• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

Detailed information on soil characteristics is of great importance for the use and conservation of soil resources that are essential for human welfare and ecosystem sustainability. This paper introduces soil inventory of Korea focusing on national soil database establishment, information systems, use, and future direction for natural resources management. Different scales of soil maps surveyed and soil test data collected by RDA (Rural Development Administration) were computerized to construct digital soil maps and database. Soil chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations in agricultural soils including vulnerable agricultural soils were investigated regularly at fixed sampling points. Internet-based information systems for soil and agro-environmental resources were developed based on 'National Soil Survey Projects' for managing soil resources and for providing soil information to the public, and 'Agroenvironmental Change Monitoring Project' to monitor spatial and temporal changes of agricultural environment will be opened soon. Soils data has a great potential of further application in estimation of soil carbon storage, water capacity, and soil loss. Digital mapping of soil and environment using state-of-the-art and emerging technologies with a pedometrics concept will lead to future direction.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.45-74
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• 2018

Landslide is a natural hazard that threats lives and properties in many areas around the world. Landslides are difficult to recognize, particularly in rainforest regions. Thus, an accurate, detailed, and updated inventory map is required for landslide susceptibility, hazard, and risk analyses. The inconsistency in the results obtained using different features selection techniques in the literature has highlighted the importance of evaluating these techniques. Thus, in this study, six techniques of features selection were evaluated. Very-high-resolution LiDAR point clouds and orthophotos were acquired simultaneously in a rainforest area of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia by airborne laser scanning (LiDAR). A fuzzy-based segmentation parameter (FbSP optimizer) was used to optimize the segmentation parameters. Training samples were evaluated using a stratified random sampling method and set to 70% training samples. Two machine-learning algorithms, namely, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF), were used to evaluate the performance of each features selection algorithm. The overall accuracies of the SVM and RF models revealed that three of the six algorithms exhibited higher ranks in landslide detection. Results indicated that the classification accuracies of the RF classifier were higher than the SVM classifier using either all features or only the optimal features. The proposed techniques performed well in detecting the landslides in a rainforest area of Malaysia, and these techniques can be easily extended to similar regions.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.197-214
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• 2010

The paper presents a methodology for developing earthquake damage and loss scenarios for urban areas, as well as its application to two cities located in Mediterranean countries, Grevena (in Greece) and D$\ddot{u}$zce (in Turkey), that were struck by strong earthquakes in the recent past. After compiling the building inventory in each city, fragility curves were derived using a hybrid approach previously developed by the authors, and a series of seismic scenarios were derived based on microzonation studies that were specifically conducted for each city (see companion paper by Pitilakis et al.). The results obtained in terms of damage estimates, required restoration times and the associated costs are presented in a GIS environment. It is deemed that both the results obtained, and the overall methodology and tools developed, contribute towards the enhancement of seismic safety in the Mediterranean area (as well as other earthquake-prone regions), while they constitute a useful pre-earthquake decision-making tool for local authorities.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 1999

This study was carried out to find out the way to build a comprehensive wetland ecosystem database using the technique of remote sensing and geographic information system. A Landsat TM image taken in May 17, 1997 was used for the primary source for the image analysis. Field surveys were conducted March to September of 1998 to help image analysis and examine the results. An actual wetland vegetation map was created based on the field survey. A Landsat TM image was analyzed by unsupervised and supervised classification methods and finally categorized into such 5 classes as Phragmites australis community, mixed community, sand beach, Scirpus trigueter community and non-vegetation intertidal area. Wetland basemap was developed for the overall accuracy assesment in wetland mapping. Vegetation index map of wetland vegetation was developed using NDVI(normalized difference vegetation index). The map of wetland productivity was developed based on the productivity of Phragmites australis and the relationship to the proximity of adjacent water bodies. The map of potential vegetation succession map was also developed based on the experience and knowledge of the field biologists. Considering these results, it is possible to use the remote sensing and GIS techniques for producing wetland ecosystem database. This study indicated that these techniques are very effective for the development of the national wetland inventory in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2012

This study empirically investigated some problems with the criteria for subdividing the management zone in a rural area through a case study of Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk and provided some suggestions for their improvement. To do this, the subdivision criteria in the guideline for developing urban management planning were firstly compared with those of Cheongsong-gun. Next, geographic information system(GIS) was used to do the cross-check analysis between the results from land suitability assessment and those from the subdivision in the management zone and to grasp the spatial relationships of a zone with its neighboring zones by analyzing the zoning inventory and comparing the areas. Finally, map analysis and field survey were conducted to examine the relevance to the actual situation of land use and focus interviews were done to analyze the civil complaint cases resulted from the subdivision in the management zone. This study found out three major categories of problems with the criteria for subdividing the management zone in Cheongsong-gun: the incomplete formalization of zoning, the inadequate decision criteria on the availability of land for development, and the biased consulting of the departments concerned. Some suggestions for their improvement were then provided in this study. The empirical results from this study can be used as the preliminary information for suggesting the right direction of the subdivision in the management zone within the rural areas in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2001

Traffic represents one of the largest sources of primary air pollutants in urban area. As a consequence. numerous abatement strategies are being pursued to decrease the ambient concentration of pollutants. A characteristic of most of the these strategies is a requirement for accurate data on both the quantity and spatial distribution of emissions to air in the form of an atmospheric emission inventory database. In the case of traffic pollution, such an inventory must be compiled using activity statistics and emission factors for vehicle types. The majority of inventories are compiled using passive data from either surveys or transportation models and by their very nature tend to be out-of-date by the time they are compiled. The study of current trends are towards integrating urban traffic control systems and assessments of the environmental effects of motor vehicles. In this study, a methodology of motor vehicle emission calculation by using real-time traffic data was studied. A methodology for estimating emissions of CO at a test area in Seoul. Traffic data, which are required on a street-by-street basis, is obtained from induction loops of traffic control system. It was calculated speed-related mass of CO emission from traffic tail pipe of data from traffic system, and parameters are considered, volume, composition, average velocity, link length. And, the result was compared with that of a method of emission calculation by VKT(Vehicle Kilometer Travelled) of vehicles of category.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.203-217
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• 2024

The Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector of the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory is crucial for obtaining data on carbon sinks, necessitating accurate estimations. This study analyzes cases of countries applying the LULUCF sector at the Tier 3 level to propose enhanced methodologies for carbon sink estimation. In nations like Japan and Western Europe, satellite spatial information such as SPOT, Landsat, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)is used alongside national statistical data to estimate LULUCF. However, in Korea, the lack of land use change data and the absence of integrated management by category, measurement is predominantly conducted at the Tier 1 level, except for certain forest areas. In this study, Space-borne LiDAR Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) was used to calculate forest canopy heights based on Relative Height 100 (RH100) in the cities of Icheon, Gwangju, and Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. These canopy heights were compared with the 1:5,000 scale forest maps used for the National Inventory Report in Korea. The GEDI data showed a maximum canopy height of 29.44 meters (m) in Gwangju, contrasting with the forest type maps that reported heights up to 34 m in Gwangju and parts of Icheon, and a minimum of 2 m in Icheon. Additionally, this study utilized Ordinary Least Squares(OLS)regression analysis to compare GEDI RH100 data with forest stand heights at the eup-myeon-dong level using ArcGIS, revealing Standard Deviations (SDs)ranging from -1.4 to 2.5, indicating significant regional variability. Areas where forest stand heights were higher than GEDI measurements showed greater variability, whereas locations with lower tree heights from forest type maps demonstrated lower SDs. The discrepancies between GEDI and actual measurements suggest the potential for improving height estimations through the application of high-resolution remote sensing techniques. To enhance future assessments of forest biomass and carbon storage at the Tier 3 level, high-resolution, reliable data are essential. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrating high-resolution, spatially explicit LiDAR data to enhance the accuracy of carbon sink calculations in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.508-521
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• 2006

The results of environmental equity analysis vary dramatically depending on different methods used. The information and data available to the researcher are also often uncertain and imprecise in empirical studies. A sensitivity analysis approach was used too handle uncertainties and methodological inconsistencies in environmental equity analysis. This paper explores the sensitivity of environmental equity analysis to two spatial measures such as proximity and scale. Two experiments were implemented to evaluate the effects of two spatial measures on the environmental equity analysis using a combination of control and experimental factors. Fulton County, Georgia was selected as a case study area for these experiments. Two major data sets including demographic characteristics and toxic release inventory (TRI) database for the study area in 1990 were integrated into a GIS environment. Two statistical analyses such as independent samples t-test and coefficient of variation were performed to determine the environmental equity in the study area and to compare the relative variability in the socioeconomic characteristics of populations over different spatial measures. The findings from two experiments indicate that the outcomes of environmental equity analysis are slightly sensitive to the buffer distance used to determine the impact zones of TRI facilities, but not to the geographic scale used in the analysis. The findings also suggest that the consequences of these choices can alter spatially and statistically the results in environmental equity analysis.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.593-607
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• 2012

The Ministry of Environment have started the 'National Ecosystem Survey' since 1986. It has been carried out nationwide every ten years as the largest survey project in Korea. The second one and the third one produced the GIS-based inventory of species. Three survey methods were different from each other. There were few studies for species distribution using national survey data in Korea. The purposes of this study are to test species distribution models for finding the most suitable modeling methods for the National Ecosystem Survey data and to investigate the modeling results according to survey methods and taxonominal group. Occurrence data of nine species were extracted from the National Ecosystem Survey by taxonomical group (plant, mammal, and bird). Plants are Korean winter hazel (Corylopsis coreana), Iris odaesanensis (Iris odaesanensis), and Berchemia (Berchemia berchemiaefolia). Mammals are Korean Goral (Nemorhaedus goral), Marten (Martes flavigula koreana), and Leopard cat (Felis bengalensis). Birds are Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo), and Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Environmental variables consisted of climate, topography, soil and vegetation structure. Two modeling methods (GAM, Maxent) were tested across nine species, and predictive species maps of target species were produced. The results of this study were as follows. Firstly, Maxent showed similar 5 cross-validated AUC with GAM. Maxent is more useful model to develop than GAM because National Ecosystem Survey data has presence-only data. Therefore, Maxent is more useful species distribution model for National Ecosystem Survey data. Secondly, the modeling results between the second and third survey methods showed sometimes different because of each different surveying methods. Therefore, we need to combine two data for producing a reasonable result. Lastly, modeling result showed different predicted distribution pattern by taxonominal group. These results should be considered if we want to develop a species distribution model using the National Ecosystem Survey and apply it to a nationwide biodiversity research.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.183-193
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• 2009

Air pollution due to vehicle exhaust gas is considered to be a main contributor to the issues of transportation & environment. Furthermore it is raising concern over life quality and public health and is also perceived as a global issue. This research aims at providing helping hands for both central and local governments to set up and promote efficient atmospheric quality improvement policies, with the help of the travel demand forecasting model and GIS. More specifically, it tries to produce the overall emission level with time and space-based high resolution framework. This research, based on bottom-up approach reflecting vehicular traffic characteristics, suggested an improved approach to estimating emission level, by using a traffic model with a total of vehicular mileage revised by surveyed value and atmosphere model. Summing up, using the method proposed, the improvement of the reliability of the emissions inventory from the mobile pollutions sources is expected by the proposed integrated paradigm of transportation and atmosphere modeling approach as a new alternative.