• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.715-721
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• 2017

Tree box filters, an example of bioretention systems, were compacted and versatile urban stormwater low impact development technique which allowed volume and water quality treatment performance to be adjusted based on the hydrologic, runoff quality and catchment characteristics. In this study, the overall performance of a 6 year-old tree box filter receiving parking lot stormwater runoff was evaluated. Hydrologic and hydraulic factors affecting the treatment performance of the tree box filter were also identified and investigated. Based on the results, the increase in rainfall depth caused a decrease in hydrologic and hydraulic performance of the tree box filter including volume, average flow, and peak flow reduction (r = -0.53 to -0.59; p<0.01). TSS, organics, nutrients, and total and soluble heavy metals constituents were significantly reduced by the system through media filtration, adsorption, infiltration, and evapotranspiration mechanisms employed in the tree box filter (p<0.001). This significant pollutant reduction by the tree box filter was also found to have been caused by hydrologic and hydraulic factors including volume, average flow, peak flow, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and runoff duration. These findings were especially useful in applying similarly designed tree box filter by considering tree box filter surface area to catchment area of less than 1 %.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.128-128
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• 2021

Most of the studies about stormwater low impact development technologies used generalized observations without fully understanding the mechanisms affecting the whole performance of the systems from catchment to the facility itself. At present, these LID technologies have been treated as black box due to fluctuating flow and environmental conditions affecting its operation and treatment performance. As such, the implications of microbial community to the overall performance of the tree-box filter were investigated in this study. Summer season was found to be the most suitable season for microorganism growth since more microorganism were found during this season. Least microorganism count was found in spring because of the plant growth during this season since plant penology influences the seasonal dynamics of soil microorganisms. Litterfall during fall season might have affected the microorganism count during winter since, during this season, the compositional variety of soil organic matter changes affecting growth of soil microbial communities. Microbial analyses of sediment samples collected in the system revealed that the most dominant microorganism phylum is Proteobacteria in all the seasons in both inlet and outlet comprising 37% to 47% of the total microorganism count. Proteobacteria was followed by Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi which comprises 6% to 20%, 9% to 20% and 2% to 27%, respectively of the total microorganism count for each season. These findings were useful in optimizing the design and performance of tree box filters considering physical, chemical and biological pollutant removal mechanisms.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2016

Low impact development (LID) facilities are established for the purpose of restoring the natural hydrologic cycle as well as the removal of pollutants from stormwater runoff. Improved efficiency of LID facilities can be obtained through the optimized interaction of their major components (i.e., plant, soil, filter media, microorganisms, etc.). Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the performances of LID facilities in terms of runoff and pollutant reduction and also to provide an optimal maintenance method. The monitoring was conducted on four LID technologies (e.g., bioretention, small wetlands, rain garden and tree box filter). The optimal SA/CA (facility surface area / catchment area) ratio for runoff reduction greater than 40% is determined to be 1 - 5%. Since runoff reduction affects the pollutant removal efficiency in LID facilities, SA/CA ratio is derived as an important factor in designing LID facilities. The LID facilities that are found to be effective in reducing stormwater runoff are in the following order: rain garden > tree box filter > bioretention> small wetland. Meanwhile, in terms of removal of particulate matter (TSS), the effectiveness of the facilities are in the following order: rain garden > tree box filter > small wetland > bioretention; rain gardens > tree box filter > bioretention > small wetland were determined for the removal of organic matter (COD, TOC), nutrients (TN, TP) and heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn). These results can be used as an important material for the design of LID facilities in runoff volume and pollutant reduction.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2015

In this research, the hydrologic effects between a pre-existing urban landuse and low impact development (LID) applied conditions were compared and evaluated. The infiltration trench and tree box filter that were utilized in LID represent only 1% of the catchment area that they drain. Storm event monitoring were conducted from July 2010 to July 2014 on a total of 22 storm events in both LID sites. After LID, hydrological improvement was observed as the sites exhibited a delay (lag time) or reduction in the magnitude, frequency and duration of runoff and flow peaks as the rainfall progress. In addition, the maximum irreducible peak flow reduction for infiltration trench was found to be 61% and 33% for the tree box filter when rainfall was 40 mm and 30 mm, respectively. In designing LID, it is recommended to consider the storage capacity and catchment area, as well as the amount of rainfall and runoff on the site.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.407-412
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to develop a tree box filter system, an example of Low Impact Development technology, for treating stormwater runoff from road. Monitoring of storm events was performed between June 2011 and November 2012 to evaluate the system performance during wet day. Based on the results, all runoff volume generated by rainfall less than 2 mm was stored in the system. The minimum volume reduction of 20% was observed in the system for rainfall greater than 20 mm. The greatest removal efficiency was exhibited by the system for total heavy metals ranging from 70 to 73% while satisfactory removal efficiency was exhibited by the system for particulate matters, organic matters and nutrients ranging from 60 to 68%. The system showed greater pollutant removal efficiency of 67 to 83% for rainfall less than 10 mm compared to rainfall greater than 10 mm which has 39 to 75% pollutant removal efficiency. The system exhibited less pollutant reduction for rainfall greater than 10 mm due to the decreased retention capacity of the system for increased rainfall. Overall, the system has proved to be an option for stormwater management that can be recommended for on-site application. Similar system may be designed based on several factors such as rainfall depth, facility size and pollutant removal efficiency.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2019

This study was conducted to understand factors affecting TSS and heavy metals transport on the road, parking lot and roof. During storm events, heavy metals, which were mostly attached to TSS, were also transported when TSS was washed off in the road, parking lot and roof. This finding may be supported by the significant correlations between TSS load and total and soluble heavy metals load including Cr, Fe, Cu, and Pb (Pearson r value: 0.52 to 0.73; probability p value<0.01). Generation and transport of TSS and heavy metals were greater in the road and parking lot compared to the roof due to vehicular activities, slope and greater catchment areas of these sites. It was found that TSS transport during peak flows of storm events ranges from 65% to 75% implying that by controlling peak flows, TSS transportation to nearby water bodies may be decreased. Depending on the target TSS and heavy metal reduction, sizing of low impact development (LID) technologies and green infrastructures (GI) such as infiltration trench, tree box filter, and rain garden may be calculated. Future researchers were recommended to assess the limitations of the systems and determine the design considerations for these types of facilities.