• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.533-540
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• 2014

The Wangdol-cho area, in the Hupo Bank, plays a very important role in main fishing grounds, leisure tourism and marine environmental researches of the East Sea. We analyzed the detailed bathymetry and classified the seabed characteristics of the Wangdol-cho area, based on seafloor backscattering images and sediment grain size. The Hupo Bank is developed in parallel with the eastern coastal line of Korean peninsula, and the shallowest area (Wangdol-cho) of the Hupo Bank is located along the eastern part of Hupo Port. The Wangdol-cho comprises three summits; north summit, middle summit, and south summit. The middle summit area among the three summits has the most shallow water depth with minimum about 6 m. The north summit shows about 8 m minimum depth and the south summit about 9 m. The bathymetry data around three summits represent undulating seabeds with many scattered underwater reefs and shallow water depth. The area between the underwater reefs, the flat seafloor in the northeastern part of the survey site, and the western steep slope area have relatively coarse sediments such as sandy gravel and gravelly sand. The bathymetry in the western side of the Wangdol-cho shows steep slope seabed, extending to the Hupo Basin. Fine sediments including mud and silty sand occur in the Hupo Basin area of the survey site. The submarine detailed topography and the analysis of the seafloor characteristics of the survey area are expected to contribute to management for marine environmental researches and sustainable use of ecosystems in the Wangdol-cho.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2020

We analyzed the morphological characteristics of OCC (Ocean Core Complexes) in the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge (MCIR) using high-resolution geophysical data recorded on the Deep-Tow SideScan Sonar IMI-30 system. In terms of slope-gradient variations calculated from the high-resolution bathymetry data, the normal faults formed by seafloor spreading were associated generally with slopes > 30° and resulted in high backscatter intensities, which reflect more topographic effects than acoustic medium variation. However, the areas associated with gentle slopes < 10° tend to show the backscatter intensities reflecting the acoustic characteristic of the medium. We show that the detachment faults exposing the OCCs were initiated with high-angle normal faults (58°) exhibiting outward and inward dips of a breakaway zone. In order to examine the spatial distribution of OCC structures, we characterized the transition from magmatic-dominant seafloor with abyssal hills to tectonic-dominant seafloor with OCC using the down-slope direction variation. The slope direction of the seafloor generally tends to be perpendicular to the ridge azimuth in the magmatic-dominant zone, whereas it becomes parallel to the given ridge azimuth near the OCC structures. Therefore, this spatial change of seafloor slope directions indicates that the formation of OCC structures is causally associated with the tectonic-dominant spreading rather than magmatic extension. These results also suggest that the topographical characteristics of seafloor spreading and OCC structures can be distinguished using high-resolution geophysical data. Thus, we propose that the high-resolution bathymetry and backscatter intensity data can help select potential areas of exploitation of hydrothermal deposits in MCIR effectively.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.185-190
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• 2008

Geophysical survey were investigated in the offshore around East Sea Research Institute, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (Jukbyeon-myun, Uljin-gu, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea). The surveys were conducted aboard the R/V Jangmok in 2008 using a hull-mounted EM 3002 multi-beam echosounder. Precise bathymetry and seabed images were obtained using multi-beam and thicknesses of sedimentary layer were found through seismic survey. Submarine topography deepens parallel to the coastline to -60 m and rock mass distributed in the southeast of study area. By finding the thickness of sedimentary layer through seismic survey, a sedimentary thickness on the study area was established. Futhermore, monitoring data of bathymetry, substructure and sedimentary environment will be secured through successive geophysical investigation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.477-486
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• 2012

High-resolution bathymetry and physico-chemical properties of manganese nodules were explored to identify the relationship between morphological features and nodule occurrences in the KR1, one of the Korean contract nodule fields located in the NE Pacific. The high-resolution seabed mapping showed that the southwestern sector of the KR1 (KR1-1) was relatively deeper than the northeastern sector (KR1-2) which is occupied by small-scale seamounts. In terms of nodule occurrence, manganese nodules in the KR1-1 were comparatively larger (2-4 cm) with rough surface (t-type) and discoidal shapes (D-type), while those in the KR1-2 were generally small (<2 cm) with smooth surface (s-type) and irregular shapes (I-type). In addition, the nodules in the KR1-1 had higher contents of Cu, Mn and Ni. Such connections of water depths to nodule appearances and metal contents are commonly observed in the Pacific nodule fields. On the other hand, the nodules in the KR1-2 tend to be controled by morphological features. The seamounts in the KR1-2 might continuously provide rock fragments as new nuclei of manganese nodules. As a result, the nodules could not grow over than 2 cm and showed the shapes of a newbie (i.e., smooth surface and irregular shapes). As a result, our observations indicate that occurrence features of manganese nodules could be subjected to water depths and seabed morphology simultaneously.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.207-212
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• 2008

Bathymetry, side scan sonar, and magnetic survey data for the summit area of Dokdo obtained by Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute in 1999, 2004, and 2007 were analyzed to investigate the geophysical characteristics of the summit. Bathymetry and topographic data for the summit of Dokdo show uneven seabed and irregular undulations from costal line to -90 m in water depth, indicating the effects of partial erosions and taluses. The stepped slope in the bathymetry is supposed to be a coastal terrace suggesting repetition of transgressions and regressions in the Quaternary. The bathymetry and the side scan sonar data show a small crater, assumed to be formed by post volcanisms, at depth of $-100\;{\sim}\;-120\;m$ in the northeastern and the northwestern parts of the survey area. Except some areas with shallow sand sedimentary deposits, there are rocky seafloor and lack of sediments in the side scan sonar images of the survey area, dominantly. The analytic signal of the magnetic anomaly coincides with other geophysical results regarding to the location of the residual crater. The geophysical constraints of the summit of Dokdo propose that the islets and the rocky seabed elongated northeastward and northwestward from the islets might be the southern crater of the Dokdo volcano.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.56-68
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• 2023

A system that extracts seabed topographic information by simultaneously and continuously observing the horizontal position and water depth in the sea by combining a single beam echosounder and GNSS was constructed. By applying the developed system to actual measurements of small-scale sea areas, the effectiveness of bathymetry and sea-floor topographic data acquisition using GNSS and echosounder was examined. By using the developed outdoor program DS-NAV and indoor program DS-CAD and applying the tide level data at the time of actual measurement of the target sea area, it was possible to derive bathymetry results based on the datum level i.e. approximate lowest low water level(A.L.L.W). By using the developed outdoor program DS-NAV and indoor program DS-CAD and applying the tide level data at the time of actual measurement of the target sea area, it was possible to derive the results of bathymetric survey based on the datum level. From database built through the actual measurement. it was possible to create 3D model of the sea-floor topography and extract cross-sections. The results of this study are expected to be economically useful for extracting seabed topographical information from small sea areas or in dredging sites for offshore construction.

• Vacuum Magazine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.11-16
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• 2016

Tidal current energy is the most interesting renewable resources that have been less harnessed. Korea has globally outstanding tidal current energy resources and it is highly needed to develop a tidal current energy conversion system. It is reported that the total amount of available tidal current energy is approximately 6GW in Korea. A good tidal site candidate is required a large amount of fast moving water, bathymetry and seabed properties, no conflicts with other users and is close to a load and grid interconnection. In this review, we summarized the results of R&D projects regarding tidal current resources, utilization projects and demonstration test bed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.589-601
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• 2023

We compare high-resolution seabed bathymetry data and seafloor backscattering data acquired, using multi-beam, between 2018 and 2021 to understand topographic changes in the coastal area of Dokdo. The study area, conducted within a 500 m × 500 m in the southern coast between the islands where Dongdo Port is located, has been greatly affected by human activities, waves and ocean currents. The depth variations exhibit between 5 - 70 m. Irregular underwater rocks are distributed in areas with a depth of 20 m or less and 30 - 40 m. As a whole, water depth ranges similar in the east-west direction and become flatter and deeper. The bathymetry contour in 2020 tends to move south as a whole compared to 2018 and 2019. The south moving of the contours in the survey area indicates that the water depth is shallower than before. Since the area where the change in the depth occurred is mainly formed of sedimentary layers, the change in the coast of Dokdo were mainly caused by the inflow of sediments, due to the influence of wind and waves caused by these typhoons (Maysak and Haishen) in 2020. In the Talus area, which developed on the shallow coast between Dongdo and Seodo, the bathymetry changed in 2020 due to erosion or sedimentation, compared to the bathymetry in 2019 and 2018. It is inferred that the changes in the seabed environment occur as the coastal area is directly affected by the typhoons. Due to the influence of the typhoons with strong southerly winds, there was a large amount of sediment inflow, and the overall tendency of the changes was to be deposited. The contours in 2021 appears to have shifted mainly northward, compared to 2020, meaning the area has eroded more than 2020. In 2020, sediments were mainly moved northward and deposited on the coast of Dokdo by the successive typhoons. On the contrary, the coast of Dokdo was eroded as these sediments moved south again in 2021. Dokdo has been largely affected by the north wind in winter, so sediments mainly move southward. But it is understood that sediments move northward when affected by strong typhoons. Such continuous coastal change monitoring and analysis results will be used as important data for longterm conservation policies in relation to topographical changes in Dokdo.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.477-486
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• 2017

In this study, we analyze precise seabed geomorphology and conditions for comparing the nearshore areas of the Dongdo(East Island) and the Seodo(West Island) using detailed bathymetry data and seafloor backscattering images, in Dokdo, the East Sea. We have been obtained the detailed bathymetry data and the seafloor backscattering data. The survey range is about $250m{\times}250m$ including land of islets to the nearshore areas of the southern part of the Dongdo and the Seodo. As a result of bathymetry survey, the southern area of the Dongdo(~50 m) is deeper than the Seodo(~30 m) in the water depth. The survey areas are consist of extended bedrocks from land of the Dongdo and the Seodo. The underwater rock region of the Seodo is larger than the Dongdo. In spite of similar extended rocks features from islets, there are some distinctive seabed characteristics between the southern nearshore areas of the Dongdo and the Seodo. The Talus-shaped seafloor environment formed by gravel and underwater rocks originating from the land of the Dongdo is up to about 15 m depth. And the boundary line of between extended bedrocks and seabottom is unclear in the southern nearshore of the Dongdo. On the other hand, the southern coast of the Seodo is characterized by relatively large scale underwater rocks and evenly distributed sediments, which clearly distinguish the boundary of between extended bedrocks and seafloor. This is because the tuff layers exposed to the coastal cliffs of the Dongdo are weak against weathering and erosion. It is considered that there are more influences of the clastic sediments carried from the land of the Dongdo compared with the Seodo. Particularly, the land of the Dongdo has been undergoing construction activities. And also a highly unstable ground such as faults, joints and cracks appears in the Dongdo. In previous study, there are dissimilar features of the massive tuff breccia formations of the Dongdo and the Seodo. These conditions are thought to have influenced the different seabed characteristics in the southern nearshore areas of the Dongdo and the Seodo.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

The necessity of maritime sector for continuous management, accurate and update location information such as seabed shape and location, research on airborne LiDAR bathymetry surveying techniques are accelerating. Airborne LiDAR systems consist of a scanner and GPS/INS. The location accuracy of 3D point data obtained by a LiDAR system is determined by external orientation parameters. However, there are problems in the synchronization between sensors should be performed due to a variety of sensor combinations and arrangement. To solve this issue, system calibration should be conducted. Therefore, this study evaluates the system verification methods, processes, and operation techniques.