• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2019

Background: Lead (Pb) exposure in shooting ranges has been reduced by various measures such as jacketed ammunition and lead-free primers. Nevertheless, this may lead to exposure to other metals, potentially resulting in adverse health effects. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 35 subjects from seven different shooting ranges were studied: four shooting instructors, 10 police officers, 15 Special Forces, and six maintenance staff members. Metals and metalloids were determined in blood and urine by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results: The concentrations of most elements did not differ significantly between groups or compared to reference values, except for Sb and Pt in urine and Pb in blood. Mean values for Sb were considerably higher in urine from the Special Forces ($0.34{\mu}g/L$), the maintenance staff ($0.13{\mu}g/L$), and shooting instructors ($0.32{\mu}g/L$) compared to the police officers before shooting ($0.06{\mu}g/L$) and a Belgian reference value ($0.04{\mu}g/L$). For Pt, the Special Forces showed higher mean urinary concentrations ($0.078{\mu}g/L$) compared to a Belgian reference value (<$0.061{\mu}g/L$). Mean values for blood lead were markedly higher in the Special Forces ($3.9{\mu}g/dL$), maintenance staff ($5.7{\mu}g/dL$), and instructors ($11.7{\mu}g/dL$) compared to police officers ($1.4{\mu}g/dL$). One instructor exceeded the biological exposure index for blood Pb ($38.8{\mu}g/dL$). Conclusion: Since both Pb and Sb were found to be higher in shooting range employees, especially among frequent shooters, it is advisable to provide appropriate protective equipment, education, and medical follow-up for shooting range personnel in addition to careful choice of ammunition.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.62-71
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• 2018

The rapid growth of virtual reality technology in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution has accelerated scientification of combat training systems in addition to ICT(information and communications technology) in military field. Recently, research and development of simulators based on virtual reality have been actively conducted in order to solve sensitive issues such as increase of civil complaints due to the noise of a shooting range, prevention of shooting accident, and reduction of training cost. In this paper, we propose two key solutions: spatial synchronization method and modified point mass trajectory model with small angle approximation to overcome technical limitations of a current training simulator. A trainee who wears a haptic vest in a mixed reality environment built in MARS(medium-range assault rifle shooting simulator) is able to conduct not only precision shooting but also two-way engagement with virtual opponents. It is possible for trainee to receive more reliable evaluations in the MARS than an existing rifle simulator based on laser.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.355-363
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• 2024

This study proposes a method for determining the optimal target size for an artillery range considering ballistics and environmental conditions. To this end, the size of the probable error of each type of ammunition and charge determined during shooting were considered, and the effect of the firing position and target terrain characteristics on the target size was analyzed. In conclusion, the size of the target increased as the range increased, and a larger target size was required for the DPICM than for the general high explosive. Accordingly, the optimal target size must be determined by considering various factors such as topographical characteristics, shooting position location, and shooting range safety standards.

• 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 Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.56-65
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• 2014

Contamination of explosive compounds in the soils of military shooting range may pose risks to human and ecosystems. As shooting ranges are located at remote places, active remediation processes with hardwares and equipments are less practical to implement than natural solutions such as bioremediaton. In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to select a suitable carbon source and to optimize dosing rate for the enhanced bioremediation of explosive compounds in surface soils and sediments of shooting ranges with indigenous microorganisms activated by external carbon source. Treatability study using slurry phase reactors showed that the presence of indigenous microbial community capable of explosive compounds degradation in the shooting range soils, and starch was a more effective carbon source than glucose and acetic acid in the removal of TNT. However, at higher starch/soil ratio, i.e., 2.0, the acute toxicity of the liquid phase increased possibly due to transformation products of TNT. RDX degradation by indigenous microorganisms was also stimulated by the addition of starch but the acute toxicity of the liquid phase decreased with the increase of starch/soil ratio. Taken together, the optimum range of starch/soil ratio for the degradation of explosive compounds without significant increase in acute toxicity was found to be 0.2 of starch/soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.119-128
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• 2012

The applicability and accuracy of Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model on the estimation of soil loss at impacted area of shooting range was tested to further the understanding of soil erosion at shooting ranges by using RUSLE. At a shooting range located in northern Kyunggi, the amount of soil loss was estimated by RUSLE model and compared with that estimated by Global Positioning System-Total Station survey. As results, the annual soil loss at a study site (202 m long by 79 m wide) was estimated to be 2,915 ton/ha/year by RUSLE and 3,058 ton/ha/year by GPS-TS survey, respectively. The error between two different estimations was less than 5%, however, information on site conditions should be collected more to adjust model coefficients accurately. At the study shooting range, sediments generated by rainfall was transported from the top to near the bottom of the sloping face through sheet erosion as well as rill erosion, forming a gully along the direction of the storm water flow. Coarser fractions of the sediments were redeposited in the limited area along the channel. Distribution characteristics of explosive compounds in soil before and after summer monsoon rainfall in the study area were compared with the erosion patterns. Soil sampling and analyses results showed that the dispersion of explosive compounds in surface soil was consistent with the characteristics of soil erosion and redeposition pattern of sediment movements after rainfalls.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.14
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• pp.367-388
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• 2007

Some of individuals working at various fields of security guard are given the legal right to use a gun to cope with expected risks and crimes. Not only in Korea but also throughout the world, a pistol is being used as a device for the workers of security guard such as the army, the police and intelligence agencies to keep the law and social order. A pistol, which is regarded as the last safety measure of security guard, is easy to carry but, because of its short barrel for high portability, its hit ratio and long-range shooting performance are much lower than ordinary guns. Despite such weak points, a pistol can be a great tool because of its high portability and if the users make steady efforts to improve their skills and, for this reason, it has been being used widely until now. National agency workers' pistol shooting skills depend on several important factors, but for the fast and accurate shooting, the mot important factor is how to aim at the target. Because it takes a relatively longer time to align the sight on the target, the change of the sight alignment method is expected to improve pistol shooting skills a lot. In Korea, however, most of national agency training centers teach the basic aiming method that crosses the foresight and the backsight and aligns the crossing to the target. That is, they teach the sight alignment method for fixed targets. Some agencies in Korea and foreign countries that have used guns more frequently and longer than us are teaching different sight alignment methods as well. Representative ones of them are aiming only with the foresight and pointing shooting. These aiming methods are expected to produce good results against moving targets. While the basic sight alignment method has to cross the foresight and the backsight and then to align the crossing to the target, so takes a longer time than other aiming methods, the other two aiming methods are expected to be effective in fields where both swiftness and accuracy are require. Because domestic agencies are teaching mainly the basic sight alignment method, the present study purposed to examine the effects of different aiming methods on shooting records and ultimately to contribute to national agency workers' operation. For this purpose, we selected 20 policemen from local police commandos under the National Police Agency who were accustomed to pistol shooting and measured their pistol shooting. According to the results, the pointed shooting method showed the best record in 5m short.range shooting. As to hit ratio in 15m shooting, which is relatively long.range for pistol shooting, the basic aiming method showed the best record, but the results of statistical analysis showed that pointed shooting is most superior. Of course, the results were obtained from a group who were used to and skillful in pistol shooting, but they are considered meaningful in that all the police and national agency workers should have such high shooting skills.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2018

The ROK military conluded that the dead of a young soldier, walking back to his unit was caused by a ricochet after carrying our some construction work near firing range in Gangwon Province in last Septemebr. But when it was revealed that he was hit by a stray bullet cause, this fact caused public fury. To solve these problems, we will analyze the individual fire shooting range of our military units from a safe perspective and propose ways to improve it by applying the cases of the United States, which are both permanent and scientific.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

This paper studied analysis of deflagration rapid propagation of burning through only a few second and fire cause into the Busan indoor shooting range. We carried out combustion experiment of sound-absorbing materials extensively used, to analyze propagation path of burning in indoor shooting range. From the experimental results, general sound-absorbing materials were rapid burned simultaneously with ignition and in case of attached gunpowder residue, they were burning about tripled by comparison with general sound-absorbing materials. The incombustibility sound-absorbing materials had all gone out simultaneously with ignition, but they were burning similar to general type materials in case of attached gunpowder residues. In order to analysis of the cause of fire, we calculated kinetic energy of bounced off bullet, from result, if the bounced off bullet impacted gunpowder residues, the gunpowder residues were possible to ignite by the bullet.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.523-532
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• 2008

A phase II site investigation and feasibility study was conducted at a military mortar shooting range near the demilitarized zone (Kyunggi, South Korea) to assess the extent of contaminants migration to the nearby Imjin river in which a flood control dam is under construction. The results showed that silty-clay soils around target areas were co-contaminated with heavy metals (Cd, Cu, and Pb) and explosives (HMX, RDX, and TNT). The total amount of contaminant was estimated to be 497.1 kg-RDX, 20.6 kg-HMX, 1.4 kg-TNT, 35.2 kg-Cd, 4,331 kg-Cu, and 5,115 kg-Pb, respectively. Both heavy metals and explosives were almost equally distributed on each soil particle size fraction. Neither subsurface soil samples nor ground water samples showed signs of contamination above the environmental criteria. The major migration route of contaminants was soil particles in surface run-off during rain at which a mass discharge rate of 30.0 mg-RDX/hour was observed.