• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.107-120
• /
• 2014

First purpose of this study is to build Korean mountain ridgelines based on GIS by using spatial information and analyze natural environment around mountain ridgelines built before. Second purpose of this study is to integrate Korean ridgelines and natural environment built before and then provide the integrated information related to ridgelines for public. To do so, fist of all, Korean mountain ridgelines including Deagan, Jeongmeak, Gimeak, Jimeak, are built as spatial information. Second, Encoding of mountain ridgelines is conducted to analyze main and divaricate ridgelines systematically as grades of ridgelines. Third, based on spatial information, present condition using natural environment including geographical information, ecological zoning map, environmental conservation value assessment map, is analyzed. Finally, as a method integrating and using the aforementioned three information, the system providing integrated information based on GIS is proposed, To build the GIS data of Gimeak and Jimeak, they should be analyzed in more detail than Beakdu Deagan and Jeongmeak, so existing methodology to build mountain ridgelines based on GIS is improved. According to the distance of each mountain ridgeline, they are separated into five grades, and encoding of each mountain ridgeline based on Beakdu Deagan is applied to all mountain ridgelines to figure out the present condition of ridgelines themselves. In addition, according to the distance of each mountain ridgeline, it is separated into three areas: core, buffer, median zone. Based on three zones, the way to make use of the information efficiently related to mountain ridgelines is proposed. This study systematizes Korean mountain ridgelines which did not have systematic structures and then analyzes systematic mountain ridgelines. Based on this analysis, this study finds the way to makes use of information related to mountain ridgelines effectively.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2015

Purpose - The number of consumers adopting a lifestyle of health and sustainability has recently increased with the rise of trends in healthy living. The size of the organic agricultural product market has also increased given that these consumers prefer consuming environmentally friendly products that promote family health. However, awareness of organic agricultural products remains insufficient because of the characteristics of the Korean organic agriculture system, which only focuses on food safety inspection. The object of this research is to suggest a policy approach to increase understanding and to expand the purchasing of organic agricultural products by analyzing the influence of customer recognition of such products on their willingness to repurchase. Research design, data, and methodology - This study used binomial logistic regression analysis with the aim of explaining the effects of consumers' socio-demographic characteristics, their awareness of the equivalence arrangement for organic food and of the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification, and their viewing of negative broadcasts about organic agricultural products on their repurchase intention of such products. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 655 respondents who were in their 20s, lived either in Seoul or in its metropolitan area, and had purchased organic agricultural products. Result - From the results of the analysis, the majority of the respondents recognized organic agricultural products, but they found their prices to be expensive. The majority of the respondents were also aware of the certification system and the reliability of organic agricultural products. However, the results indicate that efforts need to be made to recover consumer trust as many respondents stated that their trust levels in these products were low. In general, those purchasing organic agricultural products were satisfied, but those answering "very satisfied" were not in the majority. Binomial logistic regression analysis results revealed that repurchase intention decreased as consumers viewed a greater number of negative broadcasts about these products. On the other hand, repurchase intention increased as they became more aware of the abolishment of low-pesticide certification. Repurchase intention also increased as income increased, as the number of family members decreased, and when a consumer was a member of a consumer organization. In addition, the older the consumers were who watched the TV programs, the smaller the number of family members that were aware of the abolishment of low-pesticide agricultural product certification and, the higher the income of the consumers aware of organic equivalence arrangement, the greater their repurchase intention. Conclusion - External stimuli, such as negative TV programs on organic agricultural products and the abolishment of the low-pesticide agricultural product certification, relevant social issues and systems, influence consumer repurchase intention. To that end, positive environmental and ecological broadcasting about organic agricultural products would contribute to an increase in purchasing. Additionally, this could be used for promotion and marketing plans as the results indicate that trust in organic agricultural products would cause a positive repurchasing effect.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2018

The cactus habitat in Jeju Island has a phytogeographically specific distribution in the East Asian region, and forms a unique landscape as the only native cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) habitat in Korea. However, there has been no detailed investigation on the distribution of cacti in the habitat and no investigation on the diversity of the mixed composition of plants in the habitats and their correlation with the distribution of cactus populations. This study attempted to investigate the diversity of vascular plants in the Wollyeong-ri cactus habitat and record the actual distribution and trends of cactus distribution. In addition to the distribution characteristics of cacti, we also discuss the characteristics of species reflecting the characteristics of the habitat among the mixed population of plant species, as well as the biological and environmental factors that threaten the maintenance of cactus populations or require management for preservation of cacti. Considering the phenological character, we conducted the field surveys for flora identification six times between June 2015 and September 2017. The Engler classification system was used for the arrangement sequence and names of plants, and the Korean Plant Names Index was adopted for the Korean name of the species. The study results showed that the Wolryung-ri cactus habitat in Jeju Island has the characteristic physiognomy of an area dominated by cactus. For the vascular plants, a total of 125 taxa were identified, including 53 families, 104 genera, 109 species, 15 varieties and 1 forma. Endangered plants specified by the Ministry of Environment were not found. Two species, Cyrtomium falcatum and Asplenium incisum, were identified as the ferns, and no gymnosperms were found. In addition, 123 taxa of angiosperms, 91 taxa of dicotyledones and 32 taxa of monocotyledons were identified. The distributions of cacti were confirmed in 289 meshes corresponding to 59.3% of the total 487 meshes in the cactus protected area, which showed various coverage distributions ranging from 5% to 95%. Most of the meshes where no cacti were found are coastal areas with exposed basalt rocks where the soil depth has not developed or extremely restricted due to repeated waves, or areas where artificial facilities, grasslands, and observation paths have been constructed. On the other hand, there were 71 lattice points in 14.5% of the total area where the cactus showed 70% or higher dominance. Cacti are randomly distributed in these areas. They have adapted to the microhabitat environment and are found to be opportunistically distributed along the growable locations. Considering that the reproduction of cacti in the habitat is mostly dependent on parthenogenesis, the present distribution seems to reflect the potentially distributable regions of cacti in the habitat. Based on the results of field surveys, a management plan for conservation and protection of the protected areas has been proposed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.105 no.4
• /
• pp.401-413
• /
• 2016

Forest resources utilization and variable disturbance history have been affected the rarity and conservation value of forest relict trees, which served as habitat for forest biodiversity, important carbon stock and cultural role include human and natural history in South Korea. This study was conducted to establish the baseline data for forest resources conservation by clarifying species diversity, spatial distribution and ecological characteristics (individual and habitat) of forest relict trees (DBH > 300 cm) based on the data getting from mountain trail, high resolution aerial photos and field professionals and field survey. As results, 54 taxa (18 family 32 genus 48 species 1 subspecies 3 variety and 2 form) as about 22% of tree species in Korea was identified in the field. 837 individuals of forest relict trees were observed and the majority of the trees was in Pinaceae, deciduous Fagaceae and Rosaceae, which families are abundant in population diversity. High elevation area was important to relict trees as mean altitudinal distribution was 1,200 m a.s.l as likely affected by human activity gradients and mid-steep slope and North aspect was important environment for the trees remain. Many individuals exhibited 'damage larger branch' (55.6%) and consequent relatively lower mean canopy coverages (below 80%). Synthetically, present diversity and abundance of relict forest trees in South Korea were the result of complex process among climate variation, local weather and biological factors and the trees of big and old were estimated to important forest biodiversity elements. In the future, clarifying the role and function of relict trees in forest ecosystem, in- and ex- situ programmes for important trees and habitat, and activities for building the background of conservation policy such as "Guideline for identifying and measurement of forest relict trees".

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.10 no.7
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyse the state of the energy industry and to determine the efficiency of its functioning on the basis of energy conservation principle and application of innovative technologies aimed at improving the ecological modernisation of agricultural sectors of Kazakhstan. The research methodology is based on an integrated approach of financial and economic evaluation of the effectiveness of the investment project, based on calculation of elasticity, total costs and profitability, as well as on comparative, graphical and system analysis. The current stage is characterised by widely spread restructuring processes of electric power industry in many countries through introduction of new technical installations of energy facilities and increased government regulation in order to enhance the competitive advantage of electricity market. Electric power industry features a considerable value of creating areas. For example, by providing scientific and technical progress, it crucially affects not only the development but also the territorial organisation of productive forces, first of all the industry. In modern life, more than 90% of electricity and heat is obtained by Kazakhstan's economy by consuming non-renewable energy resources: different types of coal, oil shale, oil, natural gas and peat. Therefore, it is significant to ensure energy security, as the country faces a rapid fall back to mono-gas structure of fuel and energy balance. However, energy resources in Kazakhstan are spread very unevenly. Its main supplies are concentrated in northern and central parts of the republic, and the majority of consumers of electrical power live in the southern and western areas of the country. However, energy plays an important role in the economy of industrial production and to a large extent determines the level of competitive advantage, which is a promising condition for implementation of energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies. In these circumstances, issues of modernisation and reforms of this sector in Kazakhstan gain more and more importance, which can be seen in the example of economically sustainable solutions of a large local monopoly company, significant savings in capital investment and efficiency of implementation of an investment project. A major disadvantage of development of electricity distribution companies is the prevalence of very high moral and physical amortisation of equipment, reaching almost 70-80%, which significantly increases the operating costs. For example, while an investment of 12 billion tenge was planned in 2009 in this branch, in 2012 it is planned to invest more than 17 billion. Obviously, despite the absolute increase, the rate of investment is still quite low, as the total demand in this area is at least more than 250 billion tenge. In addition, industrial infrastructure, including the objects of Kazakhstan electric power industry, have a tangible adverse impact on the environment. Thus, since there is a large number of various power projects that are sources of electromagnetic radiation, the environment is deteriorated. Hence, there is a need to optimise the efficiency of the organisation and management of production activities of energy companies, to create and implement new technologies, to ensure safe production and provide solutions to various environmental aspects. These are key strategic factors to ensure success of the modern energy sector of Kazakhstan. The contribution of authors in developing the scope of this subject is explained by the fact that there was not enough research in the energy sector, especially in the view of ecological modernisation. This work differs from similar works in Kazakhstan in the way that the proposed method of investment project calculation takes into account the time factor, which compares the current and future value of profit from the implementation of innovative equipment that helps to bring it to actual practise. The feasibility of writing this article lies in the need of forming a public policy in the industrial sector, including optimising the structure of energy disbursing rate, which complies with the terms of future modernised development of the domestic energy sector.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2003

Korea has plentiful precipitation but rainfall events concentrate on several months of rainy season in her weather condition. Korea, therefore, experiences drought for a given period every year. Moreover the soil has usually low water holding capacity, as it is composed coarse particles originated from the granite. Response of several oaks and the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) on water stress showed that water budget was significant factor determining vegetation distribution. In addition, dehydration level due to cold resistance mechanism of several evergreen plants during the winter season was closely related to their distribution in natural condition. Experimental result under water stress showed that the Korean red pine was very tolerant to desiccation but the seedlings showed high mortality during the dry season. The mortality tended to proportionate to soil moisture content of each site. A comparison between soil moisture content during June when it is severe dry season and moisture content of the culture soil when the pine seedlings reached the permanent wilting point due to water withheld proved that high mortality during the dry season was due to water deficit. Water potential of sample plants measured during the exposure experiment to the air pollutant showed a probability that water related factors would dominate the occurrence of visible damage and the tolerance level of sample plants. In both field survey and laboratory experiment, plants exposed to air pollution showed more rapid transpiration than those grown in the unpolluted condition. The result would due to injury of leaf surface by air pollutants. Aluminum (Al/sup 3+/) increased in the acid soil not only inhibits root growth but also leads to abnormal distribution of root system and thereby caused water stress. The water stresses due to air pollution and soil acidification showed a possibility that they play dominating roles in inducing forest decline additionally to the existing water deficit due to weather and soil conditions in Korea. Sludge, which can contribute to improve field capacity, as it is almost composed of organic matter, showed an effect ameliorating the retarded growth of plant in the acidified soil. The effect was not less than that of dolomite known in widely as such a soil ameliorator. Litter extract contributed also to mitigate the water stress due to toxic Al/sup 3+/. We prepared a model showing the potential interaction of multiple stresses, which can cause forest decline in Korea by synthesizing those results. Furthermore, we suggested restoration plans, which can mitigate such forest decline in terms of soil amelioration and vegetation restoration.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.68-76
• /
• 2022

In this study, the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was calculated in the Miho stream of the Geum river system, and the environmental ecological flow by point was evaluated. Two points (St.3 and St.8) representing the up and downstream of Miho Stream were selected, in order to calculate the Habitat Suitability Index, the depth and velocity at point where each species is appeared were investigated. The Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) was calculated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) method using the number collected by water depth and velocity section and the results of the flow rate survey. Two target species were selected in this study; dominant species and swimming species sensitive to flow. In the case of a single species of Zacco platypus, the water depth was 0.1 - 0.5 m and the velocity was 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. For species of swimming fish, the water depth was 0.2 - 0.5 m and the velocity was 0.2 - 0.5 m/s. The discharge-Weighted Useable Area (WUA) relationship curve and habitat suitability distribution were simulated at the Miho Stream points St.3 and St.8. At the upstream St.3 of Miho Stream, the optimal discharge was simulated as 4.0 m³/s for swimming fishes and 2.7 m³/s for Zacco platypus. At the downstream point of St.8, species of swimming fish were simulated as 8.8 m³/s and Zacco platypus was simulated as 7.6 m³/s. In both points, the optimal discharge of swimming fish was over estimated. This is a result that the Habitat Suitability Index for swimming fish requires a faster flow rate than the habitat conditions of the Zacco platypus. In the calculation of the minimum discharge, the discharge of Zacco platypus is smaller and is evaluated to provide more Weighted Useable Area. In the case of swimming fishes, narrow range of depth and velocity increases the required discharge and relatively decreases the Weighted Useable Area. Therefore, when calculating the Habitat Suitability Index for swimming fishes, it is more advantageous to calculate the index including the habitat of all fish species than to narrow the range.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.233-241
• /
• 2008

Functional feeding groups (FFGs) of benthic macroinvertebrates are guilds of invertebrate taxa that obtain food in similar ways, regardless of their taxonomic affinities. They can represent a heterogeneous assemblage of benthic fauna and may indicate disturbances of their habitats. The proportion of different groups can change in response to disturbances that affect the food base of the system, thereby offering a means of assessing disruption of ecosystem functioning. In this study, we used benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected at 650 sites of 23 different water types in the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. Physical and chemical environmental factors were measured at each sampling site. Each taxon was assigned to its corresponding FFG based on its food resources. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) using a backpropagation algorithm, a supervised artificial neural network, was applied to evaluate the influence of environmental variables to the FFGs of benthic macroinvertebrates through a sensitivity analysis. In the evaluation of input variables, the sensitivity analysis with partial derivatives demonstrates the relative importance of influential environmental variables on the FFG, showing that different variables influence the FFG in various ways. Collector-filterers and shredders were mainly influenced by $Ca^{2+}$ and width of the streams, and scrapers were influenced mostly with $Ca^{2+}$ and depth, and predators were by depth and pH. $Ca^{2+}$ and depth displayed relatively high influence on all four FFGs, while some variables such as pH, %gravel, %silt, and %bank affected specific groups. This approach can help to characterize community structure and to ecologically assess target ecosystems.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 2016

The main goal of this study is to develop a multi-metric fishway assessment model (M_m-FA) and evaluate the efficiency of fishway. The M_m-FA model has three major fishway components with nine metrics: structural characteristics, hydraulic/hydrologic features, and biological attributes. The model was developed for diagnosing and assessing fishway efficiency and tested to Juksan Weir at the Yeongsan River Watershed. Structural characteristics of fishway included slope of the fishway (M₁), ratios of fishway width to stream width (M₂), and the proportion of orifice clogging and orifice size (M₃). Hydraulic/hydrologic characteristics included depth of fishway entrance head (M₄), depth of exit tail (M₅), and current velocity of inner fishway (M₆). Biological characteristics included fish species ratio of inner fishway to upper-lower weir (M₇), fish length distribution (M₈), and the proportion of migratory fish species to the total number of species (M₉). Overall, the assessment of fishway efficiency showed the total score of the M_m-FA model was 25 in the Juksan Weir, indicating "good condition" by the criteria of the five-level classification system. The M_m-FA model may be used as a key tool for the assessment of fishway efficiency, especially on the 16 weirs constructed for the "Four Rivers Restoration Project" after a partial calibration of M_m-FA model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.131-145
• /
• 2013

The purposes of this research are : to analyze biotop type and carry out conservation value assessment in study areas, Daegu Science Park national industrial complex; to supply basic data for the landscape ecological planning; and to improve the application of assessment model with the development of Biotop Value Assessment Tool (B-VAT). The result is as follows. First of all, the field survey showed 434 species of flora and 220 species of insecta. According to the result of biotop type analysis in the biotop classification system with field survey, 13 biotope groups and 63 biotope types were classified. In the map of biotop type classification, readjusted farmland biotop(FA) was prevalent and forest biotop(E) was shown to the southeast side of the site. Next, according to the first assessment with B-VAT, total 19 biotop types including natural river(BA) with abundant plants had I grade and total 16 biotop types such as vegetable garden adjacent to river(BC) had V grade. In terms of the second assessment, we analyzed total 30 areas, total 82 areas, respectively, which had special meaning for the conservation of species and biotop(1a, 1b) and which had meaning for the conservation of species and biotop(2a, 2b, 2c). This research will be a basic data, which can solve the damage problem systematically and control it landscape-friendly with biotop classification and assessment which we developed. In particular, we expect that biotop value assessment tool(B-VAT) with GIS will be a great contribution to popularity compared with the value model by complicated algorism such as adding-matrix, weight and equal distribution. In addition, this will save the time and improve the accuracy for hand-counting.