• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.1431-1440
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• 2024

The study aimed to develop a laser-based distance meter (LDM) to improve water surface identification for clinical MeV electron beam dosimetry, as inaccurate water surface determination can lead to imprecise positioning of ionization chambers (ICs). The LDM consisted of a laser ranging sensor, a signal processing microcontroller, and a tablet PC for data acquisition. I₅₀ (the water depth at which ionization current drops to 50 % of its maximum) measurements of electron beams were performed using six different types of ICs and compared to other water surface identification methods. The LDM demonstrated reproducible I₅₀ measurements with a level of 0.01 cm for all six ICs. The uncertainty of water depth was evaluated at 0.008 cm with the LDM. The LDM also exposed discrepancies between I₅₀ measurements using different ICs, which was partially reduced by applying an optimum shift of IC's point of measurement (POM) or effective point of measurement (EPOM). However, residual discrepancies due to the energy dependency of the cylindrical chamber's EPOM caused remained. The LDM offers straightforward and efficient means for precision water surface identification, minimizing reliance on individual operator skills.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.753-758
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• 2016

Moisture content influences physiological characteristics of microbes and physical structure of solid matrices during composting of animal manure. If moisture content is maintained at a proper level, aerobic microorganisms show more active oxygen consumption during composting due to increased microbial activity. In this study, optimum moisture levels for composting of two bedding materials (sawdust, rice hull) and two different mixtures of bedding and beef manure (BS, Beef cattle manure+sawdust; BR, Beef cattle manure+rice hull) were determined based on oxygen uptake rate measured by a pressure sensor method. A broad range of oxygen uptake rates (0.3 to 33.3 mg $O_2/g$ VS d) were monitored as a function of moisture level and composting feedstock type. The maximum oxygen consumption of each material was observed near the saturated condition, which ranged from 75% to 98% of water holding capacity. The optimum moisture content of BS and BR were 70% and 57% on a wet basis, respectively. Although BS's optimum moisture content was near saturated state, its free air space kept a favorable level (above 30%) for aerobic composting due to the sawdust's coarse particle size and bulking effect.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2003

Much effort has been made in the radiometric calibration of the ocean scanning multispectral imager (OSMI) since after the successful launch of KOMPSAT-1 in 1999. A series of calibration coefficients for OSMI detectors were obtained in collaboration with the NASA Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary (SIMBIOS) project office. In this study, we ompare the OSMI level-2 products (e.g., chorophyll-a concentration) calculated from the NASA cross-calibration coefficients with the SeaWiFS counterparts. Sample study areas are some of diagonostic data sites recommended by the SIMBIOS working group. Results of this study show that the OSMl-derived chlorophyll-a concentration agrees well with the SeaWiFS counterpart in Case 1 water; however, differences become larger in Case 2 water.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2017

Background: There have been many studies on the growth conditions of Zostera marina and Zostera japonica, but few studies have examined how spatial and temporal factors affect growth in established seagrass beds or the distribution range and shoot density. This study aims to clarify the factors that determine the temporal and spatial distribution of Zostera marina and Zostera japonica in the Seto Inland Sea east of Yamaguchi Prefecture. Methods: The study site is in Hiroshima Bay of the Seto Inland Sea, along the east coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. We monitored by diving observation to confirm shoot density, presence or absence of both species and observed water temperature, salinity by sensor in study sites. Results: The frequency of occurrence of Zostera marina was high in all seasons, even in water depths of D.L. + 1 to -5 m ($80{\pm}34%$ to $89{\pm}19%$; mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation), but lower (as low as $43{\pm}34%$) near the breakwall, where datum level was 1 to 2 m, and it was further reduced in datum level -5 m and deeper. The frequency of occurrence of Zostera japonica was highest in water with a datum level of +1 to 0 m. However, in datum level of 0 m or deeper, it became lower as the water depth became deeper. Datum level +1 m to 0 m was an optimal water depth for both species. The frequency of occurrence and the shoot density of both species showed no negative correlation. In 2011, the daily mean water temperature was $10^{\circ}C$ or less on more days than in other years and the feeding damage by S. fuscescens in the study sites caused damage at the tips. Conclusions: We considered that the relationship between these species at the optimal water depth was not competitive, but due to differences in spatial distribution, Zostera marina and Zostera japonica do not influence each other due to temperature conditions and feeding damage and other environmental conditions. Zostera japonica required light intensity than Zostera marina, and the water depth played an important role in the distribution of both species.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.145-164
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• 2015

Bridge scour is the predominant cause of overwater bridge failures in North America and around the world. Several sensing systems have been developed over the years to detect the extent of scour so that preventative actions can be performed in a timely manner. These sensing systems have drawbacks, such as signal inaccuracy and discontinuity, installation difficulty, and high cost. Therefore, attempts to develop more efficient monitoring schemes continue. In this study, the viability of using optical dissolved oxygen (DO) probes for monitoring scour depths was explored. DO levels are very low in streambed sediments, as compared to the standard level of oxygen in flowing water. Therefore, scour depths can be determined by installing sensors to monitor DO levels at various depths along the buried length of a bridge pier or abutment. The measured DO is negligible when a sensor is buried but would increase significantly once scour occurs and exposes the sensor to flowing water. A set of experiments was conducted in which four dissolved oxygen probes were embedded at different soil depths in the vicinity of a mock bridge pier inside a laboratory flume simulating scour conditions. The results confirmed that DO levels jumped drastically when sensors became exposed during scour hole evolution, thereby providing discrete measurements of the maximum scour depth. Moreover, the DO probes could detect any subsequent refilling of the scour hole through the deposition of sediments. The effect of soil permeability on the sensing response time was also investigated.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.451-464
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• 2022

The high-level nuclear waste repository is a deep geological disposal system exposed to complex environmental conditions such as high temperature, radiation, and ground-water due to handling spent nuclear fuel. Continuous exposure can lead to cracking and deterioration of the structure over time. On the other hand, the high-level nuclear waste repository requires an ultra-long life expectancy. Thus long-term structural health monitoring is essential. Various sensors such as an accelerometer, earth pressure gauge, and displacement meter can be used to monitor the health of a structure, and a piezoelectric sensor is generally used. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a highly durable sensor based on the durability assessment of the piezoelectric sensor. This study designed an accelerated life test for durability assessment and life prediction of the piezoelectric sensor. Based on the literature review, the number of accelerated stress levels for a single stress factor, and the number of samples for each level were selected. The failure mode and mechanism of the piezoelectric sensor that can occur in the environmental conditions of the high-level waste repository were analyzed. In addition, two methods were proposed to investigate the maximum harsh condition for the temperature stress factor. The reliable operating limit of the piezoelectric sensor was derived, and a reasonable accelerated stress level was set for the accelerated life test. The suggested methods contain economical and practical ideas and can be widely used in designing accelerated life tests of piezoelectric sensors.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.483-488
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• 2003

Calibration and gauge factor readjustment process made for the health monitoring system installed in the railway bridges is reviewed and some findings are explained in this study: specifically, the calibrators made for this purpose are illustrated and the regression processes of the calibration on long-term displacement using water level sensor, longitudinal displacement using LVDT sensor, instantaneous displacement using LVDT sensors and accelerometer are described in details. Based on the regression results, new gauge factors are obtained from regression equation and another verification is made by performing another calibration again with new factors. From the second calibration, it was found that the suggested regression curves and their factors are appropriate and much better results are expected. Future work will be concentrated on the long-term analysis of the measurement data and on the database structures so that the assessment of the structure such as damage detection and remaining life estimation is possible.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Most wells developed in Jeju island before the enactment of the Groundwater Management Ordinance in 2002 are vulnerable to aquifer contamination due to inflow of upper groundwater having the high concentration of nitrate nitrogen, likely due to incomplete grouting in upper section of the wells. Although these wells require entire reinstallation, it is often necessary to rehabilitate the existing wells due to various constraints. Therefore, to identified the inflow section of contaminants, the thermal level sensor (TLS) technique was firstly applied for three wells, which enables to monitor temperature variations in every 50 cm depth. Then, the grouting material was injected to the upper section to prevent the inflow of upper contaminated groundwater into the entire aquifer. By applying TLS technique, it was found that the temperature deviations in the upper groundwater inflow section decreased sharply. Moreover, both the change in the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in the rainy/dry seasons and the average concentrations were found to decrease rapidly after grouting material injection. Consequently, the application of TLS proposed in the study turned out to be appropriate to prevent aquifer contamination.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.787-791
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• 2009

In this paper, we proposed the reservoir tank wireless integrated management using information filtering for improving the water quality and on-line managing efforts of reservoir tanks. Reservoir tank level sensor works the pump sending the data from reservoir tank control to the wireless control on sensing water level. At this time, every kind data which happens in the water tank transmits the line transmission modem. The data to be received from the line transmission modem is stored at the database after we record the logs by each hour. The proposed method defined the context and environment of the reservoir tank and predicted the profited service according to the pump motion, the solar battery, the chemicals, the water level, the line, and the modem using information filtering. we plan to conduct the proposed method to verify the adequacy and the validity of reservoir tank wireless integrated management using the information filtering.

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2006

In-field site-specific nitrogen (N) management increases crop yield, reduces N application to minimize the risk of nitrate contamination of ground water, and thus reduces farming cost. Real-time N sensing and fertilization is required for efficient N management. An 'on-the-go' site-specific N management system was developed and evaluated for the supplemental N application to com (Zea mays L.). This real-time N sensing and fertilization system monitored and assessed N fertilization needs using a vision-based spectral sensor and controlled the appropriate variable N rate according to N deficiency level estimated from spectral signature of crop canopies. Sensor inputs included ambient illumination, camera parameters, and image histogram of three spectral regions (red, green, and near-infrared). The real-time sensor-based supplemental N treatment improved crop N status and increased yield over most plots. The largest yield increase was achieved in plots with low initial N treatment combined with supplemental variable-rate application. Yield data for plots where N was applied the latest in the season resulted in a reduced impact on supplemental N. For plots with no supplemental N application, yield increased gradually with initial N treatment, but any N application more than 101 kg/ha had minimal impact on yield.