Vehicle indoor air quality is determined by the complex interaction between interior material emissions (such as VOCs and aldehydes) and road-sourced pollutants. Despite growing public concern, existing frameworks often focus on single pollutants and lack a comprehensive health-impact-based evaluation. This study proposes the Vehicle Indoor Air Quality Index (VIAQI), which integrates acute, chronic, and odor-related exposures from internal sources with the infiltration of ambient air pollutants. The VIAQI adopts a safety-oriented priority (HQacute → SF → OA → HQchronic), reflecting the driver’s cognitive safety. It consists of 10 levels, ranging from Grade 1 (Excellent) to Grade 10 (Hazardous). Under three operating modes (AM, PM-6 hr, and DM), the analysis includes 21 chemical substances, as well as PM2.5 and NO2. Acute risks are assessed using OEHHA’s RELs, chronic risks via US EPA’s RfC, odor effects are quantified using a smell sensitivity index (SF), and outdoor air infiltration is evaluated through a weighted hazard index (OA). After evaluating actual new vehicles, Vehicles A, C, and D are categorized as Grade 3 (Good), while Vehicle B is categorized as Grade 9 (Very Unhealthy) and Vehicle E is categorized as Grade 10 (Hazardous). Notably, Vehicle B is rated Grade 9 due to acute toxicity risks identified through RELs-based assessment, even though it meets all current national regulatory standards. This highlights the existence of health hazards that conventional concentration-based regulations may overlook. As Korea’s first multi-dimensional evaluation system for vehicle air quality, the VIAQI offers a practical tool for manufacturers to implement quality control, set policy, and communicate consumer information, providing a proactive assessment based on real-world driving environments.

This study investigates the internal structure of the Habitat and Riparian Health Index (HRI) by identifying conditional dependencies among its components and the mechanisms that form grade boundaries, rather than treating HRI as a simple arithmetic sum. Using the 2024 national river assessment dataset, the analysis combined bootstrap-supported Bayesian Networks for stable dependency inference with classification decision trees for explicit grading rules and threshold identification. A multi-criterion priority scheme integrating network centrality, contribution to total-score variability, and classification contribution was also applied to derive management priorities within and across basins. Across all basins and analytical perspectives, Flow Velocity Diversity consistently emerged as the most influential component. It occupied the central position in the dependency structure and accounted for the largest share of variability in the composite score, indicating that it operates as a system-level outcome in which channel morphology, bed condition, and anthropogenic constraints converge. The grading mechanism was strongly asymmetric. Deficiencies in riverbank protection functioned as a dominant trigger for rapid grade deterioration, whereas attainment of the highest grade required a conjunctive and non-linear pathway in which sufficient flow heterogeneity was accompanied by the sequential resolution of structural constraints, particularly those associated with transverse structures and embankments. Basin-level comparisons further showed that network structures were not interchangeable, with the Nakdong River basin exhibiting the most distinct configuration and basinspecific priority patterns. These results imply that management should separate strategies aimed at preventing degradation through bottleneck control from strategies aimed at achieving top-tier conditions through coordinated, multi-component interventions.

As domestic traffic policies have shifted from vehicle-centric approaches to a ‘Safe Speed’ paradigm, the installation of roundabouts has surged. However, existing studies based on linear statistical models have failed to identify the complex non-linear interactions between geometric features and accident severity, limiting their ability to provide concrete design thresholds. To overcome the lack of traffic volume data, this study developed a geometry-based Design Capacity Index (DCI) and proposed a new analytical framework using the Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) rate per unit capacity as the dependent variable. Utilizing a dataset of nationwide roundabouts (2007–2020), a grid search-optimized eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model and SHAP analysis were applied, achieving a 40.5 % performance improvement over linear baselines. The results revealed that circulatory roadway width was a dominant factor; contrary to the 'Road Diet' theory, ensuring 'Geometric Sufficiency' (wider lanes) proved more effective for safety in medium-to-large roundabouts. Furthermore, a 'Broad Optimal Zone' was identified within an inscribed circle diameter (ICD) of 35–70 m, while a 'Paradox of Scale' emerged beyond 70 m where safety benefits plateaued. Additionally, raised crosswalks served as essential offset measures, consistently reducing accident costs regardless of the intersection size. Based on these findings, this study provides empirical evidence for revising design guidelines to prioritize the 35–70 m ICD range and advocates for the mandatory installation of physical calming measures in oversized roundabouts.

This study investigated cultivar variation in biomass partitioning patterns and nutrient harvest index across eight Brassica napus cultivars (Akela, Capitol, Colosse, Naehan, Pollen, Saturnin, Sparta, and Tamra). Seed dry weight varied ranging from 5.8 ± 0.3 g DW to 35.7 ± 6.7 g DW, with Colosse showing the highest seed production and Tamra showing the lowest. Harvest index (HI) was divided two groups showing high group (Capitol, Colosse, Pollen, Tamra) and low group (Akela, Naehan, Saturnin, Sparta), which were ranged from 10.8% to 31.7%. Sulfur harvest index (SHI) ranged from 25.6% to 46.5%, with Capitol and Pollen exhibiting the highest efficiency and with Akela and Naehan exhibiting the lowest efficiency. Nitrogen harvest index (NHI) showed greater variation, ranging from 39.8% to 74.3%, with Capitol and Pollen recording the highest value but Akela and Naehan recording the lowest values. Together, these results demonstrate that seed yield, HI, and nutrient harvest index can be partially decoupled among cultivars, highlighting SHI and NHI as complementary traits for selecting nutrient-efficient rapeseed germplasm. Consequently, Colosse and Pollen emerge as promising cultivars for seed oil production, whereas Akela, Sparta, and Naehan are better suited for feed use.

국가표준식물목록(KPNI)의 국명 추천명은 일반명이나 학명 의 번역으로 작성되기도 하지만, 적절한 대체어가 없을 경우 라틴어 학명을 그대로 음역하여 제시된다. 그러나 기존 규칙은 비라틴어 기원의 라틴화 소명까지 포괄하지 못하여 동일한 철자에서 서로 다른 한글 표기가 나타나는 문제가 있다. 본 연구에서 는 목록의 일관성을 평가하고 불일치가 발생하는 문자열을 도출 하고자 2025년 7월 기준 재배식물 11,905분류군에서 추출된 라틴어 소명 3,230건을 현행 음역 기준과 대조하였다. 그 결과 489건(15.1%)이 기준과 일치하지 않았으며, 이 중 단순 오류는 57건(11.7%), 규칙 불일치는 432건(88.3%)으로 나타났다. 규 칙 불일치는 일반 규칙 위반(316건), 명시 규칙 위반(62건), 영 어식 표기(33건), 일반명식 표기(21건)으로 세분되었다. 불일치 사례는 주로 h의 생략, 이중 자음의 단순화 등 현행 규정에서 다루지 않은 음소 조합에서 집중적으로 발생하였다. 본 연구에 서 도출된 60가지 주요 불일치 발생 철자와 조합은 향후 라틴어 학명 한글 음역 규칙의 정확성과 일관성을 제고하기 위한 기초 자료로 활용될 것이다.

본 연구는 국가표준식물목록(KPNI)에 수록된 재배식물 6,346 종을 대상으로 주요 국제 데이터베이스(POWO, WFO, GBIF, Tropicos, EPPO, GRIN)와의 학명 비교 및 자생지 분석을 수 행하였다. 자료는 마지막으로 업데이트 된 최신 버전을 활용하 였으며, R 프로그램을 통해 학명, 명명자, 분류군, 학명 상태를 정리·표준화한 후 KPNI와 대조하였다. 분석 결과, 전반적으로 모든 데이터베이스에서 정명의 비율이 가장 높았고, 그 중 POWO와 WFO가 정명 비율이 특히 높았으며, GRIN과 GBIF 또한 정명이 다수를 차지하였다. 그러나 이명 및 기타 범주 처리 방식은 데이터베이스별로 상이하였다. POWO, WFO, GBIF는 이명을 2-3개 항목으로 구분한 반면, EPPO와 GRIN은 단순히 accepted와 not accepted로 제시하였다. Tropicos는 Bulk Name Matching 기능을 통해 합법명과 비합법명(illegitimate) 만을 구분하였다. 또한 학명 불일치 처리 비율은 POWO와 WFO 에서 적었으나, EPPO와 GRIN에서는 상대적으로 높게 나타났 다. 이러한 차이는 데이터베이스별 분류학적 관리 수준과 해석 범위의 차이를 반영하며, 향후 국내 재배식물 목록과 국제 데이 터베이스 간 동기화의 필요성을 시사한다.

Green View Index(GVI)는 보행자 관점의 녹지 가시성을 정량화하는 지표로 보행 환경 평가에 널리 활용된다. 최근 보행자 시점의 시각적 녹지 중요성이 대두되며 녹색이 많은 여름 외에도 녹지의 계절별 다양성을 분석할 필요성이 제기되고 있다. GVI는 주로 거리영상을 통해 생성되는데, 거리영상은 특정 계절에 집중적으로 촬영되고, 영상 갱신이 약 1년 주기로 이뤄지므로 계절에 따른 변동성을 반영하는 데에 한계가 있다. 본 연구는 위성영상에 기반한 NDVI 시계열과 고해상도 식생 마스크를 결합하여 GVI의 계절별 다양성을 추정하는 프레임워크를 제안한다. 제안한 방법론으로 GVI를 추정할 때, 계절별 NDVI, 고해상도 식생 커버, 월 변수를 포함할 경우 R2 = 0.819, MAE = 0.038, Pearson’s r = 0.906의 높은 성능을 달성하였다. 특히 식생 활력이 낮으나 시각적 식생이 두드러지는 봄･가을 GVI 추정 성능이 크게 향상되었다. 이는 전통적인 위성 기반 녹지 모니터링 지표인 NDVI에 고해상도 식생 마스크와 월 정보를 추가함으로써 보행자 시각 GVI 추정 성능을 유의하게 향상시 킴을 입증한 것이라 할 수 있다.

In response to the rapid increase in odor-related complaints during the 1970s, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment developed a method for measuring lowconcentration, multi-component odorants. This method was conceptually similar to the ASTM syringe method. To overcome the limitations of small volume dilutions, odor-free 3 L polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bags were introduced. Using the triangle odor bag method, panelists were asked to identify one odorous bag among three choices, and odor concentration was determined based on each panelist’s individual threshold. Japan has also introduced an odor index, which integrates odor concentration and intensity, allowing intuitive assessment of human perception. Compared with Korea, differences exist in panelist selection, reference odor intensity levels, the number of panelists required, and threshold calculations, leading to variations in measured odor concentrations. Since the early 2000s, comparative studies have demonstrated that the Japanese method is comparable to European olfactory measurement practices. The triangle odor bag method has been recently become widely adopted across Asia, while dynamic olfactometry has been standardized under ISO standards, facilitating international harmonization of odor measurement and regulatory frameworks. This study provides an overview of the Japanese olfactory measurement method and the procedure for calculating the odor index.

국내 여름철 고온 재난은 증가 추세이며, 폭염은 도시열섬(UHI)과 상호작용해 도심 열환경을 악화시킨다. 그러나 기존 복합 지수 연구는 강도(Intensity)와 빈도·발생가능성을 명확히 구분하지 않아 도시 간 비교와 취약지역 설정에 한계가 있다. 본 연구는 도시 열섬의 강도를 표준화하여 비교 가능한 지표를 제시하였다. 전국 178개 ASOS·AWS의 2020–2023년 7–8월 관측자료를 활용해 도시열 섬 강도지수(UHI Stress Index, USI)를 산정하고, 관측쌍 부재를 고려해 시가화(불투수)·수역·산림 비율, 위도, 해발고도를 구조 변수로 구축하여 다중회귀로 검증하였다. USI는 시가화(+)·수역·산림(–)과 유의하게 연관되었고, 고도를 공변량으로 포함한 분석에서 R²≈0.56(R≈0.75)로 나타나 구조 변수만으로도 상대적 강도 비교가 가능함을 보였다. 본 연구의 USI는 도시별 열환경을 정량 비교할 수 있는 지표로서, 열축적에 따른 대기불안정과 연계하여 뇌우·다운버스트 등 국지적 돌풍 특성 분석에 활용될 수 있다.

농촌은 인구감소, 고령화, 정주환경 악화 등으로 위기를 맞고 있다. 본 연구는 이러한 문제에 대응하 기 위해 농촌공간 회복력을 정량적으로 평가하기 위한 농촌재생지수를 개발하고 농촌지역에 적용 하였다. 이를 위해 농촌회복력 평가를 지표를 선정하고 시계열 자료를 활용하여 적응요소와 쇠퇴 요소로 구분하고 정규화, 증감률 분석, 지수화를 통해 농촌재생지수를 도출하였다. 대상지인 충청 남도 부여군과 당진시에 대한 농촌재생지수를 분석한 결과, 두 지역 모두 재생지수가 지속적으로 감소하는 경향을 보여 회복력이 약화되고 있음을 확인할 수 있었으며 주요 원인은 고령인구 증가와 노후주택 비율 상승인 것으로 나타났다. 부여군은 지속적으로 낮은 재생지수를 보인 반면 당진시 는 상대적으로 높은 재생지수를 보이다가 2021년부터는 부여군과 유사하게 낮은 회복력 기준인 1 이하의 값을 보였다. 본 연구를 통해 농촌지역에 대한 회복력을 시계열적이고 정량적으로 분석하 여 향후 농촌공간계획 정책 수립의 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

Lentic ecosystems, including lakes, reservoirs, and marshes, are vital ecological assets increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, necessitating robust tools for assessing their biological integrity. This study aimed to develop and apply an aquatic plant-based Multi-metric Index (MMI) to evaluate the biological integrity of 90 lentic systems (primarily lakes and reservoirs) across the Republic of Korea, using a standardized dataset from a three-year national monitoring program (2022~2024). We selected eight metrics based on their ecological relevance, sensitivity to disturbance, and scientific robustness. These were organized into three categories: Species richness (30% weight), eutrophication and disturbance (30%), and habitat integrity (40%). Scoring criteria for each metric were established using cumulative distribution functions, and the final MMI scores were used to classify the ecosystems into five integrity classes (A: Excellent to E: Very Poor). The assessment revealed that the majority of the surveyed ecosystems (87.8%) were in a moderate to slightly poor state (Classes B, C, and D), with only 4.4% classified as excellent. Widespread loss of submerged and floating leaved aquatic plants suggests that many domestic lentic systems may be approaching or have already undergone a regime shift to a turbid, phytoplankton-dominated state. This MMI provides a scientifically-defensible tool for managing lentic ecosystems, underscoring the urgent need to restore aquatic plants communities by improving underwater light conditions and rehabilitating littoral habitats.

This study was conducted to develop a fish-based Multi-metric Index (MMI) for assessing the ecological health of lake ecosystems using fish assemblage data collected from the national lake biomonitoring program between 2022 and 2024. A total of 34 fish assessment metrics widely used in the United States, Europe, and Korea were first reviewed for applicability, from which 16 candidate metrics were selected. These candidate metrics were then evaluated in terms of statistical distribution characteristics, correlations with water quality variables, redundancy among metrics, and consistency with existing river-based metrics used in Korea. Based on these evaluations, eight core indicators and four supporting indicators were finalized. For ecological health scoring, boundary values for metric scoring classes were determined using percentiles (10-25-50-75-90%), and metric weights were applied to ensure balanced contribution and discriminative power among classes. The final set of metrics consisted of three indicators in the Diversity/Richness category, two in the Trophic category, two in the Tolerance category, and one in the Individual Health category, collectively reflecting the ecological responses of fish assemblages in lake environments. The developed MMI framework is expected to provide a robust and applicable tool for future ecological assessments and management of lakes in Korea.

This study presents a modified version of the Lake Benthic Macroinvertebrate Multimetric Index (LBMMI) originally proposed by Park et al. (2024) in Korea. Among the six core metric elements of LBMMI, two elements-total number of taxa and the proportion of predator taxa-were excluded, as they were considered to be strongly influenced by vascular hydrohytes following eutrophication. The revised LBMMI was constructed using the remaining four metrics: Pielou’s evenness index, proportion of insect taxa, individual proportion of oligochaetes and chironomids with blood tubules, and proportion of clinger taxa. Compared to the original LBMMI, the modified index showed approximately a 6% improvement in explanatory power for the first principal component (PC 1) in principal component analysis of environmental factors, and it also exhibited a broader range of discrimination. These results suggest that the modified LBMMI can be more effectively utilized for environmental assessment of lake ecosystems.

Zooplankton are dominant pelagic consumers in lake ecosystems with high population and biomass. Their broad geographical distribution, ease of quantification, and rapid responses to abiotic environmental factors, such as eutrophication, acidification, and climate change, make them highly suitable as indicator organisms for assessing lake ecosystem health. The multi-metric index (MMI) provides an effective framework for capturing the complex responses of biological communities to varying environmental stressors, making it a valuable approach for improving the practical effectiveness of lake ecosystem management based on biological assessments. This study introduces the Lake Zooplankton Assessment Index (LZAI), developed for 90 lakes in South Korea. The LZAI comprises four components: a sensitive species index based on cladocerans, a eutrophication index based on rotifers, a food web index based on copepods, and a habitat index based on species diversity. Applying the LZAI to 90 lakes showed that lake grades followed a normal distribution regardless of sampling season, though A-grade and E-grade lakes exhibited greater seasonal variability. When compared with the clustering results based on zooplankton community composition, the LZAI closely reflected the underlying patterns in community structure. However, in brackish lakes-where population densities are lower and Calanoida copepods dominate relative to freshwater lakes-the M1 and M4 indices were consistently low, while M2 and M3 were high. This suggests that the LZAI requires index adjustments tailored to regional and lake-type factors, including size, depth, and salinity. Incorporating biomass data into the index would further improve the accuracy of assessing community structure and its role in nutrient and energy cycling.

The absence of standardized, biology-based assessment criteria for lake ecosystems at the national level underscores the need for developing systematic and integrative phytoplankton-based evaluation tools. Phytoplankton are primary producers that regulate energy flow and nutrient cycling in lake ecosystems, and their rapid responses to environmental changes such as eutrophication, altered hydrodynamics, and seasonal fluctuations make them highly effective biological indicators. Multimetric indices (MMIs) offer a structured and integrative approach for capturing complex community level responses to environmental stressors, thereby enhancing the ecological relevance and management utility of biological assessment tools for lentic systems. This study presents the Lake Phytoplankton Assessment Index (LPAI), developed using long term ecological and water quality data from 90 lakes and reservoirs across South Korea. The LPAI comprises six ecologically meaningful metrics: total cell density (M2), cell density of flagellated algae (M10), cell density of harmful cyanobacteria (M17), cell density of eutrophic Chlorophyta (M18), relative abundance of saprophilous diatoms (M23), and relative abundance of eutraphentic diatoms (M25). Application of the LPAI demonstrated that lake health grades exhibited a broad and near-normal distribution across seasons, while summer assessments showed a marked increase in lower grade (C~E) lakes associated with elevated temperatures and cyanobacterial blooms. Conversely, winter assessments showed improved conditions due to reduced phytoplankton biomass and the dominance of low eutrophic diatom assemblages. Correlation analyses confirmed that the selected metrics captured distinct ecological gradients, particularly nutrient enrichment and organic matter driven turbidity, while PCA results indicated that the LPAI performed consistently across lake types without structural bias. Overall, the LPAI reliably reflects trophic conditions, harmful algal risks, and structural changes in phytoplankton communities, offering a scientifically grounded and management-relevant tool for evaluating the ecological health of Korean lakes and reservoirs.

This study aims to advance Korea’s aquatic ecosystem assessment framework by developing and validating an Integrated Assessment Index (IAI) that synthesizes three biological indicators: the Diatom Assessment Index (DAI), the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assessment Index (BAI), and the Fish Assessment Index (FAI). Using biomonitoring data collected from 2019 to 2021, three integration methods: the minimum grade method, most frequent grade method, and arithmetic mean method, were compared. The arithmetic mean method demonstrated the highest suitability and was adopted as the final integration approach. The resulting IAI showed stronger correlations with major water quality factors (BOD, TN, TP) than individual biological indices, indicating its enhanced capacity to capture both water quality gradients and ecological response patterns across biological assemblages. Application of the IAI to aquatic ecosystem assessment data from 2016 to 2023 revealed that the overall ecological condition of Korean rivers remained at a “fair (C)” level. Approximately half of the sites were classified as good to very good (A~B), while around 20% were rated as poor to very poor (D~E). Annual cycle analysis further indicated that first-year surveys within each monitoring phase exhibited higher proportions of good conditions, whereas second- and third-year surveys showed increasing frequencies of fair conditions, suggesting cumulative environmental stressors or progressive habitat alteration. Mid-sized basin target standards achievement analysis showed a clear discrepancy between waterquality and biological outcomes. While BOD and TP targets were met at relatively high rates, IAI achievement rates were the lowest across all major river basins (18~33%). This indicates that current water quality centered management goals insufficiently reflect actual ecological conditions. The results highlight that improvements in physico-chemical factors alone are insufficient for biological recovery and that habitat structure, flow regime, and substrate conditions are critical drivers of ecological integrity. Overall, the IAI effectively integrates biological and physico-chemical information, offering a more comprehensive quantification of river aquatic ecosystem health than single metric approaches. The index demonstrates strong potential as a practical tool for future policy applications, including mid-sized basin target management, ecological restoration prioritization, and integrated water resource planning.

Biological assessments of streams have been developed in many countries to evaluate ecological integrity. A multimetric index is one of the primary methods used for this purpose, incorporating chemical, physical, and biological variables of the environment. In Korea, the Benthic Macroinvertebrates Index (BMI) is currently applied in national biological monitoring programs; however, BMI reflects only organic pollution and does not account for other environmental variables in streams. This study aimed to develop a new multimetric index, the Benthic Macroinvertebrate-based Multimetric Index (BMMI), for assessing the ecological integrity of Korean streams. We analyzed data from 3,307 sites, including water quality information. Reference and disturbed streams were identified based on PC 1 scores with 7 environmental factors (Axis 1 of the PCA), genus levelbased taxa richness, and BMGI values used for trimming. From an initial set of 82 candidate metrics, six (genus level-based taxa richness, Shannon’s diversity index, percent of taxa in E.P.T., percent of individuals in collectorsgatherers, percent of individuals in clingers, BMGI based on saprobity) were selected through statistical analyses, including coefficient of variation and discriminant analysis. BMMI successfully distinguished between reference and disturbed streams and showed significant correlations with various environmental factors. These results indicate that BMMI is suitable for evaluating the ecological integrity of streams in Korea. Therefore, it is recommended that stream ecosystem assessments transition from BMI to BMMI in the future to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of stream integrity.

Current assessments of stream ecosystem health in Korea using benthic diatoms rely primarily on the Trophic Diatom Index (TDI), which is highly sensitive to phosphorus concentrations but has limited ability to capture complex environmental stressors such as organic pollution and physical habitat degradation. To address these limitations and enhance the ecological diagnostic capacity of diatom-based assessments, we developed a Korean-type multimetric diatom index, the Diatom Assessment Index (DAI). Using benthic diatom assemblage data and environmental variables collected from 3,029 sites nationwide between 2019 and 2021, we screened candidate metrics based on variability, redundancy, discriminatory power, and sensitivity analyses. Five metrics-TDI, proportion of motile diatoms, proportion of sensitive diatoms, proportion of saprophilous diatoms, and the [Achnanthes / (Achnanthes+Navicula)] ratio-were ultimately selected and integrated to calculate the DAI score. Applying the DAI to an independent dataset from 3,005 sites (2022~2024) demonstrated that the index exhibited a near-normal distribution across assessment classes, in contrast to the TDI, which tended to be skewed toward specific ranges. The DAI showed strong correlations not only with physicochemical parameters such as BOD and TP but also with physical habitat indicators, including flow velocity and the proportion of fine substrates. In addition, the DAI was significantly correlated with other biological indices, such as the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index (BMI) and the Fish Assessment Index (FAI). These results indicate that the DAI provides a more comprehensive and ecologically meaningful measure of stream health in Korea and can serve as an effective tool for national aquatic ecosystem assessment and management.