• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2013

Anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, primarily through radiative forcing from carbon dioxide, continue to challenge earth's climate. This study quantified $CO_2$ storage and uptake by dominant forest types and age classes in the middle region of Korea. In addition, the role of forest landscapes in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ against $CO_2$ emissions based on energy consumption was evaluated. Mean $CO_2$ storage and uptake per unit area by woody plants for three forest types and four age classes were estimated applying regression equations derived to quantify $CO_2$ storage and uptake per tree; and computations per soil unit area were also performed. Total $CO_2$ storage and uptake by forest landscapes were estimated by extrapolating $CO_2$ storage and uptake per unit area. Results indicated mean $CO_2$ storage per unit area by woody plants and soils was higher in older age classes for the same forest types, and higher in broadleaved than coniferous forests for the same age classes, with the exception of age class II (11-20 years). $CO_2$ storage by broadleaved forests of age class V (41-50 years) averaged 662.0 t/ha (US$331.0 hundred/ha), highest for all forest types and age classes evaluated. Overall, an increased mean $CO_2$ uptake per unit area by woody plants was evident for older age classes for the same forest types. However, decreased $CO_2$ uptake by broadleaved forests at age class V was observed, compared to classes III and IV with an average of 27.9 t/ha/yr (US$14.0 hundred/ha/yr). Total $CO_2$ storage by woody plants and soils in the study area was equivalent to 3.4 times the annual $CO_2$ emissions, and woody plants annually offset the $CO_2$ emissions by 17.7%. The important roles of plants and soils were associated with 39.1% of total forest area in South Korea, and $CO_2$ emissions comprised 62.2% of the total population. Therefore, development of forest lands may change $CO_2$ sinks into sources. Forest landscape management strategies were explored to maintain or improve forest roles in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ levels.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.3-12
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• 2012

The slowdown of private building industry resulted in growth of remodeling market as a way to improve energy performance. Remodeling is considered more cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for energy efficient building than new construction. Since 2008, Seoul has promoted Building Retrofit Project (BRP) preponderantly to attract energy-saving renovation by supporting building owners to switch building system into energy-saving system when they remodel their old buildings. According to 2012 press release, 254 Private sectors participated in this green building project and annually reduced 41000ton of greenhouse gas emission, 14000TOE, which also result in 7.5 billion won energy cost savings per year. The paper focuses on the building envelope remodeling as a way to improve energy efficiency. Different components of the building envelope such as wall insulation, window, and shading, were applied to the baseline model and the comparison was analyzed to come up with the ideal solution. This study only assesses the building envelope as to suggest the way to redesign the better energy performing building. Offering solution focusing on the architectural feature is essential because it will provide basic information and standard when remodeling a building for energy efficiency, especially, for the nonresidential buildings used as rental offices.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.217-226
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• 2017

Although the effects of climate change are universal, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are considered to be most vulnerable. SIDS heavily rely on imported oil and fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation, which makes them economically vulnerable and exposed to fluctuating oil price. Among the reasons SIDS highly depend on diesel fuel is due to the dispersed population living in remote islands which means, providing electricity through on on-grid system is difficult. Fiji as one of the SIDS, has actively promoted renewable sourced energy through a national plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In order to determine how feasible implementing a renewable energy (RE) system will be in Fiji, this study chose a remote island called Mavuva Island to test application of a hybrid RE system using HOMER. A combination of energy storage system (ESS), solar photovoltaic (PV) and diesel generator turns out to be the most cost effective and optimal configuration, resulting in effective greenhouse gas reduction for the given region.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2018

The role played by reservoirs in the biogeochemical cycles of elements is a subject of ongoing debate. Recent research has revealed that reservoirs emit significant levels of greenhouse gases. To assess the importance of reservoirs in monsoon climate areas as a source of methane gas into the atmosphere, we investigated variations in organic carbon (OC) input into the reservoir, oxic state changes, and finally the amount of methane emitted (focusing on the ebullition pathway) in Lake Soyang, which is the largest reservoir in South Korea. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were higher during summer after two years of heavy rainfall. The sedimentation rates of particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) were higher in the epilimnion and hypolimnion than the metalimnioin, indicating that autochthonous and allochthonous carbon made separate contributions to the TOC. During stratification, oxygen depletion occurred in the hypolimnion due to the decomposition of organic matter. Under these conditions, $H_2S$ and $CH_4$ can be released from sediment. The methane emissions from the reservoir were much higher than from other natural lakes. However, the temporal and spatial variations of methane ebullition were huge, and were clearly dependent on many factors. Therefore, more research via a well-organized field campaign is needed to investigate methane emissions.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.3740-3747
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• 2009

To protect the citizens' health of Gyeongju and to secure basic data for the assessment of health and environmental risk, distribution characteristics of meteorological elements were investigated and numerical simulation of wind field using RAMS model was carried out. In addition, measurement and analysis of air pollutants, forecasting the behavior air pollutants using ISC-AEROMOD view, and health and environmental risk-influenced zones were defined through managing air polluting materials to prevent health damage and property damage. According to the survey results of air pollution in Gyeongju and surroundings, average annual concentration of air pollutants in Gyeongju was slightly lower than that in Pohang and Ulsan areas, but concentration of particulate matters and nitrogen dioxide at Gyeongju Station Square and Yonggang Crossing were sometimes higher than that in Pohang and Ulsan areas. Results of the modeling of moving and diffusion of air pollutants that affect citizens' health showed that parts of the 1st through 4th industrial complexes together with POSCO were included in particulate matters and sulfur dioxide influenced areas in Pohang Steel Complex area, and that Haedo-dong, Sangdae-dong, Jecheol-dong and Jangheung-dong in Pohangnam-gu represented locally worsened air quality due to a quantity of air pollutant emission from dense steel industries and large scale industrial facilities.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.spc
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• pp.149-156
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• 2019

Assessing the hydrological safety of existing dams against climate change and providing appropriate adaptation measures are important in terms of sustainable water supply and management. Korean major dams ensure their safety through periodic inspections and maintenance according to 'Special Act on the safety control and maintenance of establishments'. Especially when performing a full safety examination, principal engineer must assess the hydrological safety and prepare for potential risks. This study employed future probable maximum precipitation (PMP) estimated using outputs of regional climate models based on RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 greenhouse-gas emission scenarios to assess climate change impact on existing dam's future hydrological safety. The analysis period was selected from 2011 to 2040, from 2041 to 2070, and from 2071 to 2100. Evaluating the potential risk based on the future probable maximum flood (PMF) for four major dams (A, B, C, I) showed that climate change could induce increasing the overflow risk on three dams (A, B, I), although there are small differences depending on the RCP scenarios and the analysis periods. Our results suggested that dam managers should consider both non-structural measures and structural measures to adapt to the expected climate change.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Recently, the government has been working feverously to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emission by enacting Basic Act on Low Carbon Green Growth at the national level. Improving the insulation performance of building exterior and insulator can reduce the energy in the building sector. This study is about developing light-weight foamed concrete insulation panel that can be applied to buildings to save energy and to find the optimal condition for the development of insulation materials that can save energy by enhancing its physical, kinetic and thermal characteristics. Various experimental factors and conditions were considered in the study such as foam agent types (AES=Alcohol Ethoxy Sulfate, AOS=Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate, VS=Vegetable Soap, FP=Fe-Protein), foam agent dilution concentration (1, 3, 5%), and foam percentage (30, 50, 70%). Experiment results indicated that the surface tension of aqueous solution including foam agent, was lower when AOS was used over other foam agents. FP produced relatively stable foams in 3% or more, which produced unstable foams containing high water content and low surface tension when diluted at low concentration. Depending on foam agent types, compressive strength and thermal conductivity were similar at low density range but showed some differences at high concentration range. In addition, when concentrations of foam agent and foaming ratio increased, pore size increased and open pores are formed. In all types of foam agent, thermal conductivity were excellent, satisfying KS standards. The most outstanding performance for insulation panel was obtained when FP 3% was used.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.33-43
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• 2019

Considerable efforts have been made to reduce greenhouse gas emission around the world to cope with climate change. The government is implementing G-SEED certification to promote energy efficient building design. This study aims to verify the effectiveness of the G-SEED certification system by analyzing the actual energy use of certified and non-certified office buildings. For this purpose, the energy consumption of 135 certified and 142 non-certified office buildings was analyzed according to the seasonal characteristics, building size and number of floors, approval year, and certification grade. The energy saving effects of certified buildings was about 50% higher than that of non-certified buildings. The seasonal energy consumption of buildings is closely related to the heating degree-days. The energy consumption of certified and non-certified buildings decreases with increasing approval year. On the other hand, the energy consumption according to building size and certification grade is not related. This study provides meaningful basic data of G-SEED certification system for future improvement. As the building energy performance standards are strengthened over the years, it is necessary to make the individual score of G-SEED certified projects open to the public to configure the factors of energy efficiency.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.4A
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• pp.269-278
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• 2011

Recently, methods on minimizing environmental effect caused from human-made goods have been studied in various research fields. Such issue has been also spotlighted into the civil engineering field; however, application of environmental performance assessment on civil structures is very complicated, since they handles vast ranges of materials and has comparatively long life span with various construction stages. Thus, this study intended to apply environmental performance assessment into an ordinary type of steel box girder bridge, using most popular Life cycle assessment (LCA) procedures, which are called Survey-based method and Indirect method. For better comparison of two methods, greenhouse effect of the example bridge is considered. As result of analysis, total $CO_2$ emission is evaluated as 241.27 ton with Survey-based method while it is evaluated as 221.03 ton with Indirect method. It is also revealed that most $CO_2$ is generated from the process of manufacturing and producing construction materials. Such result indicates that the efficient design which secures certain level of structural safety with minimized input materials. It is considered that the specific LCA on civil structure performed in this study could be utilized to other civil structures for reasonable environmental performance assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.863-870
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• 2012

The market trends of automatic meter reading associated with smart water meters were investigated. Also, recent developments and field applications of key technology for automatic meter reading associated with smart water meters were analyzed. Smart water meters have been manufactured mostly in United States and Europe and have been expanded their business to Asia. Integrated water management system combining with the additional functions such as real-time consumption metering, cost notification, water conservation, leak detection, water quality monitoring, and flow control have been operated in automatic meter reading. Both water quality and quantity data measured from smart water meters and sensors were transferred to data concentration units through neighborhood area network, and then were transferred to integrated server through wide area network. The data transfer methods were determined by comprehensively considering urban scale, density of smart water meters, power supply and network topologies. Common data collection methods such as fixed network to data concentation units, vehicles drive by, people walk by, and drone fly by have been applied. The automatic meter reading associated with smart water meters are spread throughout the world, and both water and energy savings result in saving the money and reducing the greenhouse gases emission.