfall such as torrential rain. In order to understand the stability of the artificially created ground, it is very important to check the ground information such as the compositional state and mechanical characteristics of the stratum. However, since most of the investigation sites are steep slopes or there are no access roads, it is not easy to enter the drilling equipment commonly used to check ground information and perform standard penetration tests. In this study, a dynamic cone penetration test (DCP) device using a miniaturized auger drilling equipment and an automatic drop device was developed to check the cone resistance value and the dynamic cone penetration test value and analyze the correlation with the standard penetration test value to confirm its applicability at the mountain solar power generation site. As a result, the cone resistance value is q_d = 0.46 N and the dynamic cone penetration test value is N_d = 1.58 N, confirming a value similar to the results of existing researchers to secure its reliability.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.204-214
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• 2023

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact of deforestation and forest restoration on carbon storage in North Korea until 2050, employing rigorous analyses of trends of land use change in the past periods and projecting future land use change scenarios. We utilized the CA-Markov model, which can reflect spatial trends in land use changes, and verified the impact of forest restoration strategies on carbon storage by creating land use change scenarios (reforestation and non-reforestation). We employed two distinct periods of land use maps (2000 to 2010 and 2010 to 2020). To verify the overall terrestrial carbon storage in North Korea, our evaluation included estimations of carbon storage for various elements such as above-ground, below-ground, soil, and debris (including litters) for settlement, forest, cultivated, grass, and bare areas. Our results demonstrated that effective forest restoration strategies in North Korea have the potential to increase carbon storage by 4.4% by the year 2050, relative to the carbon storage observed in 2020. In contrast, if deforestation continues without forest restoration efforts, we predict a concerning decrease in carbon storage by 11.5% by the year 2050, compared to the levels in 2020. Our findings underscore the significance of prioritizing and continuing forest restoration efforts to effectively increase carbon storage in North Korea. Furthermore, the implications presented in this study are expected to be used in the formulation and implementation of long-term forest restoration strategies in North Korea, while fostering international cooperation towards this common environmental goal.