• Title/Summary/Keyword: Disaster and safety

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Comparison of Perception Differences About Nuclear Energy in 4 East Asian Country Students: Aiming at $10^{th}$ Grade Students who Participated in Scientific Camps, from Four East Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore (동아시아 4개국 학생들의 핵에너지에 대한 인식 비교: 과학캠프에 참가한 한국, 일본, 대만, 싱가포르 10학년 학생들을 대상으로)

  • Lee, Hyeong-Jae;Park, Sang-Tae
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.775-788
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    • 2012
  • This study was done at a scientific camp sponsored by Nara Women's University Secondary School, Japan. In this school, $10^{th}$ grade students from 4 East Asian countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, participated. We made a research on students' perceptions about nuclear energy. Sample populations include 77 students in total, with 12 Korean, 46 Japanese, 9 Taiwanese and 10 Singaporean students. Overall perceptions comparison about nuclear energy shows average values from the order of highest Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and to lowest, Japan. We implemented a T-test to identify perception differences about nuclear energy, with one group that include 3 countries (Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) and another group that includes all the Japanese students. T-test results of perceptions about nuclear energy shows students from the 3 countries of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore having higher average than Japanese students. (p<.05). Korean average scores regarding overall perceptions about nuclear energy show as the highest in all 4 East Asian countries and also highest in all subcategories. On the contrary in Japan, they have lower and negative perceptions of nuclear energy. In spite of these facts, perceptions of Japanese students about nuclear energy seem lowest and negative mainly because of the recent Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, caused by the tsunami and its subsequent damages and fears of radiation leaks, etc. This shows that negative information about future disasters and its resulting damages like the Chernobyl nuclear accident could influence more on people's risk perception than general information like nuclear energy-related technologies or the news that the plant is operating normally, etc. Even if the possibility of this kind of accident is very low, just one accident could bring abnormal risks to technology itself. This strong signal makes negative image and strengthens its perceptions to the people. This could bring a stigma about nuclear energy. This study shows that Government's policy about the highest priority for nuclear energy safety is most important. As long as such perception and decision are fixed, we found that it might not be easy to get changed again because they were already fortified and maintained.

Detection of flash drought using evaporative stress index in South Korea (증발스트레스지수를 활용한 국내 돌발가뭄 감지)

  • Lee, Hee-Jin;Nam, Won-Ho;Yoon, Dong-Hyun;Mark, D. Svoboda;Brian, D. Wardlow
    • Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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    • v.54 no.8
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    • pp.577-587
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    • 2021
  • Drought is generally considered to be a natural disaster caused by accumulated water shortages over a long period of time, taking months or years and slowly occurring. However, climate change has led to rapid changes in weather and environmental factors that directly affect agriculture, and extreme weather conditions have led to an increase in the frequency of rapidly developing droughts within weeks to months. This phenomenon is defined as 'Flash Drought', which is caused by an increase in surface temperature over a relatively short period of time and abnormally low and rapidly decreasing soil moisture. The detection and analysis of flash drought is essential because it has a significant impact on agriculture and natural ecosystems, and its impacts are associated with agricultural drought impacts. In South Korea, there is no clear definition of flash drought, so the purpose of this study is to identify and analyze its characteristics. In this study, flash drought detection condition was presented based on the satellite-derived drought index Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) from 2014 to 2018. ESI is used as an early warning indicator for rapidly-occurring flash drought a short period of time due to its similar relationship with reduced soil moisture content, lack of precipitation, increased evaporative demand due to low humidity, high temperature, and strong winds. The flash droughts were analyzed using hydrometeorological characteristics by comparing Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), soil moisture, maximum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation. The correlation was analyzed based on the 8 weeks prior to the occurrence of the flash drought, and in most cases, a high correlation of 0.8(-0.8) or higher(lower) was expressed for ESI and SPI, soil moisture, and maximum temperature.

Development of a Storage Level and Capacity Monitoring and Forecasting Techniques in Yongdam Dam Basin Using High Resolution Satellite Image (고해상도 위성자료를 이용한 용담댐 유역 저수위/저수량 모니터링 및 예측 기술 개발)

  • Yoon, Sunkwon;Lee, Seongkyu;Park, Kyungwon;Jang, Sangmin;Rhee, Jinyung
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.34 no.6_1
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    • pp.1041-1053
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    • 2018
  • In this study, a real-time storage level and capacity monitoring and forecasting system for Yongdam Dam watershed was developed using high resolution satellite image. The drought indices such as Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) from satellite data were used for storage level monitoring in case of drought. Moreover, to predict storage volume we used a statistical method based on Principle Component Analysis (PCA) of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA). According to this study, correlation coefficient between storage level and SPI (3) was highly calculated with CC=0.78, and the monitoring and predictability of storage level was diagnosed using the drought index calculated from satellite data. As a result of analysis of principal component analysis by SSA, correlation between SPI (3) and each Reconstructed Components (RCs) data were highly correlated with CC=0.87 to 0.99. And also, the correlations of RC data with Normalized Water Surface Level (N-W.S.L.) were confirmed that has highly correlated with CC=0.83 to 0.97. In terms of high resolution satellite image we developed a water detection algorithm by applying an exponential method to monitor the change of storage level by using Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) sensor of Sentinel-2 satellite. The materials of satellite image for water surface area detection in Yongdam dam watershed was considered from 2016 to 2018, respectively. Based on this, we proposed the possibility of real-time drought monitoring system using high resolution water surface area detection by Sentinel-2 satellite image. The results of this study can be applied to estimate of the reservoir volume calculated from various satellite observations, which can be used for monitoring and estimating hydrological droughts in an unmeasured area.

Managing Technological Risk and Risk Conflict : Public Debates on Health Risks of Mobile Phones EMF (기술위험 관리와 위험갈등 : 휴대전화 전자파의 인체유해성 논란)

  • Jung, Byung-Kul
    • Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.97-129
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    • 2008
  • We are living in the time of high probability of technological risk due to increased rate of technology development and diffusion of new technologies. Resolving uncertainties, the basic attribution of risk, by accumulating knowledge over the risk factors of certain technology is critical to management of technological risk. In many cases of technological risks, high uncertainty of knowledge is commonly mentioned reason for public controversies on risk management. However, the type of technological risk with low social agreement and low uncertainty of knowledge, the main reason for public controversy is absence of social agreement. Public debates on the risks of mobile phones electromagnetic fields(EMF) to human health comes under this category. The knowledge uncertainty on human health effect of mobile phones EMF has been lowered increasingly by accumulating enormous volume of knowledge though scientists have not reached a final conclusion whether it pose a risk to the physical and mental health of the general population or not. In contrast with civil organizations calling for precautionary approach based regulation, the mobile phone industry is cling to the position of no-regulation-needed by arguing no clear evidence to prove health risks of mobile phone EMF has found. In Korea, government set exposure standards based on a measurement called the 'specific absorption rate'(SAR) and require the mobile phone industry to open SAR information to the public by their own decision. From the view of pro-regulation side based on precautionary approach, technology risk managament of mobile phones EMF in Korea is highly limited and formalized one with limited measuring of SAR on head part only and problematic self-regulated opening of information about SAR to the public. As far as the government keeps having priority on protecting interest of mobile phone industry over precautionary regulation of mobile phones EMF, the disagreement between civil organizations and the government will not resolved. The risk of mobile phones EMF to human health have high probability of being underestimated in the rate and damage of risk than objectively estimated ones due to familiarity of mobile phone technology. And this can be the cause of destructive social dispute or devastating disaster. To prevent such disastrous results, technology risk management, which integrating the goals of safety with economic growth in public policy and designing and promoting risk communication, is required.

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Water Quality in a Drainage System Discharging Groundwater from Sangdae-ri Water Curtain Cultivation Area near Musimcheon Stream, Cheongju, Korea (무심천 인근 상대리 수막재배지에서 지하수 사용 후 배출되는 최종 배수로 물의 수질 특성)

  • Moon, Sang-Ho;Kim, Yongcheol;Hwang, Jeong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.48 no.5
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    • pp.409-420
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    • 2015
  • The Sangdae-ri riverside around Musimcheon stream, flowing through Gadeok-myon of Cheongju City, is one of the representative strawberry fields employing water curtain cultivation (WCC) in Korea. In this area, annual groundwater use for WCC has been calculated by a few methods. On the assumption that all the water flowing through the final ditch may be mostly composed of groundwater, the discharge rate in it can be used as a good proxy for assessing the groundwater use. However, in the study area, the final ditch was set up in an unpaved state near and parallel to Musimcheon stream. Under such circumstances, the drainwater is likely to be influenced by infiltration and/or inflow of nearby stream. Hence, we examined whether or not stream water has influenced water flowing out through the final ditch in respect of ion concentrations or field parameters such as T, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) values. The period of measuring field parameters and sample collection was from February 2012 through February 2015. The drainwater in the final ditch did not show the average quality of groundwater, but similar quality of stream water in respect of pH, EC, ion contents and water type. From this, it is suggested that measuring the flow rate of the final ditch should not be directly used for assessing groundwater use in the study area. In addition, because of its sensitivity to ambient temperature, water temperature proved not to be appropriate for estimating the interaction between ditch and stream. For accuracy, additional methods will be needed to calculate mixing ratios between stream and ground water within drainage system.

An Analysis of Termite(R. speratus kyushuensis) Damage to Nationally Designated Wooden Architectural Heritage in Korea (국가지정 목조건축문화재의 흰개미(R. speratus kyushuensis) 피해 현황 분석)

  • KIM, Sihyun;CHUNG, Yongjae
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.55 no.2
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    • pp.102-111
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    • 2022
  • Termites are a group of social insects that are one of the primary causes of damage to wooden architectural heritage. Since termite damage impairs the authenticity and structural stability of cultural heritage, it is imperative to prevent it. This study examines the extent of termite damage to wooden architectural heritage as part of efforts to prevent termite damage to nationally designated wooden architectural heritage sites across the country. The extent of termite damage to each cultural heritage was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and comparatively analyzed by region using the results of the "Investigation on Biological Damage to Wooden Architectural Heritages" conducted by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage from 2016 to 2019. It involved 362 nationally designated wooden architectural heritages(25 national treasures, 157 treasures, 180 national folklore cultural heritages) and 1,104 buildings. The results were as follows: termite detection dogs reacted at 317(87.6%) of the 362 wooden heritages, with visible termite damage observed in 185 cases(51.1%). Furthermore, termite damage was confirmed using one of two methods(detection dogs or visual inspection) in 324 cases(89.5%). Of the 1,104 buildings, termite detection dogs reacted at 668(60.5%), while 339(30.7%) showed visible termite damage. Employing one of the two methods, damage was confirmed in 702 buildings(63.6%). The country was categorized into nine regions(Seoul Metropolitan Area, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeju) to examine the termite damage rate and the degree of damage to each cultural heritage according to location. Termite detection dogs reacted to more than 70% of the cultural heritage in all regions. Visible damage was minimal in the Seoul metropolitan area(32.1%) and Gangwon(21.4%) but severe in Chungnam(65.6%), Jeonnam(67.3%), and Gyeongnam(68.2%). By quantifying the degree of termite damage of each cultural heritage as a ratio of the absence of termite damage among the total absence, the average termite damage of the cultural heritage across the country was 9.2%. Regional variance analysis showed that the cultural heritage in Jeonbuk and Jeonnam showed a statistically significantly higher degree of termite damage than the cultural heritage in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk. This paper comprehensively analyzed termite damage to nationally designated wooden architectural heritage. The findings are expected to be valuable in establishing policies for the preservation and management of cultural heritage sites in the future.

Bond Characteristics and Splitting Bond Stress on Steel Fiber Reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete (강섬유로 보강된 반응성 분체 콘크리트의 부착특성과 쪼갬인장강도)

  • Choi, Hyun-Ki;Bae, Baek-Il;Choi, Chang-Sik
    • Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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    • v.26 no.5
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    • pp.651-660
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    • 2014
  • Structural members using ultra high strength concrete which usually used with steel fiber is designed with guidelines based on several investigation of SF-RPC(steel fiber reinforced reactive powder concrete). However, there are not clear design method yet. Especially, SF-RPC member should be casted with steam(90 degree delicious) and members with SF-RPC usually used with precast members. Although the most important design parameter is development method between SF-RPC and steel reinforcement(rebar), there are no clear design method in the SF-RPC member design guidelines. There are many controversial problems on safety and economy. Therefore, in order to make design more optimum safe design, in this study, we investigated bond stress between steel rebar and SF-RPC according to test. Test results were compared with previously suggested analysis method. Test was carried out with direct pull out test using variables of compressive strength of concrete, concrete cover and inclusion ratio of steel fiber. According to test results, bond stress between steel rebar and SF-RPC increased with increase of compressive strength of concrete and concrete cover. Increasing rate of bond stress were decrease with increase of compressive strength of SF-RPC and concrete cover significantly. 1% volume fraction inclusion of steel fiber increase the bond stress between steel rebar and SF-RPC with two times but 2% volume fraction cannot affect the bond stress significantly. There are no exact or empirical equations for evaluation of SF-RPC bond stress. In order to make safe bond design of SF-RPC precast members, previously suggested analysis method for bond stress by Tepfers were evaluated. This method have shown good agreement with test results, especially for steel fiber reinforced RPC.

Study of Minimum Passage Size of Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis) (국내 흰개미(Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis)의 최소 통과 직경 연구)

  • Kim, Sihyun;Lee, Sangbin;Lim, Ikgyun
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.53 no.4
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    • pp.188-197
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    • 2020
  • Termites play an important role as decomposers of the forest ecosystem, while simultaneously causing enormous damage to wooden structures. Currently, two species of subterranean termites have been reported in Korea, and termite damage to historical wooden buildings is occurring nationwide due to climate change, forest fertility, and the locational characteristics of historical wooden buildings. Subterranean termites make their nests underground or inside timber. Termites move underground and access wooden structures through the lower parts of the buildings, adjacent to the ground. Once termites attack the wooden structures, it not only spoils the authenticity of cultural heritage structure, but also hampers structural stability due to the decrease in the strength of the material. Therefore, it is important to prevent termite damage before it occurs. Chemical treatments are mainly used in Korea to control and prevent the damage. In foreign countries, physical barriers are also used to prevent entry to wooden buildings, along with chemical treatments. Physical barriers involve installing nets or particles that termites cannot pass through in the lower part of the building, around the pipes, and between the edges of the building or exterior walls and interior materials. Advantages of a physical barrier are that it is an eco-friendly method, maintains long-term effect after installation, and does not require the use of chemical treatments. Prior to applying physical barriers, studies into the characteristics of termite species must be undertaken. In this study, we evaluated the minimum passage size that each caste of Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis can move through. We found that workers, soldiers, and secondary reproductive termites were able to pass through diameters of 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 1.1mm respectively. Head height of termites was an important factor in determining the minimum passing size. Results from the current study will be used as a basis to design the mesh size for physical barriers to prevent damage by termites in historical wooden buildings in Korea.

Environmental Interpretation on soil mass movement spot and disaster dangerous site for precautionary measures -in Peong Chang Area- (산사태발생지(山沙汰發生地)와 피해위험지(被害危險地)의 환경학적(環境學的) 해석(解析)과 예방대책(豫防對策) -평창지구(平昌地區)를 중심(中心)으로-)

  • Ma, Sang Kyu
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.11-25
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    • 1979
  • There was much mass movement at many different mountain side of Peong Chang area in Kwangwon province by the influence of heavy rainfall through August/4 5, 1979. This study have done with the fact observed through the field survey and the information of the former researchers. The results are as follows; 1. Heavy rainfall area with more than 200mm per day and more than 60mm per hour as maximum rainfall during past 6 years, are distributed in the western side of the connecting line through Hoeng Seong, Weonju, Yeongdong, Muju, Namweon and Suncheon, and of the southern sea side of KeongsangNam-do. The heavy rain fan reason in the above area seems to be influenced by the mouktam range and moving direction of depression. 2. Peak point of heavy rainfall distribution always happen during the night time and seems to cause directly mass movement and serious damage. 3. Soil mass movement in Peongchang break out from the course sandy loam soil of granite group and the clay soil of lime stone and shale. Earth have moved along the surface of both bedrock or also the hardpan in case of the lime stone area. 4. Infiltration seems to be rapid on the both bedrock soil, the former is by the soil texture and the latter is by the crumb structure, high humus content and dense root system in surface soil. 5. Topographic pattern of mass movement spot is mostly the concave slope at the valley head or at the upper part of middle slope which run-off can easily come together from the surrounding slope. Soil profile of mass movement spot has wet soil in the lime stone area and loose or deep soil in the granite area. 6. Dominant slope degree of the soil mass movement site has steep slope, mostly, more than 25 degree and slope position that start mass movement is mostly in the range of the middle slope line to ridge line. 7. Vegetation status of soil mass movement area are mostly fire field agriculture area, it's abandoned grass land, young plantation made on the fire field poor forest of the erosion control site and non forest land composed mainly grass and shrubs. Very rare earth sliding can be found in the big tree stands but mostly from the thin soil site on the un-weatherd bed rock. 8. Dangerous condition of soil mass movement and land sliding seems to be estimated by the several environmental factors, namely, vegetation cover, slope degree, slope shape and position, bed rock and soil profile characteristics etc. 9. House break down are mostly happen on the following site, namely, colluvial cone and fan, talus, foot area of concave slope and small terrace or colluvial soil between valley and at the small river side Dangerous house from mass movement could be interpreted by the aerial photo with reference of the surrounding site condition of house and village in the mountain area 10. As a counter plan for the prevention of mass movement damage the technics of it's risk diagnosis and the field survey should be done, and the mass movement control of prevention should be started with the goverment support as soon as possible. The precautionary measures of house and village protection from mass movement damage should be made and executed and considered the protecting forest making around the house and village. 11. Dangerous or safety of house and village from mass movement and flood damage will be indentified and informed to the village people of mountain area through the forest extension work. 12. Clear cutting activity on the steep granite site, fire field making on the steep slope, house or village construction on the dangerous site and fuel collection in the eroded forest or the steep forest land should be surely prohibited When making the management plan the mass movement, soil erosion and flood problem will be concidered and also included the prevention method of disaster.

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