• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2022

Global warming causes climate change and increases extreme weather events worldwide, and the occurrence of heatwaves and droughts is also increasing in Korea. For the monitoring of extreme weather, various satellite data such as LST (Land Surface Temperature), TCI (Temperature Condition Index), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), VCI (Vegetation Condition Index), and VHI (Vegetation Health Index) have been used. VHI, the combination of TCI and VCI, represents the vegetation stress affected by meteorological factors like precipitation and temperature and is frequently used to assess droughts under climate change. TCI and VCI require historical reference values for the LST and NDVI for each date and location. So, it is complicated to produce the VHI from the recent satellite GK2A (Geostationary Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-2A). This study examined the retrieval of VHI using GK2A AMI (Advanced Meteorological Imager) by referencing the historical data from VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) NDVI and LST as a proxy data. We found a close relationship between GK2A and VIIRS data needed for the retrieval of VHI. We produced the TCI, VCI, and VHI for GK2A during 2020-2021 at intervals of 8 days and carried out the interpretations of recent extreme weather events in Korea. GK2A VHI could express the changes in vegetation stress in 2020 due to various extreme weather events such as heatwaves (in March and June) and low temperatures (in April and July), and heavy rainfall (in August), while NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) VHI could not well represent such characteristics. The GK2A VHI presented in this study can be utilized to monitor the vegetation stress due to heatwaves and droughts if the historical reference values of LST and NDVI can be adjusted in a more statistically significant way in the future work.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.19-31
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• 2022

The definition of urban forest is described as all forest and trees except the Natural Parks throughout whole territory in Urban Forest Act. But the concept of urban forest in the law differs from general awareness by Korean citizen and from definitions of other countries. For discussing such differences of urban forest definition, it was tested how much urban forest area would be changed according to the various definition of urban area. The urban area was defined to be four scenarios in this study in consideration of "urban area" by National Land Planning and Utilization Act (NLPUA), 300m buffered boundary from the "urban area" proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) and forest watershed area. In the scenario 1, including forest watershed intersected with "urban area" by NLPUA, urban forest area was estimated at 1.83 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 386㎡. In the scenario 2, including forest watershed intersected with 300m buffered boundary from the "urban area" by NLPUA, urban forest area was estimated at 1.92 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 405㎡. In the scenario 3, including forest watershed intersected with "urban area" placed within administration boundary (Eup·Dong districts), urban forest area was estimated at 1.08 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 230㎡. In the scenario 4, including forest watershed intersected with 300m buffered boundary from "urban area" placed within administration boundary, urban forest area was estimated at 1.20 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 256㎡. Therefore, the boundary of urban area should be agreed clearly prior to defining the urban forest area for avoiding unclear area calculated according to different definitions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.551-561
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• 2022

Geophysical exploration methods are very useful for generating high-resolution images of underground structures, and such methods can be applied to investigation of buried cultural properties and for determining their exact locations. In this study, image feature extraction and image segmentation methods were applied to automatically distinguish the structures of buried relics from the high-resolution ground-penetrating radar (GPR) images obtained at the center of Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju, South Korea. The major purpose for image feature extraction analyses is identifying the circular features from building remains and the linear features from ancient roads and fences. Feature extraction is implemented by applying the Canny edge detection and Hough transform algorithms. We applied the Hough transforms to the edge image resulted from the Canny algorithm in order to determine the locations the target features. However, the Hough transform requires different parameter settings for each survey sector. As for image segmentation, we applied the connected element labeling algorithm and object-based image analysis using Orfeo Toolbox (OTB) in QGIS. The connected components labeled image shows the signals associated with the target buried relics are effectively connected and labeled. However, we often find multiple labels are assigned to a single structure on the given GPR data. Object-based image analysis was conducted by using a Large-Scale Mean-Shift (LSMS) image segmentation. In this analysis, a vector layer containing pixel values for each segmented polygon was estimated first and then used to build a train-validation dataset by assigning the polygons to one class associated with the buried relics and another class for the background field. With the Random Forest Classifier, we find that the polygons on the LSMS image segmentation layer can be successfully classified into the polygons of the buried relics and those of the background. Thus, we propose that these automatic classification methods applied to the GPR images of buried cultural heritage in this study can be useful to obtain consistent analyses results for planning excavation processes.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.69-114
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• 2022

This paper analyzes Taiwan's 「New Southbound Policy」 from the perspective of 'balancing' and 'bandwagoning' in international politics. Specifically, it examines the changes and characteristics of 'Southbound policies' that have continued since the period of the Lee Teng-hui(李登輝) administration, and examines the meaning of the New Southbound Policy promoted by the Tsai Ing-wen(蔡英文) administration. Taiwan's foreign policy has been strongly influenced by external variables such as U.S.-China relations. Previous Taiwanese governments have actively promoted Southbound policies to advance to Southeast Asian countries such as ASEAN with the aim of 'De-Sinicization', but have not achieved much results. This is because variables such as cooperative U.S.-China relations and strong checks from China played a role at the time. In this environment, Taiwan had to pursue an appropriate 'balancing' between the United States, China, and Southeast Asian countries. However, since the inauguration of the Trump administration, strategic competition between the U.S. and China has been maximized, creating a new space for Taiwan's foreign policy. This is because the U.S. valued cooperation with Taiwan in the process of embodying the 'Indo-Pacific Strategy' to curb China's rise. The New Southbound Policy promoted by the Tsai Ing-won administration is different from the existing Southbound policies in that it seeks to link with the U.S. India-Pacific Strategy and attempts to advance to South Asian countries such as India. From an international political point of view, the Tsai Ing-won administration's New Southbound Policy can be interpreted as a 'bandwagoning' to the United States, not a balanced strategy between the U.S. and China. Strategic competition between the U.S. and China is expected to intensify for a considerable period of time in the future, and honeymoon between Taiwan and the U.S. are also expected to continue. Taiwan's bandwagoning strategy, which actively pursues a link between the New Southbound Policy and the India-Pacific Strategy, is also expected to be maintained.

• Atmosphere
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.223-246
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• 2023

This paper summarized the research papers on weather extremes that occurred in the Republic of Korea, which were published in the domestic and foreign journals during 1963~2022. Weather extreme is defined as a weather phenomenon that causes serious casualty and property loss; here, it includes typhoon, heavy rain, drought, heat wave, cold surge, heavy snow, and strong gust. Based on the 2011~2020 statistics in Korea, above 80% of property loss due to all natural disasters were caused by typhoons and heavy rainfalls. However, the impact of the other weather extremes can be underestimated rather than we have actually experienced; the property loss caused by the other extremes is hard to be quantitatively counted. Particularly, as global warming becomes serious, the influence of drought and heat wave has been increasing. The damages caused by cold surges, heavy snow, and strong gust occurred over relatively local areas on short-term time scales compared to other weather hazards. In particularly, strong gust accompanied with drought may result in severe forest fires over mountainous regions. We hope that the present review paper may remind us of the importance of weather extremes that directly affect our lives.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.128-137
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• 2002

This study was conducted to develop the heat exchanger by utilizing the heat energy of underground water(15℃), which might be used for cooling and heating system of the agricultural facilities. We developed the heat exchanger by using the parallel type plat fin tube made of Aluminum(Al 6063), which was named Aloo-Heat(No. 0247164, offered by Korean Intellectual property Office). The trial manufactures were made from Aloo-heat which was 600mm, 700mm length respectively, and It were welded to the end "U" type in order to direct flow of the underground water. The performance test was carried out under the condition of open space and room temperature with the change of flow rate of the underground water and air. The results are as follows. 1. The trial manufactures had convection heat value from 33 to 156 W/m²℃, and It was coincided with design assumption. 2. The amount of energy transfer was increased with the increment of the area of heat transfer, the air flow, the gap of temperature inlet & outlet the underground water and the air. 3. The heat value was 6,825W when the air flow was 6,000m³/h and the gap of temperature between inlet and outlet of the underground water was 6℃, and It dropped from 25.8℃ to 23.2℃(-2.6℃ difference). The convection heat value was 88.5W/m²℃. 4. The heat value was 2.625W when the air flow was 4,000m³/h and the gap of temperature between inlet and outlet the underground water was 2℃, and It dropped from 27℃ to 22.5℃(-4.5℃ difference). The convection heat value was 33.6W/m²℃. 5. Correlation values(R²) of the testing heat values of the trial manufacture type I, II, and III were 0.9141, 0.8935, and 0.9323 respectively, and correlation values(R²) of the amount of the air flow 6,000m³/h, 5,000m³/h, 4,000m³/h were 0.9513, 0.9414, and 0.9003 respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.42-53
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• 2023

This paper explores the recent development of environmental aesthetics and critically examines the main agendas, claims, issues, and implications of everyday aesthetics, which is emerging as an important branch of environmental aesthetics. Environmental aesthetics began in the context of cultural change and environmentalism in the 1960s and expanded in the second half of the 20th century with a solid theoretical foundation. At the beginning of the 21st century, it entered a process of diversification of objects and subjects. Having reached academic maturity, environmental aesthetics has expanded into theoretical territory considering the urban environment and the human environment, providing practical coordinates as a discourse for planning and designing urban environments and landscapes. The most notable achievement of environmental aesthetics since the mid-2000s is the establishment of 'everyday aesthetics'. Yuriko Saito, who is leading the research on everyday aesthetics, expanded the objects and scope of aesthetic theory to everyday objects, events, activities, and environments. She excavates the microscopic and sensory aspects of everyday life, which have been overlooked by conventional art-centered aesthetics, through the lens of aesthetics. She reinterprets various layers of phenomena in contemporary urban landscapes and analyzes how the 'power of the aesthetic' hidden in everyday life profoundly affects the quality of life and the state of the world. Saito examines the appreciation of the distinctive characteristics and ambiance inherent in everyday objects and environments and proposes a 'moral-aesthetic judgment' to alert citizens to the environmental, social, and political consequences of everyday aesthetic appreciation and response. This paper identifies the issues and implications of everyday aesthetics as first, the expansion of aesthetics and the ambiguous everyday, second, the moral-aesthetic judgment and the aesthetics of care, and third, urban regeneration landscapes and aesthetic literacy. In particular, the moral virtues of everyday aesthetics that Saito proposes, such as care, thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and respect, provide a critical reference for the practice of contemporary urban regeneration landscapes. The 'aesthetic literacy' is a key concept demonstrating why an environmental aesthetics perspective is necessary to interpret everyday urban environments and landscapes.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.439-450
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• 2023

Purpose: When conducting fire inspections in Korea, there are objects that violate the fire protection regulations that require a straight line distance of more than 5m between the air inlet and the discharge section if the floor area is less than 400m2, and this paper analyzes the reasons and conducts a model experimental study to support the need for related fire protection regulations. Method: Domestic firefighting objects were investigated and confirmed, domestic and foreign papers, policies, and laws and regulations were examined, and spaces with a straight line distance of less than 5m and more than 5m between the air inlet and discharge section were selected and analyzed through model experiments in a living room of less than 400m² . Result: When examining the domestic fire protection regulations (NFPCNational Fire Perpormance Code), the separation distance between the air inlet and the outlet is more than 5m when the floor area is less than 400m² , but as a result of the actual investigation, it was confirmed that there are firefighting objects that cannot keep the separation distance. In addition, when a paper review of overseas fire protection regulations for a straight line distance of more than 5m showed that there was no regulation on the straight line distance between the air inlet and the discharge section, the model experiment showed that the discharge speed was better when the straight line distance between the air inlet and the discharge section was more than 5m than when it was less than 5m. Conclusions: In this study, when examining overseas fire laws and regulations by comparing the performance of the fire protection ratio for the straight line distance between the air inlet and the exhaust section, there is no mandatory regulation for the straight line distance, but the domestic fire protection regulations (NFPCNational Fire Perpormance Code) require more than 5m. It is hoped that this will be reflected in the design stage in the future, and a foundation will be laid to reduce the responsibility and burden of fire superintendents.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2023

Forest destruction is an inevitable result of the development processes. According to the environmental impact assessment, over 10% of the destroyed trees need to be recycled and transplanted to minimize the impact of forest destruction. However, the rate of successful transplantation is low, leading to a high rate of tree death. This is attributable to a lack of consideration for environmental factors when choosing a temporary site for transplantation and inadequate management. To monitor transplanted trees, a field survey is essential; however, the spatio-temporal aspect is limited. This study evaluated the applicability of remote sensing for the effective monitoring of transplanted trees. Vegetation indices based on satellite remote sensing were derived to detect time-series changes in the status of the transplanted trees at three temporary transplantation sites. The mortality rate and vitality of transplanted trees before and after the transplant have a similar tendency to the changes in the vegetation indicators. The findings of this study showed that vegetation indices increased after transplantation of trees and decreased as the death rate increased and vitality decreased over time. This study presents a method for assessing newly transplanted trees using satellite images. The approach of utilizing satellite photos and the vegetation index is expected to detect changes in trees that have been transplanted across the country and help to manage tree transplantation for the environmental impact assessment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Even before the importance of the value of estuaries was recognized, the estuary was lost because of large-scale conversion by draining, filling, damming, and dredging. In South Korea, 643 estuaries are located, and the total area is 3,248,300 ha, accounting for 32.5% of the total area of South Korea. Over 35% of Korean estuaries are closed estuaries which are only temporally connected with the sea, either permanently or periodically. Since 2008, in order to preserve the estuary ecosystem and solve major issues in the estuary by accumulating knowledge about the estuarine ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea has been conducting the "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project". At 668 sites of 325 estuaries, epilithic diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and vegetation are investigated, and the habitat condition of each site is evaluated using the newly developed biotic index. More than 100 researchers annually record 2,097 species of estuaries according to the standardized survey guidelines over the past 14 years and provide strictly managed data necessary for establishing estuaries conservation policies. As a result of bibliometric analysis of 1,195 research articles related to the monitoring and assessment of the estuarine ecosystem, research on pollutants such as heavy metals and sediment control have recently been conducted. "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project" is an ecological monitoring type of long-term mandated monitoring that is usually focused on identifying trends. Although it is difficult to identify the mechanism influencing a change in an ecosystem through long-term mandated monitoring, providing empirical data for supporting evidence-based policy, decision-making, and the management of ecosystems. In order to increase the efficiency of the project, research to investigate the relationship between sediments and pollutants and organisms can be conducted at specific estuaries or sites to compensate for the shortcomings of mandatory monitoring.