• KCID journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2011

Climate change has impacts on not only the average temperature rise but also the intensity and frequency of extreme events such as flood and drought. It is also expected that the damages on agricultural infrastructure will be increased resulting from increased rainfall intensity and frequency caused by climate change. To strengthen the climate change adaptation capacity, it is necessary to identify the vulnerability of a given society's physical infrastructures and to develop appropriate adaptation strategies with infrastructure management because generally facilities related to human settlements are vulnerable to climate changes and establishing an adaptive public infrastructure would reduce the damages and the repair cost. Therefore, development of mitigation strategies for agricultural infrastructure against climatic hazard is very important, but there are few studies on agricultural infrastructure vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategies. The concept of vulnerability, however, is difficult to functionally define due to the fact that vulnerability itself includes many aspects (biological, socioeconomic, etc.) in various sectors. As such, much research on vulnerability has used indicators which are useful for standardization and aggregation. In this study, for the vulnerability assessment for agricultural infrastructure, 3 categories of climate exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation capacity were defined which are composed of 16 sub-categories and 49 proxy variables. Database for each proxy variables was established based on local administrative province. Future studies are required to define the weighting factor and standardization method to calculate the vulnerability indicator for agricultural infrastructure against climate change.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.26-38
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• 2013

In this study, priority for groundwater contamination management was assessed based on regional vulnerability in Goyang-si area, Gyonggi-do, Korea using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS). We proposed a concept for regional vulnerability to groundwater contamination with using socio-environmental vulnerability factors, which can be classified into three properties including regional hydrogeological property, contamination property, and groundwater use property. This concept is applied to Goyang-si area. For AHP analysis, an expertise-targeted survey was conducted. Based on the survey, a total of 10 factors (criteria) and corresponding weights for regional vulnerability assessment were determined. The result shows that regional contamination property is the most weighted factor among the three property groups (hydrogeological property: contamination property: groundwater use property = 0.3: 0.4: 0.3). Then, database layers for those factors were constructed, and regional vulnerability to groundwater contamination was assessed by weighted superposition using GIS. Results show that estimated regional vulnerability score is ranged from 22.7 to 94.5. Central and western areas of Goyang-si which have groundwater tables at shallow depths and are mainly occupied by industrial and residential areas are estimated to be relatively highly vulnerable to groundwater contamination. Based on assessed regional vulnerability, we classified areas into 4 categories. Category 1 areas, which are ranked at the top 25% of vulnerability score, take about 2.8% area in Goyang-si and give a high priority for groundwater contamination management. The results can provide useful information when the groundwater management authority decide which areas should be inspected with a high priority for efficient contamination management.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.927-932
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• 2010

This study made a nationwide metropolitan region map on the basis of disaster vulnerability and administrative boundary, and based on it, it divided small-sized regions and constructed disaster history of each region. For the disaster vulnerability, the study wrote slope, aspect, curvature, wetness index, and drainage density, compared and analyzed regions with disaster and geomorphic elements to distinct the factor with high correlations, and based on it, it divided small-sized regions for forecasting and warning system of middle regions(Gangwon province, Chungchung province, and Jeolla province). Through the method, Gangwon region were divided into 4 small-sized regions, Chungchung into 5 small-sized regions, and Jeolla into 6 small-sized regions.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2006

There are less studies on the elderly suicide even though it's steep increase. The purpose of the present study was to investigate factors that influence on the elderly suicide and to categorize them. For these purpose, A total of 23 cases were analyzed through qualitative contents analysis. Specifically, on the basis of the stress-vulnerability model, we scrutinized vulnerability factors(classified personal, family-environment factors) and precipitating events(classified interpersonal events) influencing on the elderly suicide. Personal factor was to be classified into personal mental health, physical health and problematic behavior. Family-environment factor was divided family relationship problem and economic problem. Interpersonal events belonging to the precipitating events was to be classified into interpersonal loss and interpersonal conflict. As the results of this study, elderly suicide classified into 3 types, that is, 'risk type suicide', 'event-response type suicide', 'complex type'. And then we discussed the characteristics of the suicidal types and suggestions for reduction of elderly suicide.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2018

The present study deals with the management of groundwater resources of an important agriculture track of north-western part of Saudi Arabia. Due to strategic importance of the area efforts have been made to estimate aquifer proneness to attenuate contamination. This includes determining hydrodynamic behavior of the groundwater system. The important parameters of any vulnerability model are geological formations in the region, depth to water levels, soil, rainfall, topography, vadose zone, the drainage network and hydraulic conductivity, land use, hydrochemical data, water discharge, etc. All these parameters have greater control and helps determining response of groundwater system to a possible contaminant threat. A widely used DRASTIC model helps integrate these data layers to estimate vulnerability indices using GIS environment. DRASTIC parameters were assigned appropriate ratings depending upon existing data range and a constant weight factor. Further, land-use pattern map of study area was integrated with vulnerability map to produce pollution risk map. A comparison of DRASTIC model was done with GOD and AVI vulnerability models. Model validation was done with $NO_3$, $SO_4$ and Cl concentrations. These maps help to assess the zones of potential risk of contamination to the groundwater resources.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.379-393
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to first evaluate the seismic behavior of ageing arch bridges by using the Intensity Measure - based demand and DCFD format, which is referred to as the fragility-hazard format. Then, an investigation is performed for their seismic vulnerability. Analytical models are created for bridges concerning different features and these models are subjected to Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) analysis using a set of 22 earthquake records. The hazard curve and results of IDA analysis are employed to evaluate the return period of exceeding the limit states in the IM-based probabilistic performance-based context. Subsequently, the fragility-hazard format is used to assess factored demand, factored capacity, and the ratio of the factored demand to the factored capacity of the models with respect to different performance objectives. Finally, the vulnerability curves are obtained for the investigated bridges in terms of the loss ratio. The results revealed that decreasing the span length of the unreinforced arch bridges leads to the increase in the return period of exceeding various limit states and factored capacity and decrease in the displacement demand, the probability of failure, the factored demand, as well as the factored demand to factored capacity ratios, loss ratio, and seismic vulnerability. Finally, it is derived that the probability of the need for rehabilitation increases by an increase in the span length of the models.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.35-51
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to improve the previous groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment method, apply it to the study area, and select priority areas for groundwater management based on the quantitative analysis of groundwater contamination vulnerability. For this purpose, first, the previous 'potential contamination' based on groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment method was upgraded to the methodology considering 'adaptation capacity' which reduced contamination. Second, the weight of groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment factors was calculated based on the analytical hierarchy process(AHP) and the result of survey targeting groundwater experts. Third, Gyeonggi-do was selected as the study area and the improved methodology and weight were implemented with GIS and actual groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment was carried out. Fourth, the priority area for groundwater contamination management was selected based on the quantitative groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment diagram. The improved detailed groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment factors in this study were a total of 15 factors, and 15 factors were analyzed as new and improved weight with higher 'adaptation capacity' than the assessment factor corresponding to the previous 'potential contamination' in the weight calculation result using AHP. Also, the result of groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment in Gyeonggi Province using GIS showed that Goyang and Gwangmyeong which were adjacent to Seoul had a high groundwater contamination vulnerability and Pocheon and Yangpyeong County had a relatively low groundwater contamination vulnerability. In this study, the previous groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment was improved and applied to study areas actually. The result of this study can be utilized both directly and indirectly for the groundwater management master plan at national and local government level in the future.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1-16
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• 2008

There are generally two types of groundwater vulnerability assessments. Intrinsic vulnerability is based on the assessment of natural climatic, geological and hydrogeological attributes and specific vulnerability relates to a specific contaminant, contaminant class, or human activity. Several methods to assess groundwater vulnerability, which are based on hydrogeologic setting and socio-economical environment, have been developed in USA and Europe. A Modified-DRASTIC model including a lineament factor has been developed in South Korea, but it still has some limitations. To develop a solid and applicable method in this country, many data of quality, hydraulic features, GIS data, and pollution source, produced from a Basic Survey based on Article 5 of the Groundwater Act and other research projects, need to be collected, analyzed and verified introducing the previous methods.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.31-40
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• 2019

In order to implement practical alternatives to proactively cope with the agricultural drought, the potential vulnerability of irrigation pumping stations to agricultural drought was quantitatively evaluated. Data for the 124 pumping stations which are correlatable to the three proxy variables, i.e. exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity was collected by the Korea Rural Community Corporation, and then standardized considering distribution of each data set. Finally, the vulnerability index was calculated by multiplying the weights determined by the expert survey. The results showed that the vulnerability index ranged from 0.709 to 0.331 and the most vulnerable pumping stations such as Judam, Wongoo and Jinahn were mostly located in Gyeongbuk province likely because of the climatological characteristics with high temperature and low rainfall around this area. In addition, it was found that the adaptive capacity was a dominant factor comparing to exposure or sensitivity proxy variables in contributing to the vulnerability. It is therefore recommended that more practical alternatives should be employed to effectively reduce the vulnerability of an individual pumping station to agricultural drought. Furthermore, the corresponding data related to adaptive capacity should be systematically organized and managed at a field level to design reliable adaptation strategies.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and associated factors among married women in northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey (n=657) was conducted from April 1 to 15, 2020, in Metema District, northwest Ethiopia, in four randomly selected kebele administrations (the lowest level of local government). The inclusion criteria were married women aged ≥18 years residing with their husbands. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with married women's vulnerability to HIV infection. Results: Participants were on average 33.70±9.50 years and nearly one-fourth (n=148, 22.5%) were identified as vulnerable to HIV infection (i.e., experienced sexually transmitted disease symptoms or an extramarital affair of either spouse within the past 12 months). Only 18.9% reported sexual communication with their husband. Respondents who did not discuss the risk of HIV infection with their husbands had fivefold odds of vulnerability (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-17.5). Those who did not have premarital sex (AOR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.77) had no worries about HIV infection (AOR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08-0.94), sufficient income (AOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.16-0.86), and less than four children (AOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.97) had decreased odds of being vulnerable to HIV than their counterparts. Conclusion: Not discussing risk of HIV infection with husband was a major factor of vulnerability to HIV infection as was premarital sex, worry about HIV, income, and number of children. Measures to strengthen couple's sexual communication and support economical stability is important for decreasing HIV vulnerability.