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Development of a BIM and VR-Based Noise and Vibration Impact Simulator for Deep Excavation Blasting
Development of a BIM and VR-Based Noise and Vibration Impact Simulator for Deep Excavation Blasting- Successful Advancement of Urban Underground Transportation Infrastructure Construction Technology -
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Sun Kyu, Park) announced that it has developed the nation's first BIM (Building Information Modeling) and VR (Virtual Reality) based noise and vibration impact simulator for deep excavation blasting, aimed at expanding underground transportation infrastructure that citizens can use safely and comfortably.
In major cities such as Seoul and the metropolitan area, the development of underground transportation infrastructure, including underground roads and railways (subways, GTX, etc.), is continuously increasing. Recently, large-scale transportation infrastructure construction projects utilizing urban underground spaces, such as the undergrounding of surface railways or underground expressway projects, have been promoted.
Ensuring construction safety and infrastructure stability is crucial during the construction and operation of underground transportation infrastructure. As public interest in deep excavation construction projects increases, concerns about issues such as ground subsidence (sinkholes), blasting vibrations, and noise are also growing. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a scientific and preventive safety management system while minimizing the impact on the surrounding environment.
Noise and vibrations, which are inevitably generated during the construction of underground transportation infrastructure facilities, must be blocked in advance. Both domestically and internationally, efforts are being made to minimize complaints through optimized noise and vibration design before construction. However, from the perspective of residents, various complaints are raised due to anxiety about deep excavation work being carried out underground in their residential areas, where they cannot feel the impact of noise and vibrations.
For example, in the case of the Busan Inner Loop (Mandeok-Centum) urban expressway construction, there were about 170 noise damage complaints related to deep excavation construction received in Dongnae-gu and Buk-gu, Busan, over approximately three years from 2020 to 2022. To address this, KICT, as the lead institution of the ‘Urban Underground Transportation Infrastructure Construction Research Group,' has realized the advancement of urban underground transportation infrastructure construction technology that can ensure safe underground excavation and alleviate citizens' anxiety.
The research team has developed the nation's first BIM based noise/vibration simulation visualization technology and a VR based vibration and noise experience simulator. This technology visualizes noise and vibration caused by deep excavation blasting using BIM, providing analysis results such as the impact range of blasting. Additionally, the simulator, which uses VR technology and sound wave-based vibration technology, allows stakeholders, including residents near construction sites, to experience the noise and vibration of the construction site in advance. Furthermore, it enables the experience of various noises and vibrations occurring at construction sites, beyond those caused by underground blasting. Therefore, the developed technology can contribute to explaining blasting noise and vibration-related construction methods and complaint factors to citizens easily and alleviating their anxiety. The accuracy of the developed vibration and noise experience simulator (measured data value - simulator input value) has been certified by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA), a national accredited institution and ICT specialized testing and certification body, completing objective performance, function, and quality verification. Additionally, two key patents related to the noise and vibration simulator have been transferred to private companies aiming for commercialization. The developed simulator is actively used to enhance the understanding of deep excavation construction through pre-experience of noise and vibration by complainants.
Dr. MyoungBae Seo stated, "The developed technology is a solution to preemptively address complaints that may arise during the construction of urban underground transportation infrastructure (roads, railways, logistics, etc.)." He added, "It is expected to be actively utilized in the development projects of underground roads and railways (subways, GTX, etc.) in major cities around Seoul and the metropolitan area, which are anticipated to continue in the future, contributing to the safety and peace of mind of the public.
Dr. Changyong Kim, the head of the research team, stated, “In addition to this, various other research outcomes have been verified for practical application through Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) with GS Engineering & Construction Corporation, Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., targeting ongoing underground road and GTX sites. We will continue to expand the applicability of these outcomes to underground transportation infrastructure development projects, such as the recent underground expressway and railway undergrounding projects.”
###Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. This research outcome was developed with the support of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's National Land and Transport Research and Development Project (specialized agency: Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement) through the project ‘Research of Advanced Technology for Construction and Operation of Underground Transportation Infrastructure (April 2020 - June 2024).’ The research team included 18 institutions (16 joint and 2 subcontracted), including KICT as the lead institution, Konkuk University, Hanyang University, EPS Engineering Co., Ltd., and U&People Co., Ltd.
Regdate 2024/12/18
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Breakthrough in Hazardous Gas Detection: New Technology Enhances Miniaturization and Accuracy
Breakthrough in Hazardous Gas Detection: New Technology Enhances Miniaturization and Accuracy-Monitoring Hazardous Gases in Worksites with Domestic Development Equipment-
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim Byung-Suk) announced that it has created a new technology designed to make hazardous gas detectors smaller, modular, and more accurate.
This initiative seeks to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in enhancing safety management within high-risk industrial environments. It also aims to facilitate real-time detection of hazardous gases in the field, ensuring compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA), which are two important pieces of legislation in South Korea.
The new hazardous gas detection technology developed by KICT is over 50% smaller than existing products and features optimized fluid dynamics to enable rapid gas intake, reducing detection time while minimizing pollutant ingress, thus significantly enhancing detection accuracy and sensitivity. Furthermore, the multi-sensor modular design allows for the simultaneous detection of various hazardous gases, including oxygen, methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). The modular design also allows for easy sensor replacement or addition, making it adaptable to diverse environmental applications.
A key differentiator of this technology is its capability to deliver high-performance domestic equipment, in contrast to the foreign-made products currently dominating the Korean-market. Existing products are often large, heavy, and lack communication features, making remote monitoring and integrated data management challenging.
The developed technology supports a range of communication protocols, including BLE, Wi-Fi, and LTE, enabling real-time remote monitoring and immediate alerting of dangerous situations. It also supports integrated management via a cloud-based monitoring server and mobile app, allowing for swift responses in emergencies, and data accumulation can aid in future accident prevention and response planning.
KICT’s miniaturized and modular hazardous gas detection technology is being commercialized in partnership with PiQuant, an indoor air quality IoT solution company based in Korea. This partnership aims to offer a cost-effective solution that can replace expensive foreign-made equipment, making hazardous gas monitoring systems more accessible for small manufacturing sites with fewer than 50 employees.
Moving forward, KICT plans to strengthen the predictive capabilities of monitoring through data analysis using AI and machine learning (ML) and to apply Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to develop customized solutions optimized for various industrial environments. Dr. Lee, Jaiyeop said, “KICT continuously supports projects to enhance the technological capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises.” He further mentioned that this technology is expected to extend its application range from construction sites to sewer work sites, factories, and other hazardous environments, contributing to overall industrial safety management.
###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. This research was conducted under the KICT Research Program (project No. 20240434-001, Development of IoT Monitoring Technology for Gas Safety at Construction Sites) funded by the Korean Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology.
Regdate 2024/11/27
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Maintaining Bridge Safer; Digital Sensing-based Monitoring System
Maintaining Bridge Safer; Digital Sensing-based Monitoring System - Establishing a foundation for local technology commercialization in Vietnam -
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim Byung-Suk) developed a smart monitoring system that applies digital sensing technology to maintain and manage small- and medium-sized aging bridges. This study was conducted as an international matching joint research funded by KICT, and established a foundation for technology diffusion to ASEAN countries through joint research with University of Transport and Communications (UTC) in Vietnam.
In general, bridge maintenance monitoring technology is applied to long-span bridges such as cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges. This monitoring system consumes a lot of resources for design and installation, and the system configuration itself is complex, so there are limits to its application for maintenance of small- and medium-sized bridges.
Currently, the most actively used bridge monitoring system is operated based on analog measurement and sensing. Due to the nature of the signal, the analog method is vulnerable to electrical noise, so there is a high possibility of data quality deterioration, and there are limitations in effectively processing various types of signals collected from sensors. Additionally, because analog sensors require 1:1 wiring between the sensor and the receiver, the configuration complexity and installation cost increase dramatically as the system grows.
The digital sensing technique adopted by KICT to overcome the limitations and problems of analog sensors has a low possibility of data quality deterioration due to noise. It also has excellent data transmission speed and processing ability, making up for the shortcomings of analog sensing.
In addition, by using the BUS communication serial connection method, multiple sensor data can be integrated and transmitted through a single wire. This method is widely used in various applications due to its simplicity and economic efficiency. Furthermore, it has the advantage of complementing and replacing analog sensing in terms of simplification of system configuration.
In the case of Vietnam, which co-participated in the study, various transportation infrastructure, including bridges, are being built along with economic growth, but effective maintenance techniques are more required. Although overseas manpower and technology are being introduced to perform facility maintenance, only a few applications are being made to long-span bridges and large structures due to a limited maintenance budget and lack of technology and professional manpower. Safety monitoring for general maintenance of small- and medium-sized bridges has not been implemented, so it is necessary to introduce efficient monitoring techniques suited to local conditions.
The research team led by Dr. Dong-woo, Seo, at the Department of Structural Engineering Research of KICT, developed a monitoring system that can be efficiently applied to small- and medium-sized aging bridges through digital sensing techniques, and verified the performance of the system by demonstrating it on site with a research team at UTC in Vietnam. The measurement performance and local applicability of the based smart monitoring system were confirmed.
In particular, the smart monitoring technique developed by KICT can accurately calculate the vertical displacement of the target bridge with simple sensor placement and coordinate input. This is provided to the user in real time through a GUI (graphical user interface), and simple operations are required to operate the system and produce results.
As a result of local verification in Vietnam, the bridge vertical displacement and actual measured deflection results showed an accuracy of more than 95%. Also, the developed system and monitoring algorithm technology are transferred to ‘ATECH SOLUTION, Inc.’ for the commercialization.
Dr. Seo said, “The biggest advantage of the developed digital smart monitoring technique is user-friendliness,” and added, “Easy to use and economical monitoring technique through a simple system installment method using digital sensors and a GUI-based data analysis system.”
###Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. The research for this work was carried out under the KICT Research Program (project no. 20240400-001, Development of digital sensing based smart monitoring system for the maintenance of aged bridges in Vietnam) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Regdate 2024/11/25
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Innovative Weldless Pipe Joint System ends Corrosion, Durability, and Leakage Worries!
Innovative Weldless Pipe Joint System ends Corrosion, Durability, and Leakage Worries!
- Development of new concept ring type pipe fittings and commercialization of technology -
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim, Byung-Suk), has developed a novel non-welded ring-type pipe fitting system to address leakage and corrosion issues in sprinkler pipe connections. This system is the first of its kind in South Korea and aims to enhance fire prevention and early suppression. According to the “Fire Facility Installation and Management Act,” all buildings constructed since 2018 with six or more floors, especially apartment ceilings, must have sprinkler systems installed. Approximately 17 sprinkler heads are needed per unit of 85-square-meter apartment, resulting in around 80 connections for the piping system. In a complex with 1,000 units, this translates to approximately 80,000 required pipe connections. However, during the installation process, welding, cutting, and grinding are necessary for the sprinkler piping system, posing fire risks due to sparks. Additionally, post-installation, there is a risk of leaks caused by corrosion in the pipe connections.The use of steel pipes in sprinkler fire protection systems can lead to corrosion over time, potentially compromising the system’s effectiveness. This issue poses a serious threat to the safety of firefighter and the public during emergencies. In fact, incidents related to corroded fire protection piping continue to occur nationwide.According to data presented during a seminar at the South Korean National Assembly urging the resolution of fire protection system corrosion issues in September 2023, out of 124 incidents of malfunctioning sprinkler systems between 2016 and 2021, 69 cases (56%) failed to suppress fires due to corrosion-related inspection deficiencies. This highlights the critical importance of addressing corrosion in fire protection piping systems to ensure public safety during emergencies.Until now, fire protection piping systems using steel pipes have primarily employed welded joints, threaded joints, and groove joints. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, between 2015 and 2019, there were an average of 486 welding-related fires at construction sites each month, excluding the monsoon season. However, this trend has decreased significantly since the implementation of the Major Disasters Punishment Act. Threaded joints, which involve screwing connections, pose a high risk of leaks due to corrosion. Groove joints, on the other hand, are not used in smaller pipes (with diameters below 50 mm) due to the difficulty of creating grooves in the piping.The research team led by Dr. Cho Dong-Woo at the Department of Building Energy Research of KICT, collaborated with Taiyang HighTech Co Ltd and Hanil Multidisciplinary Engineering Company, has developed an innovative non-welded ring-type pipe joint system.
This system allows convenient connection of pipes using a metal ring inserted into an outer groove on the pipe. By adding two O-rings and a guide ring, the joint is sealed within a housing, effectively preventing leaks. Notably, this system maintains the pipe’s structural integrity without any physical alterations to the inner surface, ensuring both water-tightness and corrosion resistance. Compared to traditional methods involving welding or threaded connections, this approach reduces assembly time and minimizes maintenance costs, making it suitable for various applications, including fire sprinkler systems.Compared to conventional methods, the ring-type joint (RTJ) pipe fitting system offers distinct advantages in terms of functionality, durability, and ease of assembly. In this system, pipe sections and joint components are pre-assembled at the factory and packaged as a single unit. On-site installation involves straightforward assembly without welding or threading. Notably, when connecting larger pipes to smaller ones (e.g., 65 mm to 50 mm or 50 mm to 40 mm), the integrated reducer significantly reduces assembly connections by approximately 20% compared to welding or threaded methods. This technology is especially efficient for installing sprinkler systems in apartment ceilings, where it can reduce labor time by up to 50% compared to traditional approaches. Additionally, the system’s corrosion-resistant design ensures long-term durability, minimizing maintenance costs related to leaks or pipe replacements.The ring-type pipe joint system has passed various safety performance tests, including seismic performance and leakage performance, and in December 2022, it also obtained UL (Underwriters Laboratory) certification, an international recognized standard.
The developed technology has been installed in all units of an apartment complex with 3,000 households, and is currently being applied to public facilities in three apartment complexes. It is expected to be utilized in various applications, including high-rise apartments, modular homes, multi-use facilities, data centers, and cooling water or gas plant piping equipment.Dr. Cho said, “KICT continuously supports projects to enhance the technological capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises. Through this, the developed technology can minimize fire damage by addressing corrosion and leakage issues in sprinkler pipe connections, contributing to public safety.”###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life.
This achievement was developed through the main project of the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, “Development of new concept ring-type pipe fittings and commercialization of technology”, with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Regdate 2024/07/31
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Producing ‘Space Brick’ for Moon Base Using Microwave
Producing ‘Space Brick’ for Moon Base Using Microwave
-Manufacture of the world’s largest Uniform Microwave-Sintered Lunar Regolith Simulant Bricks-
The Moon’s recent discovery of energy resources, such as water ice, has refocused interest on its potential as a sustainable hub for space exploration. NASA has also announced the Artemis mission, aiming for long-term human presence on the lunar surface. However, infrastructure expansion, such as lunar base construction plays a vital role. Yet, transporting construction materials from Earth to the lunar surface via landers incurs a significant cost of 1.2 million USD per kilogram. Weight directly translates to cost, making the transportation of construction materials from Earth to the Moon nearly impossible.To solve this problem, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim, Byung-Suk), has developed technology for producing construction materials using in-situ resources from the moon. The most readily available in-situ resource on the Moon is lunar regolith, which is the Moon’s surface soil. Utilizing lunar regolith can lead to cost savings. Composed of fine particles, lunar regolith can be sintered through heat. However, in space environments, energy efficiency considerations are crucial for applying heat. And Microwaves are particularly advantageous in terms of energy efficiency.The research team(Dr. Jangguen, Lee, Dr. Young-Jae, Kim, Dr. Hyunwoo, Jin) led by Dr. Hyu-Soung, Shin at the Future & Smart Construction Research Division of KICT, utilized microwave sintering to produce blocks from lunar regolith simulant by heating and compacting it.When using microwaves to heat lunar regolith, localized hot & cold spots can form. These spots lead to localized thermal runaway, hindering uniform heating and sintering. To address this, a stepwise heating program with specific temperature and dwell time was established. Additionally, lunar regolith contains volatile substances, including water. Heating these volatile materials can cause internal cracks during sintering. The research team mitigated crack formation by using preheated lunar regolith simulant under vacuum conditions at 250°C.To assess the completeness of sintered blocks intended for construction materials, the produced blocks were core-drilled at specific locations. The average density, porosity, and compressive strength of the core-drilled samples were approximately 2.11 g/cm³, 29.23%, and 13.66 MPa, respectively. The corresponding standard deviations were 0.03, 1.01, and 1.76, confirming the homogeneity of the sintered blocks.
KICT has secured technology for producing construction materials using lunar regolith. The plan is to validate this technology in space environments. By verifying it under space conditions, we can better address the increasing demand for space construction technology.Dr. Shin said, “Many previous space construction studies related to microwave sintering technology have resulted in small or heterogeneous sintered bodies.” He further expressed plans to utilize this technology for various infrastructure construction needs on the lunar surface in the future.###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. Research for this work was carried out under the KICT Research Program (project no. 20230081-001 & 20240184-001, Development of Environmental Simulator and Advanced Construction Technologies over TRL6 in Extreme Conditions) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT. An article explaining the results of this research was published in the latest issue of Journal of Building Engineering, a renowned international journal in the Civil Engineering field (IF:6.4).
Regdate 2024/07/10
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Leading-Edge Model Predicts Impact of River Plants on Flood Level
Leading-Edge Model Predicts Impact of River Plants on Flood Level
- Blockage effect of emergent riparian vegetation patches on river flow -
River plants provide ecological and environmental benefits, but they raise flood risk by blocking the flow during heavy rain. Removing woody riparian vegetation patches is a primary flood prevention method, but it threatens stream's biodiversity. The research team at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim, Byung-Suk) has developed a technology for quantifying the effect of river vegetation patches on flood level changes to aid in better decision-making of river management for balancing ecological benefits and flood mitigation. Rivers have a complex physical shape that combines riverbed materials such as sand, gravel, and aquatic and riparian vegetation. Their shape may change over time due to the various flow patterns. Even if the amount of water flowing through the river is the same, the larger the degree of plant density in the river, the slower the flow rate and the higher the river level. If the flow discharge is so small that it is unrelated to flood management, such river vegetation may have the advantage of providing various ecological services. However, during the flood season, excessive distribution of vegetation threatens the rise of flood levels, causing damage due to flood inundation.Research on water level rise due to vegetation patches during floods has focused on quantifying flow resistance based on river plant shape and distribution. However, limitations in theoretical approaches and scaled-down lab data hinder using these findings for practical river vegetation management decisions.
The research team led by Dr. Ji, Un, at the Department of Hydro Science and Engineering Research Division of KICT, presented a more explicit and accurate equation for calculating the vegetation flow resistance coefficient. Which can accurately estimate the degree of flow resistance according to the physical characteristics of the vegetation patch and colony based on large-scale experiment dataset. The outdoor stream-scale experiment channel in KICT’s River Experiment Center located in Andong, was used to acquire dataset, and the experiments were performed based on highly accurate and precise hydrometry using natural-like vegetation. Woody riparian vegetation typically clusters in patch form and increases flow resistance more significantly than individual plants. Therefore, Dr. Ji's study presented a robust relational equation that can directly calculate the flow resistance coefficient according to the blockage area or blockage factor of vegetation colonies and patches based on real-scale experimental data.Dr. Ji said, “The study of vegetative channels and streams began in 2015 based on an international joint research with Deltares in the Netherlands, and in particular, the study on the prediction of the flow resistance coefficient of vegetation patches in rivers was able to derive world-class results through a joint study with Aalto University in Finland.” She added, “More accurate predictions of the flow resistance coefficient of vegetation patches and colonies can greatly contribute to better solutions and explicit decision-making for river restoration and management projects based on natural-based solutions for flood prevention.”
###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. The research was supported by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through the Climate Change Research Program funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE)(202200346002). An article explaining the results of this research was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Hydrology, a renowned international journal in the hydrological sciences (IF: 6.4).
Regdate 2024/06/27
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Laying the Foundation for Lunar Base Construction; Elucidating Lunar Soil-Microwave Interactions
Laying the Foundation for Lunar Base Construction;
Elucidating Lunar Soil-Microwave Interactions- Anticipating Key Resource for Enhancing Microwave Heating Efficiency-
The United States’ NASA aims to construct a lunar base through the Artemis program, a manned lunar exploration initiative. However, the practical reality of what general public envision for the space base differs somewhat from well-known science fiction movies. To build a base on the Moon using abundant and diverse construction materials, significant transportation costs are involved. All these materials must be launched from Earth using rockets. Because transporting construction materials from Earth to the Moon is costly and time-consuming, local materials must be utilized in order to establish a lunar base. One promising method for lunar base construction using local materials is microwave sintering, which solidifies lunar regolith (soil) below its melting point. Research on sintering lunar soil using lasers, solar energy, and microwaves is actively underway worldwide. Among these techniques, microwave sintering is a notable technology being developed by various institutions, including NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim Byung-suk). The research team(Dr. Jangguen, Lee, Dr. Young-Jae, Kim, Dr. Hyunwoo, Jin) led by Dr. Hyu-Soung, Shin at the Future & Smart Construction Research Division of the KICT is currently conducting a study on microwave-sintered lunar regolith simulant bricks. This research applies sintering techniques similar to firing ceramics, raising the temperature to create solid bricks. The bricks made from lunar regolith simulant have a strength of over 20 MPa, which is comparable to concrete. Microwave heating depends on the dielectric properties of the material, so a detailed study of the dielectric characteristics of lunar regolith is necessary. Currently, there is insufficient research on how lunar regolith interacts with microwave heating at varying temperatures. As part of microwave sintering research, the research team investigated the dielectric properties of Korean Lunar Simulant (KLS-1) and ilmenite (iron titanate) at different temperatures. Ilmenite is a mineral abundant on the lunar surface and is known to enhance the efficiency of microwave heating. However, detailed studies on the dielectric properties of ilmenite and its behavior during microwave heating have not been conducted. The research findings indicate that lunar regolith simulant has the microwave transparent property; making it challenging to heat. However, ilmenite (iron titanate) interacts strongly with microwaves due to its unique crystal structure, allowing rapid heating to high temperatures. Additionally, the analysis of the crystal structures of lunar regolith simulant and ilmenite successfully revealed key factors contributing to the increase in mineral-microwave interactions. Utilizing a local resource, ilmenite, as a heating element in lunar base construction by using microwave sintering means efficient and rapid production of construction materials. Dr. Young-Jae, Kim from the KICT expressed that this research is expected to be a crucial foundation for the development of microwave technology for future lunar exploration and lunar base construction.###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 41 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. This study was conducted under the KICT Research Program (project no. 20230081-001, Development of environmental simulator and advanced construction technologies over TRL6 in extreme conditions; project no. 20230144-001, Space Architecture: Development of Core Technology for the Construction of Lunar Habitation) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Regdate 2024/06/18
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Discovery of uranium-contaminated soil purification material without secondary environmental pollution
Discovery of uranium-contaminated soil purification material without secondary environmental pollution- Hexagonal boron nitride’s applicability for the purification of actual uranium-contaminated soil -
Nuclear energy has long been regarded as a next-generation energy source, and major countries around the world are competing to secure cutting-edge technologies by leveraging the high economic efficiency and sustainability of nuclear power. However, uranium, which is essential for nuclear power generation, has serious implications for both soil ecosystems and human health. Despite being a key radioactive material, uranium poses significant health risks due to its chemical toxicity to the kidneys, bones, and cells. As a result, both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization recommend allowing and advocating for uranium concentrations in wastewater to be below 30 μg/L.The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim, Byung-suk) has conducted research on a nano-material-based adsorption process to efficiently remove uranium wastewater extracted from actual radioactive-contaminated soil. They have also proposed its applicability to prevent secondary environmental pollutions.Radioactive wastewater, an inevitable by-product of nuclear energy generation, requires post-treatment to minimize ecological impact and associated risks. Although this process involves intricate procedures and substantial costs, various methods have been employed to treat radioactive wastewater from uranium-contaminated soil. These methods include chemical precipitation, evaporation, electrochemical techniques, membrane separation, and adsorption/ion exchange. Among these, chemical precipitation using injected chemical agents is commonly employed in practical applications. However, considering factors such as cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, practicality, and renewability, adsorption processes emerge as particularly suitable for uranium wastewater treatment.Boron nitride (BN), a material that has garnered attention as an effective adsorbent due to its high mechanical strength, acid resistance, and significant surface area, is renowned for its impressive performance in wastewater treatment through adsorption processes. However, research on the actual treatment of uranium wastewater using hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has not yet been conducted, leaving the applicability of boron nitride (BN) for real uranium wastewater treatment as an unknown factor.The research team at the KICT, led by Dr. Rho, Hojung, has comprehensively evaluated the adsorption performance of h-BN nano-materials for uranium wastewater treatment. They explored various operating and water environmental conditions, including exposure time, temperature, initial uranium concentration, background ions (such as NaCl and MgCl2), and Humic acid (HA). The study suggests that boron nitride (BN) can be effectively applied for uranium wastewater treatment. Additionally, they conducted a reusability test on h-BN, which efficiently adsorbed dissolved uranium, further demonstrating its high reusability.
Furthermore, through the analysis of experimental variables such as initial uranium concentration, exposure time, temperature, pH, and the presence of background ions or organic matter, the research team conducted a ‘feature importance analysis’ using the artificial intelligence-based Random Forest algorithm. As a result, they discovered that temperature, cations, and organic matter have minimal impact on adsorption performance, marking this study as the world’s first of its kind.This study is expected to contribute to minimizing potential harm to the environment and human health by enabling more efficient treatment of soil contaminated with radioactive wastewater generated from nuclear power plants.Dr. Rho said, “The conventional precipitation method for purifying uranium-contaminated soil using chemical agents leads to secondary environmental pollution.” He further revealed that “utilizing boron nitride (BN) nano-adsorbents for uranium treatment ensures high reusability without the need for chemical agents, making it a novel environmentally friendly nuclear waste disposal method.”
###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 40 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes (COMPA) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (RS2023-00233235), An article explaining the results of this research was published in the latest issue of Journal of Hazardous Materials, a renowned international journal in the Environmental Science field (IF:13.6).
Regdate 2024/05/02
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Reproducing the Moon's Surface Environment on Earth
Reproducing the Moon's Surface Environment on Earth
- Implementation of an electrostatically charged environment to accelerate lunar base construction efforts -
Continuous research is being conducted globally on using the Moon as an advanced base for deep space exploration, and Korea is no exception in these efforts. The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Kim, Byung-suk) successfully implemented an electrostatic environment that simulates the Moon's surface conditions, not in space but on Earth. The researchers also assessed its performance and effectiveness.
Among the most serious threats in executing lunar missions is the Moon's surface environment, which is electrostatically charged. Due to its extremely thin atmosphere, the Moon is directly exposed to solar ultraviolet rays, X-rays, solar wind, Earth plasma, etc. Thus, clouds of dust on the Moon exhibit strong static electricity. The Moon's electrostatic environment is positively charged during the day and negatively charged during the night.
Given that the Moon has nearly no atmosphere, dust can be easily blown away even by small impacts due to the minimal air resistance. Electrostatically charged regolith particles may cause severe damage to space exploration devices when they become stuck on them. For example, when stuck on PV cells, these particles degrade electricity generation efficiency. In manned missions, they can damage space suits that protect astronauts, or penetrate the respiratory system, resulting in life-threatening consequences.
KICT's research team led by Dr. Shin, Hyusoung (along with senior researcher Chung, Taeil and Dr. Park, Seungsoo) developed a chamber designed to simulate electrically charged conditions. The aim is to implement an electrostatic environment that resembles the Moon's surface.
The chamber developed by KICT incorporates ultraviolet lamps, electronic beams, and plasma generators to positively or negatively charge the surfaces of test objects. Going forward, this equipment can be used to electrostatically charge a replica of lunar soil using ultraviolet radiation and electron beams. It will help to determine how much material adheres to rovers and to anticipate potential problems. This technology goes beyond simply conducting electrostatic charging to simulate the Moon's electrically charged environment under various conditions, such as day or night environments and while being influenced by Earth plasma.The greatest achievement of this research work lies in the developed equipment's ability to measure, in a quantitative and independent manner, the amount of photoelectric current generated, which has the most significant effect on the charging of lunar dust during the day of the Moon. The error between the experimental measurement obtained in this research and the corresponding theoretical value was within approximately 5%, demonstrating the reliability of the developed technology.
As such, KICT's attempts have been successful not only in reproducing a Moon-like environment where soil dust remains electrostatically charged but also in developing assessment technology for it. This research work has laid the groundwork for equipping a large-scale dirty thermal vacuum chamber (DTVC) with the developed equipment to implement an electrostatically charged environment and further assess its performance.
Dr. Shin said, “Our research presents the possibility of effectively integrating the full-size DTVC, developed by Korea for the first time in the world, with lunar dust charging technology. This solution will serve as a test bed for a series of technologies to implement in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon in the future, addressing and responding to a range of potential technological challenges posed by electrically charged lunar dust. ###This research was supported by the KICT Research Program (project no. 20230081-001, Development of Environmental Simulator and Advanced Construction Technologies over TRL6 in Extreme Conditions) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT. An article explaining the results of this research was published in the latest issue of Aerospace, a renowned international journal in the Aerospace engineering field.(IF: 2.6, JCR quartile: Q1 in ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE category).
Regdate 2024/02/27
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Development of new construction technology; quick and easy to build like Lego
Development of new construction technology; quick and easy to build like Lego- No on-site operations required, leading to reduced construction periods and costs cut by 30% -
The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, led by President Kim Byung-suk) announced the development of a new modular construction method capable of building structures by assembling modular components within a short time, particularly in cases of emergencies or disasters. The modular construction method involves fabricating about 70 to 80% of the major members and components of the target structure in factories in advance and then transporting them to the construction site to complete the construction with simple assembly and installation processes. This method is differentiated from conventional field operation-oriented construction methods. This novel method is increasingly recognized as a key construction solution for the future across the globe thanks to its significant contribution to addressing the risk of safety accidents while reducing construction periods. Compared to conventional construction methods, this approach generates less noise, dust, and waste, and modular components used in this method can be recycled or repurposed later, contributing to the promotion of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management.The new modular construction method developed by a research team of KICT (Dr. Lim, Seok-Ho and Dr. Chung, Joon-Soo) is suitable for use in structures in which a box-type infill module whose floor, inner walls, and roof are prefabricated in a factory is plugged in a U-shaped PC module with a wall-type load-bearing structure. The U-shaped PC module includes a floor and two side walls, and the infill module is inserted through its upper opening. Modules are prefabricated in a factory and simply assembled at the construction site, leading to a faster and more straightforward construction process. The method developed by Dr. Lim, Seok-Ho's research team allows for the straightforward assembly of infill modules by lifting them up and placing them down into the target U-shaped PC module using a crane, thereby eliminating the need to use separate vehicles to move them. Moreover, its plug-in assembly method, in which modules are lifted up and placed down into the target modules, contributes to enhanced constructability. The detailed procedure of the developed modular construction method is as follows. ① Install PC modules, ② Insert box-type infill modules and lift up and stack the integrated sets of PC modules and infill modules, ③ Install roofing, and ④ Install stairs and corridorsThe developed technology not only reduces construction periods but also enables easy installation and disassembly through plug-in assembly, in contrast to conventional construction methods that rely on on-site operations using cast-in-place concrete and steel modular frames. Moreover, this approach results in reduced self-load and work volume because modules are stacked in a single slab mode. Additionally, the use of a fire-resistant concrete structure eliminates the necessity for external finishing operations. More importantly, optioning for PC modules prefabricated in a factory as an alternative to steel frames, along with infill modules that require no on-site operations, including interior finishing, enhances both cost-effectiveness and constructability simultaneously.In 2023, the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a blueprint for promoting the use of the modular construction method not only in new rental houses within the Seoul Metropolitan area but also in third-generation new towns, with the aim of accelerating housing supply. In line with this development, new orders in Korea's modular construction market are expected to increase from 800 billion won in 2019 to 2.4 trillion won by 2024. The new modular construction technology developed by KICT is considered to meet the needs of the Korean government for expanding the housing supply while effectively accommodating the expected increase in new orders in the market. Not only that, structures built by this method can be easily disassembled later, when necessary, in the reverse order of the assembly procedure. The disassembled modules can be recycled or repurposed, constituting a genuine resource circulation system for production. This technology is expected to find applications in various fields, with potential uses ranging from negative pressure hospital rooms for infectious disease prevention and military bases or barracks to houses for less privileged people, as well as for export purposes.Dr. Lim, Seok-Ho remarked, "The developed modular construction method will offer effective solutions for addressing environmental issues in the construction industry and housing shortages. Conventional methods using steel modules are deemed less cost-effective compared to concrete construction methods. In contrast, this technology significantly reduces construction costs and diminishes the need for a large portion of on-site operations, resulting in shorter construction periods compared to conventional concrete construction methods, all thanks to the mass production of repeated sets of necessary modules." ###The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 40 years of extensive research experience, is at the forefront of solving national issues that are directly related to the quality of the people’s life. Research for this paper was carried out under the KICT Research Program (project no. 20230064-001, Development of Modular System and Establishment of Supply&Operational System that can respond immediately to disasters) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Regdate 2023/12/21
