Safety and Disaster Prevention Division
- Research Activities
- 현재 위치Safety and Disaster Prevention Division
The Safety and Disaster Prevention Division conducts preventive safety management surveys to safeguard heritage from disasters. Its main research responsibilities include analysis of the impact of disasters on cultural heritage and measures to reduce it, studies on safety management for cultural heritage, and studies on the seismic capacity of architectural cultural heritage. In the event of disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and fires, the division conducts emergency field surveys on the damage inflicted on cultural heritage. Moreover, the division continuously has accumulated basic data via regular monitoring and analysis. Through such research activities, the division is contributing to the preservation and management of cultural heritage and the reduction of disaster damage.
Cultural Heritage Research Study on Damage Reduction Based on Impact Analysis of Disasters
Cultural heritage is exposed to a wide range of potential disasters such as climate change, earthquakes, fires, typhoons, and floods, and these disasters may impact the value of the affected cultural heritage. Once damaged, the value of cultural heritage is difficult to restore. The division is carrying out studies to analyze the characteristics of damage by type of disaster and establish standards and technologies to reduce this damage. Such technical studies are aimed at minimizing the damage inflicted on cultural heritage and contributing to the preservation of its value. Moreover, it is working to establish systems such as the Cultural Heritage Disaster Management System to quickly identify damage and implement effective measures in the event of a disaster.
Research for Architectural Heritage Stability Management
The division also carries out regular scientific surveys of the current status of cultural heritage every three to five years for the systematic safeguarding of cultural heritage properties with materials relatively vulnerable to environmental changes and for the inspection of the basic preservation status of cultural heritage. Moreover, it is working on database construction and technical research and development. The survey findings are provided to relevant management organizations classified by type of cultural heritage so that they can be used in establishing management plans. The division contributes to the safeguarding and management of architectural cultural heritage by studying damage patterns and repair and reinforcement measures based on survey results. For the systematic safeguarding and management of architectural cultural heritage, the division carries out surveys of structural stability, material quality, and biological damage at major architectural cultural heritage. For the management of high-priority cultural heritage, including the Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju and the Bangudae Terrace Petroglyphs in Daegok-ri, Ulju, the division has introduced the use of inspection technology (attachment of IoT sensors) utilizing state-of-the-art equipment. It conducts realtime database construction and analysis of cultural heritage damage patterns, analysis of structural characteristics, and studies on safety management evaluation technologies appropriate for respective types of cultural heritage.
Research on Seismic Performance of Architectural Heritage
Architectural cultural heritage can have unique structural characteristics depending on the structures and materials involved. In response, the division conducts test studies and analysis on materials used, type of structural damage, and structural performance to provide appropriate evaluation criteria that can predict the risk of disasters by cultural heritage type, predict damage, and suggest countermeasures. This is done to better support the effective repair and restoration of cultural heritage. The division also conducts diverse on-site surveys and experiments at home and abroad with the aim of accumulating basic data for the evaluation of the seismic performance of wooden architectural heritage by component type and for the compilation of a database for establishing maintenance standards such as the determination of the structural stability of cultural heritage and the replacement of components.
Critical Onsite Inspection and International Exchange
The Division of Safety and Disaster Prevention takes charge of critical onsite inspections when damage is incurred at cultural heritage sites due to disasters. Furthermore, both domestic and overseas onsite inspections and joint research projects are conducted through collaboration with research institutes specializing in disaster control for cultural heritage.