• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.801-811
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• 2012

For biodiversity conservation, Biological Impact Assessment is very important. The focus of the study is to enhance efficient Environment Impact Assessment(EIA) based on collecting existing information of endangered species covering the status survey, estimation of effects and reducing methods. Habitat Suitability Index(HSI) can be applicable to Ecological Impact Assessment and finding various reducing methods based on estimating effects. For this study, the EIA report of Samjang - Sanchung highway construction was chosen as an example and Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura as an endangered species was chosen to assess the ecosystem impact on road construction. Water, road, ground coverage, slope, altitude as variables of habitat were weighted and final HSI map was calculated using Arc map and Arc view. Through comparing of before and after HSI, quantitative estimating on effects was possible to minimize impact of road construction to wildlife habitat.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2012

This study proposes an approach to improve the accuracy of land assessment result focused on the Land Suitability Assessment. The detailed analysis processes are; (a) that they are analyzed considering resistance in distance measurement on the space characteristics of location, and; (b) that an assessment result is measured according to the threshold definition of membership function, which is applied in estimating conservation suitability. The assessment results are; firstly, the method considering resistance better reflects the local characteristics of area with worse accessibility including rivers and mountains than one by linear distance; secondly, the existing method that the maximum value of a target area is defined as the maximum threshold may draw a value evaluated lower than a threshold definition considering the distribution of measured indices. Finally, satellite images are overlapped with the assessed results, the applicability level from the approach proposed by this study is more coincident with the present status. The assessment method proposed by this study can be meaningful in view of that it improves the accuracy of Land Suitability Assessment. Furthermore, it can be applied as SDSS, which can support effective establishment of urban policies, in case of complementing the problems in executing the assessment system.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-290
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• 2013

This study was carried out to propose the new procedure to apply Habitat Evaluation Procedure(HEP) of target species using delphi technique, which is suitable to develop endangered species with few researches and ecological knowledges. To identify habitat quality of specific species in development project site, we can develop habitat model and create habitat suitability maps. In this study, we select the Common Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus) as target species in four areas(Paju, Siheung, Ansan, Hwaseong) which is located near the Seoul metropolitan area. The Delphi technique was selected to get the reliable information on the species and habitats requirements. Through the delphi approach, seven habitat components were determined as suitable variables for the Common Kestrel: density($n/km^2$) of small mammals, area($km^2$) of bare-grounds, pasturelands and riparian, and open area(%), spatial distribution and area of croplands, landscape diversity, breeding sites(tall trees, cliffs, high-rise buildings), and the length of shelf. Habitat variables used in this model were classified into two categories: % of suitable land-cover type(open areas, croplands, pasturelands, wetlands, and baregrounds) and the quality of feeding sites(within 250m from edges of woodlands). Habitat quality of the Common Kestrel was assessed against occurred sites derived from the nationwide survey. Predicted habitat suitability map were closely related to the observed sites of the endangered avian species in the study areas. With the habitat suitability map of the Common Kestrel, we assess the environmental impacts with habitat loss after development project in environmental impact assessment.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the readability and suitability of printed educational materials related to metabolic syndrome in South Korea. Methods: Data were collected on 15 educational materials on metabolic syndrome from public health centers in Seoul. The 9 Graded Korean Vocabulary Classification and Korean version of SAM (Suitability Assessment of Materials) were used for the readability evaluation and the suitability evaluation respectively. Results: Overall average of the readability was 3.0th grade level. The percentage of 1st to 4th grade words was 79.4%. The printed educational materials on metabolic syndrome were written according to recommended reading levels. In suitability assessment, 2 out of 15 materials(13.3%) were scored as superior, 12 materials(80.0%) were scored as adequate and only 1 (6.7%) was scored as inadequate. The total average score of suitability was adequate. However, there are limitations in "summary and review" and "context is given first" due to limited writing pages. Conclusion: Readability and suitability of educational materials for metabolic syndrome were evaluated as adequate level. However, future health educational materials should be evaluated for readability via different factors including length of sentences, numbers of sentences, and structure of sentences. In addition, for easier understanding and motivation of readers, materials should use summary & review, context and proper interaction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.145-154
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• 2015

With the rapid change of rural communities and increasing desire for social welfare, the demand for the quality of public spaces and facilities is increasing. However, inefficient location of rural public space and facility has caused problems such as economic inefficiency, inconvenient accessibility, environmental pollution, unsustainable energy use, and disturbance of visual landscape. This study aims to evaluate suitability of public spaces and facilities in three types of rural village: rural downtown village, rural clustered village, and individual village. As a way to measure the suitability of public spaces and facilities, we assessed indicators of suitability in terms of accessibility, usability, biophysical environment, and sustainable management. To evaluate the accessibility, we applied indicators such as distance from residential areas, public transit, market and public facilities. For the evaluation of biophysical environment, we applied indicators such as slope, elevation, aspect, and occurrence of natural disasters. We analyzed digital maps representing the indicators listed above using GIS. We also conducted a survey and face-to-face interviews to evaluate usability and sustainability of management which are not possible to understand through maps. As a result, we identified that suitability of public spaces and facilities in downtown villages is higher than clustered and individual villages. In particular, suitability of infrastructure facilities, social welfare facilities, and income generation facilities in downtown village are higher than those in clustered and individual villages. The suitability of tourism facilities is generally lower than other types of public facility across the three types of villages. Tourism facilities in clustered village have been identified especially unsuitable compared to other types of villages. We expect the outcome of the research is helpful to improve allocation of public spaces and facilities in rural villages.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.192-199
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• 2024

Background: Safety data sheets (SDSs) are hazard communication materials that accompany chemicals/hazardous products in the workplace. Many SDSs contain dense, technical text, which places considerable comprehension demands on workers, especially those with lower literacy skills. The goal of this study was to assess SDSs for readability, comprehensibility, and suitability (i.e., fit to the target audience). Methods: The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tool assessed SDSs for suitability and readability. We then amended the SAM tool to further assess SDSs for comprehensibility factors. Both the original and amended SAM tool were used to score 45 randomly selected SDSs for content, literacy demand, graphics, and layout/typography. Results: SDSs performed poorly in terms of readability, suitability, and comprehensibility. The mean readability scores were Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (9.6), Gunning Fog index (11.0), Coleman-Liau index (13.7), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook index (10.7), all above the recommended reading level. The original SAM graded SDSs as "not suitable" for suitability and readability. When the amended SAM was used, the mean total SAM score increased, but the SDSs were still considered "not suitable" when adding comprehensibility considerations. The amended SAM tool better identified content-related issues specific to SDSs that make it difficult for a reader to understand the material. Conclusions: In terms of readability, comprehensibility, and suitability, SDSs perform poorly in their primary role as a hazard communication tool, therefore, putting workers at risk. The amended SAM tool could be used when writing SDSs to ensure that the information is more easily understandable for all audiences.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6719-6727
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• 2015

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the readability, suitability, and health content of cancer screening information in municipal newspapers in Japan. Materials and Methods: Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) and the framework of Health Belief Model (HBM) were used for assessment of municipal newspapers that were published in central Tokyo (23 wards) from January to December 2013. Results: The mean domain SAM scores of content, literacy demand, and layout/typography were considered superior. The SAM scores of interaction with readers, an indication of the models of desirable actions, and elaboration to enhance readers' self-efficacy were low. According to the HBM coding, messages of medical/clinical severity, of social severity, of social benefits, and of barriers of fear were scarce. Conclusions: The articles were generally well written and suitable. However, learning stimulation/motivation was scarce and the HBM constructs were not fully addressed. Practice implications: Articles can be improved to motivate readers to obtain cancer screening by increasing interaction with readers, introducing models of desirable actions and devices to raise readers' self-efficacy, and providing statements of perceived barriers of fear for pain and time constraints, perceived severity, and social benefits and losses.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the readability and suitability of patients' education materials on DM. A total of 34 materials on DM from public health centers, general hospitals, and internet web sites were evaluated for readability by 'graded system of vocabulary', and suitability by 'The Korean version of SAM(Suitability Assessment of Materials)'. On the average, 28.3% of 1st grade reading level words, 27.1% of 5th grade level and over were included in educational materials. For suitability, 6(17.6%) were judged superior, 20(58.8%) adequate, 8(23.6%) inadequate. The reading level of the materials was higher than the recommended reading level(6th grade reading level). For suitability, most of materials were inadequate in some of items such as 'summary or review included', 'context given', 'interaction used'. It is proposed that in the development of patients' educational materials, health literacy of target population should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 2005

The Land Use Suitability Assessment System was recently introduced by the Act on Planning and Utilization of the National Territory to use, manage, and develop the national territory, which integrated the National Land Use and Management Act and the Urban Planning Act. It provides a guideline for land use according to locational characteristics, usability, and developmental conditions of land in the vicinity. The database is constructed with LMIS cadastral data, posted land price data, and the data of related agencies such as the Korea Forest Service, the Ministry of Environment, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation etc. In this paper we describe accurate database construction method fur land use suitability assessment system as classifying and verifying errors deriving from database construction focused on Jinju city. Those data errors have the problems such as accuracy difference among the related agencies data, gap of data acquisition time, and non-consideration of latest updated data etc.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.333-343
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the suitability and readability of printed educational materials for patients with hypertension in Korea. Methods: A total of 33 written educational materials related to hypertension were collected from public health centers, hospitals, and internet web site. Among them, we analyzed 19 materials which fit the inclusion criteria: leaflets (n=9), booklets (n=3), and guide book (n=7). Two trained nurses evaluate the materials using suitability assessment tool (SAM; Doak, Doak, & Root, 1996) and graded lexical items for teaching Korean (Kim, 2003). Results: Overall, 14 (73.7%) of 19 materials scored adequate, and 5 (26.3%) scored inadequate. On the average, the education materials contained 36.1% to 50.5% of 1st grade reading level words and 12.9% to 21.6% of 4th grade level and over. Conclusion: The reading level of the materials was higher than a 6th grade reading level. It is proposed that the written educational materials should be developed by health professionals according to suitability and quality by taking the target group's literacy capacity into consideration.