• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.51-57
• /
• 2013

Recently, the number of jellyfish has been rapidly grown because of the global warming, the increase of marine structures, pollution, and etc. The increased jellyfish is a threat to the marine ecosystem and induces a huge damage to fishery industries, seaside power plants, and beach industries. To overcome this problem, a manual jellyfish dissecting device and pump system for jellyfish removal have been developed by researchers. However, the systems need too many human operators and their benefit to cost is not so good. Thus, in this paper, the design, implementation, and experiments of autonomous jellyfish removal robot system, named JEROS, have been presented. The JEROS consists of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), a device for jellyfish removal, an electrical control system, an autonomous navigation system, and a vision-based jellyfish detection system. The USV was designed as a twin hull-type ship, and a jellyfish removal device consists of a net for gathering jellyfish and a blades-equipped propeller for dissecting jellyfish. The autonomous navigation system starts by generating an efficient path for jellyfish removal when the location of jellyfish is received from a remote server or recognized by a vision system. The location of JEROS is estimated by IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) and GPS, and jellyfish is eliminated while tracking the path. The performance of the vision-based jellyfish recognition, navigation, and jellyfish removal was demonstrated through field tests in the Masan and Jindong harbors in the southern coast of Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2009

This study assessed the relationships between levels of $PM_{10}$ and hospitalization rates for asthma among children from 2003 to 2005 at four major cities in Korea. In addition, we estimated the reduced number of asthma hospitalization associated with an ambient $PM_{10}$ improvement to the acceptable levels as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) of asthma hospitalization associated with changes in $PM_{10}$ The RRs of children's asthma hospitalization for every $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increment in $PM_{10}$ were 1.009(95% CI = 1.004-1.014) in Seoul, 1.013(95% CI = 1.006-1.021) in Incheon, 1.009(95% CI = 1.002-1.016) in Busan, and 1.021(95% CI = 1.005-1.037) in Ulsan. We assessed $PM_{10}$ related health benefits from implementing the WHO's guidelines (24-hour average $50{\mu}g/m^3$) using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program. The estimated benefits were 439(95% CI = 216-666) reduced asthma hospitalization in Seoul, 720(95% CI = 304-1,151) in Incheon, 260(95% CI = 66-459) in Busan, and 126(95% CI = 30-228) in Ulsan. It was concluded that improving $PM_{10}$ condition to the WHO guideline would make a significant contribution to the reduction in asthma hospitalization among children. Therefore, public health measures are still needed to improve air quality in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.462-471
• /
• 2017

A more efficient use of nutrients from organic sources can benefit both farmers and water quality in agriculture. In this paper we reviewed information related to the regulations and guidelines of a swine liquid fertilizer to propose an establishment scheme for the official standards of swine manure slurry as a liquid fertilizer for organic farming. According to the law of establishment and designation of official standard of fertilizers, the liquid fertilizer made with pig liquid manure belongs to the byproduct fertilizer as of one of organic fertilizer. However, the official standards for byproduct fertilizers including the liquid fertilizer set by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), especially for a liquid swine manure fertilizer, should be revised to meet the goals of laws pursuing the environmentally sound agriculture, especially for organic farming because the terms and relevant standards need additional specific standards alike the standards such as impurities and parameter for declaration in EU. Therefore, it is suggested that official standards for byproduct fertilizers should be revised with respect to nutrient, salt content as of SAR and Na content instead of NaCl. Also we need to develop the maximum limit of heavy metals in soil to which the liquid fertilizer can be applied, as well as application rate depending on EC of the liquid fertilizer.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.257-265
• /
• 2008

Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the key technologies of the 21 st century and is expected to enable one to broaden the applicability across a wide range of sectors that can benefit public and improve industrial competitiveness. Already, consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in markets including coatings, computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment and medical devices. Recently, Institute of Occupational Medicine in UK reported an occupational hygiene review for nanoparticles in the viewpoint of nanotoxicity. They reported that the exposure control is very important issues in workplace for exposure assessment, but no proper methods are available to measure the extent of exposures to nanoparticles in the workplace. Therefore, for the estimation of exposure of nanomaterials, we have to approach the material-balance methodology, which similarly carried out in TRI (toxic release inventory) for hazardous chemicals. In order to use this methodology, the exposure source of nanomaterials should be determined firstly. Therefore, herein we investigated the main sources and processes for the exposure to nanomaterals by conducting the survey. The results could be used to define and assess nanohazard sources.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.33-57
• /
• 2024

This study analyzes the purchase subsidy for electric light-duty vehicles in terms of environmental benefits and total cost of ownership(TCO). For the environmental benefits, we considered the emissions from the power generation mix and reflected the change in efficiency of electric vehicles according to the temperature distribution. The environmental benefits of driving electric vehicles were estimated to be between KRW 2.2 million and KRW 5.3 million. Also, the TCO of electric vehicles compared to diesel vehicles under the current purchase subsidy was estimated to be about KRW 3.6 million lower for business use and about KRW 6.6 million lower for non-business use. These results imply that it is reasonable to lower the unit price of the purchase subsidy even within the same budget. Moreover, the remaining budget could be better spent on upgrading the charging infrastructure, which would reduce the inconvenience of charging for potential buyers.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.67-77
• /
• 2000

For successful privatization of environmental facility, a sound environmental policy is required to satisfy social motivation and economic. The primary purpose of environmental facility is not profit, but to supply a good quality service, an efficient management tool is needed to run the facility. In foreign countries, the privatization policy was originally based on the principle of complete competition achieving economic effiency. There were efficient cooperation and division of labor between civillian and public sector. First of all, the local government had independant budget. But, we found that the environmental facility have two important problems, the first is low effiency of operation and the second is comsumed to government finances as a homemade rate 50% in the technic application For a successful privatization of the environmental facility, The law of private capital introduction should be amended to promote fund raising. There are some other strategies ; overcoming of Nimbyism, research development of the privatization, field trip to the successful foreign environmental facilities. To support an efficient privatization policy, the environmental budget should be managed by cost-benefit analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.373-392
• /
• 2018

The emission of air pollutants in China has increased rapidly as its economy expanded over the last decades. The Chinese government has recently acknowledged the seriousness of the resulting air pollution and is trying to improve air quality in many ways. Here, we review the air quality control and management policies in China, one of our closest neighbors, because these policies may also influence the air quality in Korea. This study examined the recent policies on $PM_{2.5}$ reduction and analyzed the variation in air quality and air pollutant emissions in China. The ambient air quality and emission standards in China have been strengthened, based on China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan of 2013. As a result, the annual mean concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ in 2015 in 74 large Chinese cities declined by 23.6% compared with 2013 values. Coal consumption in China also has been reduced by more than 10% per year since 2013. Furthermore, the laws controlling atmospheric emissions were revised again in 2016, and an air pollution forecasting and warning system was implemented to help manage air pollution problems. At present, the Chinese government is trying to evaluate its policies on $PM_{2.5}$ and find a new paradigm to mitigate ongoing $PM_{2.5}$ pollution. In this context, a joint study between Korea and China has been initiated to investigate the characteristics and sources of ambient $PM_{2.5}$ and to identify factors contributing to the high $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in northeast China. We expect that this academic collaboration will benefit both countries in their search for new policies for $PM_{2.5}$ reduction.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2020

Rapid urbanization has elevated the risk of urban flooding due to the increase in the impervious surface, causing environmental disasters and environmental pollution problems, such as lowering the groundwater level and increasing water pollution. In Korea, low impact development (LID) techniques have been introduced to minimize these environmental impacts and maintain the water cycle soundness. However, most small-scale development projects are in blind spots because there is no legal basis for rainfall runoff management. Small-scale development projects that increase the surface runoff of rainwater are required to mandate the application of LID facilities in accordance with the polluters' responsibility principle. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a preliminary consultation system for water cycle recovery. This study focuses on the cost-benefit analysis on the application of LID techniques for small-scale development projects. The scale of nationwide small-scale development projects used for cost-benefit analysis were defined as buildings with a land area of more than 1,000 ㎡ or a total floor area of 1,500 ㎡. As a result of analyzing the cost-benefits from the installation of LID facilities, they were found to be much lower than the economic standard value of 1. This might be due to the high cost of facilities compared to the scale of the project. However, considering the overall environmental value of improving the water environment and air quality by the installation of LID facilities and the publicity of reducing the operating cost of sewage treatment facilities, the introduction of a prior consultation for small-scale development projects is inevitable. In the future, institutional and financial support from local governments is required to improve the cost-benefits with the introduction of a prior consultation for small-scale development projects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to provide basic information to improve the surrounding ecosystems with benefit analysis and monitoring in cut slopes following establishment of a test construction to improve ecological environment in slopes of an expressway. Field tests from October 2012 to May 2013 were conducted in Seosejong IC and Shinyang IC. In order to improve the view of slopes, soil condition is an important factor. The earth slope, it is possible to introduce directly the plant. Stable construction method was applied, another foundation for planting is necessary. The mixing ratio of the seeds according to the experimental results, the difference was found at an early stage plants in Site I (Seosejong IC). Trees were planted on terraced structures were well coordinated and pictures. The growth of planted trees was good in Site II (Shinyang IC). Due to the use of plants in the landscape will continue to change. Thus, long-term monitoring and landscape analysis will be needed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.879-890
• /
• 2011

The GOSAT (Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite) data provide new opportunities the most regionally complete and up-to-date assessment of $CO_2$. However, in practice, GOSAT records often suffer from missing data values mainly due to unfavorable meteorological condition in specific time periods of data acquisition. The aim of this research was to identify optimal spatial interpolation techniques to ensure the continuity of $CO_2$ from samples taken in the North East Asia. The accuracy among ordinary kriging (OK), universal kriging (UK) and simple kriging (SK) was compared based on the combined consideration of $R^2$ values, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Error (ME) for variogram models. Cross validation for 1312 random sampling points indicate that the (UK) kriging is the best geostatistical method for spatial predictions of $CO_2$ in the East Asia region. The results from this study can be useful for selecting optimal kriging algorithm to produce $CO_2$ map of various landscapes. Also, data users may benefit from a statistical approach that would allow them to better understand the uncertainty and limitations of the GOSAT sample data.