• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Background: Construction painters have not been studied well in terms of their hazards exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) for painters in the construction industry. Methods: Activity-specific personal air samplings were carried out in three waterproofing activities [polyurethane (PU), asphalt, and cement mortar] and three painting activities (epoxy, oil based, and water based) by using organic-vapor-monitor passive-sampling devices. Gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector could be used for identifying and quantifying individual organic chemicals. The levels of TVOCs, by summing up 15 targeted substances, were expressed in exposure-index (EI) values. Results: As arithmetic means in the order of concentration levels, the EIs of TVOCs in waterproofing works were 10.77, 2.42, 1.78, 1.68, 0.47, 0.07, and none detected (ND) for indoor PU-primer task, outdoor PU-primer task, outdoor PU-resin task, indoor PU-resin task, asphalt-primer task, asphalt-adhesive task, and cement-mortar task, respectively. The highest EI for painting works was 5.61 for indoor epoxyprimer task, followed by indoor epoxy-resin task (2.03), outdoor oil-based-spray-paint task (1.65), outdoor water-based-paint task (0.66), and indoor oil-based-paint task (0.15). Assuming that the operations were carried out continuously for 8 hours without breaks and by using the arithmetic means of EIs for each of the 12 tasks in this study, 58.3% (7 out of 12) exceeded the exposure limit of 100% (EI > 1.0), while 8.3% (1 out of 12) was in 50e100% of exposure limit (0.5 > EI > 1.0), and 4 tasks out of 12 were located in less than 50% of the limit range (EI < 0.5). Conclusion: From this study, we recognized that construction painters are exposed to various solvents, including carcinogens and reproductive toxins, and the levels of TVOC concentration in many of the painting tasks exceeded the exposure limits. Construction workers need to be protected from chemical agents during their painting works by using personal protective devices and/or work practice measures. Additional studies should focus on the exposure assessment of other hazards for construction workers, in order to identify high-risk tasks and to improve hazardous work environments.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2015

In this paper, we design and implement a mobile robot with variable structure for tip-over prevention. The mobile robot is designed for the purpose of stable drive and work in outdoor terrain. The outdoor terrain is rough and uneven. In this terrain, the tip-over of the mobile robot can occur while driving and working. Therefore, the structure of the mobile robot must be designed in consideration of stable drive and work. The proposed structure is defined as an X-shape for overall balance of the mobile robot. The shape is designed by using a multi-level structure for reducing the size of the robot. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed design, we analyze the tip-over characteristics according to the height of gravitational center and the extension length of the robot. Finally, we develop a prototype of the mobile robot with variable structure, taking the results of the tip-over analysis into consideration.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.184-199
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• 2022

Steel was exposed in an atmospheric environment, and atmospheric environmental factors that include chloride, humidity, SO₂, NO₂ etc. induced the corrosion of steel. Corrosivity categories classified by SO₂ and chloride deposition rate were low, but those classified by TOW were high in the Korean Peninsula, and on these environmental categories, the corrosivity of atmospheres classified by corrosion rate in carbon steel was low medium, C2-C3, and medium, C3 for zinc, copper, and aluminum. This work performed the outdoor exposure test for 10 years at 14 areas in Korea and calculated the atmospheric corrosion rate of carbon steel. The atmospheric corrosion behavior of carbon steel is discussed based on the various corrosion factors. When the corrosion product forms on carbon steel by atmospheric corrosion, cracks may also be formed, and through these cracks, the environmental factors can penetrate into the interior of the product, detach some of the corrosion products and finally corrode locally. Thus, the maximum corrosion rate was about 7.3 times greater than the average corrosion rate. The color difference and glossiness of carbon steel by the 10 year-outdoor exposure tests are discussed based on the corrosion rate and the environmental factors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess heat stress, compare heat stress indices, and evaluate the usefulness of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) among outdoor workers exposed to heat during the summer season. Methods: WBGT, dry temperature, and heat index were measured using WBGT measurers (QUESTemp 32 model and QUESTemp 34 model, QUEST, WI, USA) by industrial hygienists from August 27 to September 16, 2015. Heat stress indices were measured at the workplaces of a shipbuilder in Ulsan and a construction site in Daegu. The dry temperature observed by the Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) of the Korea Meteorological Administration was also compared. Results: Dry temperature measured by WBGT is different from that by ASOS. The temperature obtained from ASOS was less than $33^{\circ}C$, above which point a heat wave is forecast by the Korea Meteorological Administration. A heat index above $32.8^{\circ}C$ as a moderate risk was not observed during measurement. WBGT was consistently higher than $22^{\circ}C$, above which the risk of heat-related illness is increased in unacclimated workers involved in work with a high metabolic rate. WBGT was sometimes higher than $28^{\circ}C$, above which the risk of heat-related illness is increased in acclimated workers involved in work with a moderate metabolic rate in September. Conclusion: According to the measurement of heat stress indices, WBGT was more sensitive than heat index and temperature. Thus, general measures to prevent heat-related diseases should be implemented in workplaces during the summer season according to WBGT.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2004

Experiments have been conducted in order to make comparisons of characteristics of a R410a cycle with a R22 cycle in terms of cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP). The parameters examined in the present work include air flow rate, indoor and outdoor air temperatures, and indoor relative humidity. These two refrigeration cycles constructed for this study share all components except compressor, accumulator, oil separator, and piping. The measurements were made using a psychrometric calorimeter. The experimental results show that the R410A cycle has several advantages for indoor units while the R22 cycle yields better performance for outdoor units.

• IE interfaces
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.114-126
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• 2012

This study describes a real-time location monitoring system developed for efficient operation of workplace in plant equipment maker. This monitoring system can be applied for indoor and outdoor working environment respectively. By using the real-time tracking system based on RTLS, it is possible to track worker's movement and location of working object under indoor working environment. For outdoor working environment, the real-time monitoring system based on IDGPS is applied for work safety and balanced workload. A case study is provided to evaluate the performance of the real-time monitoring system.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2008

In this paper, we present a method to customize the ground color in outdoor sports video to provide TV viewers with a better viewing experience or subjective satisfaction. This issue, related to content personalization, is becoming critical with the advent of mobile TV and interactive TV. In outdoor sports video, such as soccer video, it is sometimes observed that the ground color is not satisfactory to viewers. In this work, the proposed algorithm is focused on customizing the ground color to deliver a better viewing experience for viewers. The algorithm comprises three modules: ground detection, shot classification, and ground color customization. We customize the ground color by considering the difference between ground colors from both input video and the target ground patch. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme offers useful tools to provide a more comfortable viewing experience and that it is amenable to real-time performance, even in a software-based implementation.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1503-1511
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• 2013

This paper deals with the analysis of leakage current characteristics of silicone rubber insulator in order to develop a new condition monitoring tool to identify the flashover of outdoor insulators. In this work, laboratory based pollution performance tests are carried out on silicone rubber insulator under ac voltage at different pollution levels and relative humidity conditions with sodium chloride (NaCl) as a contaminant. Min-Norm spectral analysis is adopted to calculate the higher order harmonics and Signal Noise Ratio (SNR). Choi-Williams Distribution (CWD) function is employed to understand the time frequency characteristics of the leakage current signal. Reported results on silicone rubber insulators show that the flashover development process of outdoor polymer insulators could be identified from the higher order harmonics and signal noise ratio values of leakage current signals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.1034-1039
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• 2001

Recently. development of a subway as a public transport has been increased rapidly. Therefore, large noise, which induced from vehicle itself as well as frictions between rails and train, may inflict a considerable damage to the adjacent structure and cause discomfort to neighboring residents. Nevertheless, adequate design guidelines to reduce outdoor noise are not yet established. The present work carried out a survey on the influence of outdoor subway noise using questionnaires. Also or noise measurements levels in those are as were performed.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.97-99
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• 1997

For two decades and more, a lot of research work on the biological effects of EMF (Electromagnetic Field) on human health have been reported. Electric facilities in a typical substation are the main source of magnetic field. This paper presents the measurement and analysis of magnetic field in 345/154KV outdoor substation. The magnetic field depends on the currents which distributed by electric facilities. The result of this paper will be able to be used as basic informations to reduce the level of EMF from the electric utility facilities.