Press Release
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Generative AI Drones Guard Aging Tunnels, Enhancing Safety & Efficiency
Generative AI Drones Guard Aging Tunnels, Enhancing Safety & Efficiency
- Toward small data learning for automatic damage inspection in tunnel maintenance -
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (President Sun Kyu, Park) has developed ‘Generative AI-Based Inspection Technology' to safely construct and maintain urban underground highways.
Recently, the number of aging tunnels has been gradually increasing. However, the number of specialized personnel who can manage and inspect them is decreasing. To address this, practical measures incorporating IT technology are urgently needed. Developing a high-performance AI model requires a vast amount of training data. However, when applying such AI technology to maintenance sites, there is a challenge of data scarcity and field adaptability. Deep learning models require a large amount of training data, but it is difficult to obtain data as damage scenes such as delamination or rebar exposure on concrete surfaces are not commonly seen. To solve this issue, small data learning using a small number of field images rather than big data learning with concrete damage images is necessary.
In response, KICT research team led by Dr. Shim, Seungbo, at the Department of Geotechnical Engineering Research has developed a ‘smart’ AI inspection technology that overcomes the existing limitations for the safety inspection of aging tunnels. The most notable feature of this technology is its ability to synthesize unique concrete damage scenes seen only in aging infrastructure, even with a small amount of data. Previously, collected field data were processed to detect cracks, but the newly developed generative AI can generate data so sophisticated that it is indistinguishable from actual footage. The AI has the capability to synthesize 10,000 images of concrete damage within 24 hours, and through adaptive technology that learns and trains detection models based on collected field video data, it has effectively addressed data scarcity issues and reduced training costs.
This AI technology has been integrated with autonomous drones, successfully completing field verification within actual large-scale tunnels. The most critical part of tunnel inspection is the ceiling. Currently, workers perform visual inspections using high-altitude work vehicles, but this method may have reliability and safety issues. However, the drone developed in collaboration with LASTMILE Co., Ltd. (a KICT Resident company) can freely navigate inside tunnels with a margin of error of 20cm, using a 200M-class long-range indoor positioning sensor. This is expected to effectively replace the workforce performing hazardous tasks.
Dr. Shim said, “This research is a technology that breaks the stereotype that a large amount of training data is required to utilize artificial intelligence, and implements a new concept of creating data if it is not available.” He expressed his expectation that this technology will open new possibilities for AI applications across the entire construction field.
###Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 42 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 conducted backed by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) [2022R1F1A1074663] and was carried out under the KICT Research Program (project no. 20240051-009, Development of High-Performance UWB-Based Small AI Drone Navigation Technology for Tunnel Safety Inspection) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Regdate 2025/03/10
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The New Age of Infrastructure Maintenance using Data from Space
The New Age of Infrastructure Maintenance using Data from Space
- Development of Low-Cost and High-Efficiency Maintenance Technology for Difficult-to-Maintain Infrastructure -
The concentration of the population in cities is accelerating, and difficulties in maintaining various infrastructures are arising due to extreme weather. Extensive infrastructures like waste landfill facilities face significant challenges due to the difficulty for managers to stay on-site or access them. These maintenance issues are resulting in various problems, including environmental pollution.
To solve these issues, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Sun Kyu, Park) has developed a cost-effective and high-efficiency maintenance technology using satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data.
The satellite-based wide-area survey technology uses SAR to generate high-resolution images. It is an active remote sensing method that uses microwaves ranging from a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters, allowing observations under all weather conditions. Recently, satellite SAR data such as the European Space Agency's Sentinel satellites are being shared for free, making it possible to integrate this technology into cost-effective maintenance solutions.
Dr. Sungpil, Hwang and Dr. Wooseok, Kim of KICT has utilized satellite SAR data to study the impact of underground structures, including roads and subways. The research analyzed the effects of excavation, such as subsidence on the surface caused by blasting, and verified the applicability of the technology under various structural conditions in urban areas. With this technology, widespread monitoring of surface displacement is anticipated to become feasible.
The joint research team from KICT and the University of Tokyo conducted an analysis of an actual waste disposal facility to verify the applicability of the technology for landfill sites in 2024. In order to eliminate obstacles such as trees in wide-area sites like landfills, scatterers were applied. As a result of the scatterer application, data more than 15dB higher than the surrounding areas was obtained. This suggests that the maintenance of landfill facilities can be carried out more accurately. If this technology is implemented, maintenance costs will be reduced by more than 30% compared to existing methods, and blind spots in management will be eliminated.
Dr. Hwang, the lead researcher, highlighted the growing issue of aging infrastructure, stating, "The number of facilities requiring maintenance is increasing." He further emphasized the potential benefits of satellite SAR data, noting, "It is expected that using satellite SAR data will enable cost-effective and efficient maintenance."KICT plans to develop and implement a maintenance system for landfill facilities that includes scatterers in the future. This innovative system will not only be applicable to landfills, offering maintenance solutions for infrastructures across wide-area regions.
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Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 42 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. 20240401-001, A Study on Monitoring Surface Displacement Using SAR Data from Satellite for Waste Landfill) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT. An article explaining the results of this research was published in the latest issue of Sustainability, a renowned international journal in the Civil Engineering field (IF:3.3).
Regdate 2025/01/14
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Breaking Barriers in Vapor Pressure Calculations
Breaking Barriers in Vapor Pressure Calculations- Full-Range Calculation Possible from an Arbitrary Vapor Pressure Point -
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Sun Kyu, Park) has introduced a groundbreaking vapor pressure equation. This innovative study addresses the limitations of the Lee-Kesler method which has been widely used methods in the field of thermodynamics, offering a versatile and comprehensive solution for vapor pressure calculations across diverse conditions. As a previous study, the Lee-Kesler method has been a reliable calculation method in chemical process design, particularly for predicting vapor pressure based on material properties. By referring the acentric factor, it accounts for non-ideal behavior and delivers stable, accurate results, even near critical points. Its simplicity—requiring only the acentric factor and critical properties—has made it a preferred alternative to Antoine's equation, which depends on extensive substance-specific temperature data. However, its limitations in temperature range and accuracy at lower temperatures have long posed challenges.
Dr. Lee Jaiyeop of KICT developed this new equation, which represents a significant improvement, achieving an impressive average error rate of 0.49%, slightly better than the Lee-Kesler method’s 0.50%. In a study involving 76 substances, it outperformed the Lee-Kesler method in 45 cases. Most notably, at reduced temperatures below 0.7, the equation demonstrated an average error rate of 0.57%, compared to the Lee-Kesler method's 0.72%. This enhanced precision at relatively lower temperatures could be particularly valuable for cryogenic and other extreme environments such as Antarctica or the lunar surface.
A key breakthrough is its extended temperature range. While the Lee-Kesler method is restricted to calculations around a reduced temperature of 0.7, the new equation is applicable across a broad range, from 0.25 to 0.95. This flexibility makes it suitable for substances with limited experimental data, addressing the data dependency challenges faced by other methods. Consequently, it provides a more adaptable and efficient computational environment for engineers and researchers.
The equation has received international recognition as a significant extension of the Antoine and Lee-Kesler methods. Its potential applications span diverse fields, including energy, pharmaceuticals, and environmental monitoring. Its precision and versatility make it a valuable tool for addressing high-pressure and low-temperature challenges in industrial operations.
Moreover, the equation is designed to integrate seamlessly with IoT-based monitoring systems. This compatibility enables real-time data analysis and process optimization, which are expected to enhance productivity and safety across industries. By bridging theoretical innovation with practical applications, this new approach promises to set a new benchmark in vapor pressure calculations.Dr. Lee, Jaiyeop said, "This research not only sets a new benchmark but also introduces a transformative tool for the chemical engineering community." He mentioned that with its adoption, industries are expected to achieve significant advancements. As its influence grows, this groundbreaking equation is set to leave a lasting mark across various disciplines.
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The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, a government-funded research institute with 42 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 groundbreaking vapor pressure equation study was recently published in the prestigious international journal, Chemical Engineering Communications. Titled "Derivation of Full Range Vapor Pressure Equation from an Arbitrary Point."(Oct. 2024.)
Regdate 2025/01/06
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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