• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.724-734
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• 2019

This study selected a representative small arm firing range and analyzed the distribution of heavy metal pollutants such as Pb, Cu, Zn, etc. For this the concentrations of heavy metals in soils, roots and leaves of plants, and water of the small arm firing range were measured. The concentrations of heavy metals in the effluent were also checked during precipitation. The concentration of lead in the samples collected from the top soil(0-5 cm) and sub soil(5-50 cm) near the target in the small arm firing range exceeded the concern level of the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea, but not in other soil samples. Plants that grow in soil heavily contaminated with lead showed a high lead concentration, especially in roots. However, the concentration of lead in effluent from the small arm firing range was less than 0.02 ppm. The concentration of copper and zinc in the small arm firing range did not surpass the concern level of the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea. Through this study more accurate information on the distribution of heavy metal pollution in the soil of the small arm firing range was obtained. Based on this research, we can conclude that some facility improvements can reduce the spreading of pollutants in the currently used small arm firing range and contribute to the design and operation of advanced small arm firing ranges.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.8-18
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• 2015

Pollutants such as heavy metals and explosives originating from the military operational ranges can be migrated to adjacent surface water body or offsite soil, and can affect to local residents and aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, Korea Ministry of the National Defense has established various guidelines for environmental management including the installation of pollutant migration prevention facilities (PMPFs) and monitoring methodologies for heavy metals in the operational range soil and effluent and sediment of PMPFs. However, current guidelines neither address the explosive compounds such as 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) nor suggest detailed environmental investigation protocol. This paper introduces the new “Environmental Management Manual for Military Firing Ranges”, which includes the environmental criteria for explosives as well as the detailed investigation protocol for the affected environmental media including soil, effluent and sediment of PMPFs.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2009

Civil petitions and law suits against the military rifle shooting noise have been increased because many military shooting ranges are located near civilian residential area. In order to solve the noise problems, military have devised various methods. In this study, propagation properties of rifle shot through atmosphere were investigated. The military rifle shooting noise level at 5m from muzzle was between $l14{\sim}120dB$ in all directions. The noise level loom both backward and sideward away from system firing range consisting lines of 8 shooting locations were 90dB, when shots were all fired within 10 seconds. At present some of military bases established sound barriers, muzzle enclosures, silencers, and indoor shooting ranges to reduce noises and these prevention methods can reduce noise by $5{\sim}20dB,\;5{\sim}9dB,\;5{\sim}13dB,\;40{\sim}50dB$, respectively. Even though indoor shooting range has the best performance, it requires very expensive construction cost and has short length between target and shooter. In comparison, muzzle enclosure is cheap, but because it is installed in fixed position it can only be used in one shooting position. Therefore a commander should select appropriate methods to reduce military rifle shooting noise considering distance from residential area to the range, mission of military training, budget, etc.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.58-63
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• 2016

The study examined the level of heavy metal contamination by dividing military rifle shooting ranges into the three areas, i.e firing, trajectory, and target. The target area was found to be contaminated at a level higher (Cu 845 mg/kg, Pb 30,487 mg/kg) than the Worrisome Level of Soil Contamination (hereinafter referred to as the “Worrisome Level”) The trajectory area was predicted to be free from contamination, but it did indicate contamination although it was pretty much lower (Cu 23 mg/kg, Pb 99 mg/kg) than Worrisome Level. This is attributed to the contamination spread when rearranging the soil of the target area during the maintenance of the shooting range. The firing area was also predicted to be free from heavy metal contamination, but the results analyzed indicated a contamination higher (Cu 201 mg/kg, Pb 2,286 mg/kg) than Worrisome Level. This is attributed to the fragments of the broken bullet scattering due to the pressure generated as the bullet leaves the muzzle. An examination of heavy metal contamination in the discharge area as well as gutters to prevent the intrusion of rain water from perimeter revealed a high level of contamination (Cu 298 mg/kg, Pb 6,497 mg/kg), which makes it necessary to take measures.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2023

Safety standards for long-range artillery ammunition test and training sites follow the US artillery shooting range safety zone standards. Although the South Korean geographical conditions of shooting ranges are different from those of the United States, there is no safety standard reflecting the South Korean topographical characteristics. Probable error associated with the shooting range, trajectory should be considered in establishing the safety standards. In this study, we present the safety standards for the ammunition testing site suitable for the Korean situation, with applying a concept of trajectory and probable error differed by ammunition type, which are currently confirmed by the South Korean Army's artillery shooting.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

The following research was initiated in order to compare the relationship between the amount of gunfire shot and its resulting heavy metal pollution rate. The research was conducted at two firing ranges located inside a military unit stationed in the rear strategical area, where one full distance firing range is used by soldiers in active service, and the other is used by recruits and reserves. The heavy metal pollution rate was measured also on water sample collected from the target zone while raining. Based on values such as the real amount of gunshot fired, amount of heavy metal in the soil of the target zone, and the degree of heavy metal pollution for each firing range, the research showed that although pollution rate was higher when more gunshots were fired, there was no close correlation between the two. The water samples showed that this might result from the soils containing heavy metals eroded and transported by rain due to the target zone having no vegetation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2022

The primary purpose of this study was to analyze assessment factors by identifying and prioritizing live fire shooting area requirements using the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) technique. Derived assessment factors for candidate sites were divided into six categories. Of these, four categories (base-to-range distance, weapon danger area, range terrain, and size) were in the realm of physical geography while the remaining two (land use and proximity to habitation) fell under the general heading of human geography. A case study was also conducted to select several alternative firing ranges using derived factors. The optimal location was analyzed by evaluating the candidate site using each assessment factor. As a result, it was found that assessment factors applying to GIS (Geographic Information System) were able to effectively analyze a suitable location for relocation of the focal training facility, taking into consideration public-safety issues, training requirements, and residents' past and likely future complaints. Through this process, it can prevent the waste of time and effort in determining an optimal location for a live fire shooing range.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.25-31
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• 2013

Civil and military firing ranges are usually contaminated with heavy metals such as lead and copper and remediation is required. Acid washing and extraction are common remediation methods. Lead contaminated firing range soil samples were collected and a preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of the contamination and the contribution of high specific gravity particles. Ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid(EDTA) extraction was applied for the removal of heavy metal but the extraction was not feasible for the firing range soil. Even after the repeated EDTA extraction, the contamination were still over the Korean environmental standard indicating that soil particles highly contaminated with heavy metal which release the heavy metal ion even after the repeated extraction. Some colored and higher specific gravity particles were separated from the soil samples and analyzed. The colored particles have specific gravity of 2.5-6.6. The saturation ratio of Pb and EDTA was 4.9-32%. After removal of these colored particles, the sandy soil showed moderate contamination which can be treated with soil washing. This was proved with the five-level sequential extraction and TCLP tests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.64-77
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• 2015

An effective method for produce munitions effectiveness data is to calculate weapon effectiveness indices in the US military's Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manuals (JMEM) and take advantage of the damage evaluation model (GFSM) and weapon Effectiveness Evaluation Model (Matrix Evaluator). However, a study about the Range Safety that can be applied in the live firing exercises is very insufficient in the case of ROK military. The Range Safety program is an element of the US Army Safety Program, and is the program responsible for developing policies and guidance to ensure the safe operation of live-fire ranges. The methodology of Weapon Danger Zone (WDZ) program is based on a combination of weapon modeling/simulation data and actual impact data. Also, each WDZ incorporates a probability distribution function which provides the information necessary to perform a quantitative risk assessment to evaluate the relative risk of an identified profile. A study of method to establish for K-Range Safety data is to develop manuals (pamphlet) will be a standard to ensure the effective and safe fire training at the ROK military education and training and environmental conditions. For example, WDZs are generated with the WDZ tool as part of the RMTK (Range Managers Tool Kit) package. The WDZ tool is a Geographic Information System-based application that is available to operational planners and range safety manager of Army and Marine Corps in both desktop and web-based versions. K-Range Safety Program based on US data is reflected in the Korean terrain by operating environments and training doctrine etc, and the range safety data are made. Thus, verification process on modified variables data is required. K-Range Safety rather than being produced by a single program, is an package safety activities and measures through weapon danger zone tool, SRP (The Sustainable Range Program), manuals, doctrine, terrain, climate, military defence M&S, weapon system development/operational test evaluation and analysis to continuously improving range safety zone. Distribution of this K-range safety pamphlet is available to Army users in electronic media only and is intended for the standing army and army reserve. Also publication and distribution to authorized users for marine corps commands are indicated in the table of allowances for publications. Therefore, this study proposes an efficient K-Range Safety Manual producing to calculate the danger zones that can be applied to the ROK military's live fire training by introducing of US Army weapons danger zone program and Range Safety Manual