Research Demonstration Project Research Articles

The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project: linking public health initiatives and primary care interventions community-wide to prevent and reduce childhood obesity.

[Author Affiliation]Heidi M. Blanck. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.Janet L. Collins. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.Address correspondence to: Heidi M. Blanck, PhD, Branch Chief, Obesity Prevention and Control Branch, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, F77, Atlanta, GA 30341, E-mail: hcb3@cdc.govChildhood obesity is a serious national health problem with 17% of American youth living with obesity.1 In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) appropriated $25 million for a 4-year community-based study to determine whether an integrated model of primary care and public health services can improve underserved children's risk factors for obesity. In response, the CDC established the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) to meet the requirements of the ACA and address the call by expert groups for comprehensive, multilevel, multisetting approaches to prevent and reduce childhood obesity.2 This commentary introduces the nine articles in this issue that describe the research collaboration funded by the CDC.Obesity-related health behaviors, such as nutrition and physical activity, are shaped by multiple sources of influence and environments, including the home, early care and education, school, healthcare, and other community settings. Therefore, a host of setting stakeholders who influence these settings, including government, education, the private setting, nonprofit organizations, and families, have a role to play in creating healthier communities. CORD will add to the limited research available on comprehensive, community-wide models for childhood obesity prevention. A recent comparative effectiveness review of the peer-reviewed childhood obesity prevention literature in developed countries found there is a need for more studies that include results from interventions occurring in multiple settings.3 The systematic review found a very limited number of articles with multiple settings and only one community-based, multiple-setting, early childhood obesity prevention study that measured weight and had at least 1 year of follow-up.4 In school-aged youth in the United States, Shape Up Somerville has been novel in its results of reducing BMI over 2 years through a community-based participatory research approach that met the community's interests and strengths and interventions that could be included into existing platforms (schools, afterschool, and community).5The collection of articles in this supplement to Childhood Obesity describes how CORD builds on each community's existing work, uses its stakeholders' perspectives of problems and feasible solutions, and leverages state and local infrastructure in three states: Imperial County, California; Fitchburg and New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Austin and Houston, Texas. Each of the three demonstration sites serves children ages 2-12 years and their families in communities with high childhood obesity rates.While we wait for final evaluation data from each of the demonstration sites, we are learning about novel ways that public health and primary care can work together to embed healthy eating and active living in the daily routines of children and families. CORD is increasing healthy eating and active living opportunities for young children and their families by supporting change at the individual, system, and community levels. Interventions in each setting include those reviewed and described by Foltz and colleagues on population-based research and practice-tested strategies for improving obesity-related behaviors. …

The utility of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in systems-oriented obesity intervention projects: the selection of comparable study sites for a quasi-experimental intervention design--TX CORD.

The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project (TX CORD) uses a systems-oriented approach to address obesity that includes individual and family interventions, community-level action, as well as environmental and policy initiatives. Given that randomization is seldom possible in community-level intervention studies, TX CORD uses a quasi-experimental design. Comparable intervention and comparison study sites are needed to address internal validity bias. TX CORD was designed to be implemented in low-income, ethnically diverse communities in Austin and Houston, Texas. A three-stage Geographical Information System (GIS) methodology was used to establish and ascertain the comparability of the intervention and comparison study sites. Census tract (stage 1) and school (stage 2) data were used to identify spatially exclusive geographic areas that were comparable. In stage 3, study sites were compared on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES), food assets, and physical activity (PA) assets. Student's t-test was used to examine significant differences between the selected sites. The methodology that was used resulted in the selection of catchment areas with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics that fit the target population: ethnically diverse population; lower-median household income; and lower home ownership rates. Additionally, the intervention and comparison sites were statistically comparable on demographic and SES variables, as well as food assets and PA assets. This GIS approach can provide researchers, program evaluators, and policy makers with useful tools for both research and practice. Area-level information that allows for robust understanding of communities can enhance analytical procedures in community health research and offer significant contributions in terms of community assessment and engagement.

Incorporating Primary and Secondary Prevention Approaches To Address Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment in a Low-Income, Ethnically Diverse Population: Study Design and Demographic Data from the Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (TX CORD) Study

There is consensus that development and evaluation of a systems-oriented approach for child obesity prevention and treatment that includes both primary and secondary prevention efforts is needed. This article describes the study design and baseline data from the Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (TX CORD) project, which addresses child obesity among low-income, ethnically diverse overweight and obese children, ages 2-12 years; a two-tiered systems-oriented approach is hypothesized to reduce BMI z-scores, compared to primary prevention alone. Our study aims are to: (1) implement and evaluate a primary obesity prevention program; (2) implement and evaluate efficacy of a 12-month family-centered secondary obesity prevention program embedded within primary prevention; and (3) quantify the incremental cost-effectiveness of the secondary prevention program. Baseline demographic and behavioral data for the primary prevention community areas are presented. Baseline data from preschool centers, elementary schools, and clinics indicate that most demographic variables are similar between intervention and comparison communities. Most families are low income (≤$25,000) and Hispanic/Latino (73.3-83.8%). The majority of parents were born outside of the United States. Child obesity rates exceed national values, ranging from 19.0% in preschool to 35.2% in fifth-grade children. Most parents report that their children consume sugary beverages, have a television in the bedroom, and do not consume adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. Interventions to address childhood obesity are warranted in low-income, ethnically diverse communities. Integrating primary and secondary approaches is anticipated to provide sufficient exposure that will lead to significant decreases in childhood obesity.

Evaluating the Planning and Development Phase of a Demonstration Project: At Home / Chez Soi Moncton

This research focused on the planning and development phase of the Moncton site of At Home / Chez Soi, a multisite research demonstration project funded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, developed to test an innovative approach to working with homeless people living with severe and persistent mental illness in 5 Canadian cities. Using qualitative methods, 11 local key informants participated in semistructured interviews focusing on: (a) early planning processes; (b) principles and values guiding the planning process; (c) planning actions; and (d) stakeholder relationships. We found that contextual elements, especially those related to the small size and bilingual nature of the city and the lack of mental health services in the area, had a significant impact on the planning and development of the project in Moncton. The implications of findings for future planning of complex community interventions are noted.

Evaluation protocol to assess an integrated framework for the implementation of the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project at the California (CA-CORD) and Massachusetts (MA-CORD) sites.

The long-term success of child obesity prevention and control efforts depends not only on the efficacy of the approaches selected, but also on the strategies through which they are implemented and sustained. This study introduces the Multilevel Implementation Framework (MIF), a conceptual model of factors affecting the implementation of multilevel, multisector interventions, and describes its application to the evaluation of two of three state sites (CA and MA) participating in the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) project. A convergent mixed-methods design is used to document intervention activities and identify determinants of implementation effectiveness at the CA-CORD and MA-CORD sites. Data will be collected from multiple sectors and at multiple levels of influence (e.g., delivery system, academic-community partnership, and coalition). Quantitative surveys will be administered to coalition members and staff in participating delivery systems. Qualitative, semistructured interviews will be conducted with project leaders and key informants at multiple levels (e.g., leaders and frontline staff) within each delivery system. Document analysis of project-related materials and in vivo observations of training sessions will occur on an ongoing basis. Specific constructs assessed will be informed by the MIF. Results will be shared with project leaders and key stakeholders for the purposes of improving processes and informing sustainability discussions and will be used to test and refine the MIF. Study findings will contribute to knowledge about how to coordinate and implement change strategies within and across sectors in ways that effectively engage diverse stakeholders, minimize policy resistance, and maximize desired intervention outcomes.

The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project: a team approach for supporting a multisite, multisector intervention.

Comprehensive multisector, multilevel approaches are needed to address childhood obesity. This article introduces the structure of a multidisciplinary team approach used to support and guide the multisite, multisector interventions implemented as part of the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) project. This article will describe the function, roles, and lessons learned from the CDC-CORD approach to project management. The CORD project works across multisectors and multilevels in three demonstration communities. Working with principal investigators and their research teams who are engaging multiple stakeholder groups, including community organizations, schools and child care centers, health departments, and healthcare providers, can be a complex endeavor. To best support the community-based research project, scientific and programmatic expertise in a wide range of areas was required. The team was configured based on the skill sets needed to interact with the various levels of staff working with the project. By thoughtful development of the team and processes, an efficient system for supporting the multisite, multisector intervention project sites was developed. The team approach will be formally evaluated at the end of the project period.

Paving the road toward Smart Grids through large-scale advanced metering infrastructures

Upgrading current electricity grid to the so-called Smart Grid represents one of the major engineering challenges ever. Hence, the road toward the Smart Grid will be long and needs to be paved gradually, certainly driving the next wave of research and innovation in both the energy and the ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) sectors. Currently, the earliest stages of such a complex project are being undertaken and AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructures) stand out as the first steps toward the Smart Grid. The Spanish R&D (Research and Development) demonstration project PRICE-GEN aims to be a flagship AMI project at both national and international level. It is focused on increasing the awareness of the status of the low voltage power distribution network through an optimal and interoperable communications architecture which provides detailed information on customers’ consumption and generation. The project entails the deployment of over 200,000 smart meters in the area of Madrid, such a pilot scheme being also used as reference in other European R&D projects, such as the IGREENGrid (IntegratinG Renewables in the European Electricity Grid). This paper presents the communications architecture and technologies which are deployed in the field, analyzing how they fit some specific Smart Grid communications requirement. In addition, the paper describes in detail the pilot itself along with the services which are currently been delivered as well as with the foreseen ones. Finally, the main trends in AMI from the ICT perspective are also discussed.

The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project: A Comprehensive Community Approach To Reduce Childhood Obesity

The Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project: A Comprehensive Community Approach To Reduce Childhood Obesity

Meaningful inclusion of consumers in research and service delivery.

Although participatory methods have become increasingly popular, people with lived experience of mental illness and homelessness have been historically excluded from service planning and research. To better plan for meaningful inclusion of consumers, this study examines lessons learned from the People with Lived Experience Caucus in the Toronto Site of the At Home/Chez Soi Research Demonstration Project on Homelessness and Mental Health. The inclusion of the People with Lived Experience Caucus was evaluated using qualitative methods and multiple data sources, including review of 42 documents, 11 individual interviews, and three focus groups. Caucus members were included in the study team. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Findings revealed a complex story of Caucus engagement: Facing time constraints and given little direction, the Caucus developed through a tumultuous process related to both internal and external barriers to meaningful inclusion. Despite the challenges, the Caucus contributed meaningfully to various aspects of the research demonstration project. It is possible to successfully integrate psychiatric consumers with experience of homelessness in many aspects of research and service planning. Suggestions for future initiatives hoping to engage consumers include: early involvement, purposeful selection of members, clear communication of roles and responsibilities, a consumer coordinating group, and space for critical dialog throughout the process. Lessons learned can inform the inclusion of consumers in similar endeavors in other jurisdictions.

Experimental Investigation of Vortex Flow in a Two-Chamber Solar Thermochemical Reactor

Recent advances in the field of large-scale solar thermochemical processing have given rise to substantial research efforts and demonstration projects. Many applications of high-temperature solar-thermal technology employ an enclosed cavity environment, thus requiring a transparent window through which concentrated solar energy can enter. One configuration employed is a two-cavity reactor connected by a narrow aperture, where solar flux entering through the window is focused at the aperture plane before diverging into the lower chamber, where the chemical reaction occurs. For the Zn/ZnO thermochemical cycle where Zn is solar-thermally reduced from ZnO in a high-temperature cavity environment, effective removal of the product gas stream containing zinc vapor is of paramount importance to prevent fouling by condensation on the reactor window. Two argon-jet configurations, tangential and radial, located around the circumference of the upper chamber are used to control the gas flow within the reactor cavity. First, the tangential jets drive a vortex flow, and second, the radial wall jet travels across the window before converging at the reactor center line and turning downward to create a downward jet. The tangential jet-induced flow creates a rotating vortex, contributing to overall flow stability, and the radial jet-induced downward flow counters the updraft created by the vortex while actively cooling and sweeping clear the inner surface of the window. Flow visualization in a full-scale transparent model of the reactor using smoke and laser illumination is employed to characterize the effectiveness of aerodynamic window clearing and to characterize the processes by which a vortex flow develops and breaks down in a two-chamber solar reactor geometry. Based on a large dataset of flow visualization images, a metric is developed to define vortex stability over a wide range of flow conditions and identify an ideal operating range for which a vortex formation path is established that maintains stable flow patterns and removes product gases while minimizing the use of argon gas. The predominant influence of vortex instability and breakdown is identified and examined for the case of a beam-down, two-chamber solar reactor geometry.

Journal of Flood Risk Management

Earlier this month I was updating my understanding of potential climate change impacts on the conditions that lead to flooding – principally the likely changes to future rainfall intensities and duration. What is clear is that although our ability to predict future climate is improving, the basic messages remain the same. These are that in a world of climate warming, extreme events are likely to get more intense and more frequent, but that the scale and rate of change remain very uncertain. Other factors, such as population growth, expansion of megacities, poverty, energy and a general scarcity of key resources, of course, add to the challenge of climate change. When taken together, the scale of the task for future flood risk managers is indeed daunting. However, as our recent Journal papers demonstrate, there are common threads emerging on which to build that important future. The first of these is that flood risk measures based entirely on hard engineering features are unlikely to prove sustainable. There are a number of reasons for this. In an uncertain future, the measures taken now will need to adapt as that future unfolds. Measures that cannot adapt may prove redundant, even in the short term. Also, single solutions may not deliver the benefits that a suite of smaller but integrated solutions might deliver. And thirdly, structural measures will need to work in harmony with non-structural solutions, recognising the important part that active community engagement in flood risk management might play. When the Journal was first launched, some of these concepts were in their infancy. It would not be true today to describe all of them as having reached maturity. Indeed, we are still struggling to deliver some of the more radical concepts, for example, how to equitably deliver schemes that involve the managed retreat of communities from areas at high risk of flooding. We are pleased to have published the outcome of some ground breaking research and innovative demonstration projects in the pages of this Journal over the last few years. These open up many possibilities to meeting the future challenges outlined above. Yet there is still much to do. The concept of social equality in flood risk management has yet to be fully developed. We have not satisfactorily addressed how to deliver some flood risk management measures in the poorer communities of the world. And given the projected rate of population growth, largely concentrated around the poorer communities in the mega cities of the world, how do we avoid the explosive growth of shanty towns that are so vulnerable to flooding? We must harness the energy of all professionals working in flood risk management. Innovation will be needed, where traditional approaches are challenged and new ideas welcomed. Innovation does not come naturally. Even in the research world, working practices often do not incentivise innovation, whilst in professional practice it can be actively discouraged in favour of more “secure” solutions. The importance of publishing case studies and demonstration projects alongside more academic research papers, is that it demonstrates to all the benefits that can be delivered through innovation and the sharing of knowledge. Therefore if we, as flood risk managers, are to play our part in shaping the future of the world, we need to share our experience on the practical delivery of flood risk measures as well as reporting the outcome of scientific research. As Editor, I very much hope that in our coming issues we will learn more about how innovation might practically be implemented. After all, our goal is not just to improve scientific knowledge, but to make a real difference to the future of society.

Arctic ambient noise measurements in support of the Northern Watch Project

During August 2012, acoustic recording systems were deployed in Barrow Strait as part of the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) Northern Watch Technology Demonstration Project. Two Starfish Sensor Cubes each with a 1-m cube of seven hydrophones operating in the frequency range of 5 - 750 Hz, and two single-hydrophone, Autonomous Multichannel Acoustic Recorders (AMAR) providing a 30-kHz signal bandwidth were deployed. The Starfish were deployed for two one-week intervals. One AMAR was deployed for two weeks partially overlapping the Starfish deployment. The second AMAR was deployed for a period of one year with recovery planned for August 2013. The observed underwater noise picture is one of high variability ranging from an extremely quiet to a noisy environment. Noise sources included: A 500-m long iceberg grounded within 500 m of one of the Starfish; a large ice island (4-5 km2) that passed within 4 km of the sensors; a small number of motoring vessels; significant wind events that caused rapid and strong variations in the noise field; and a small number of marine mammal detections. After our departure, a large number of Beluga whales were observed visually. The remaining AMAR may detect these late summer visitors.

Evaluating Mass in Motion Kids (MiM Kids): A Multi‐Sector Intervention to Reduce Childhood Obesity Using a Community‐Clinical Partnership

MiM Kids is one of three 4‐year projects funded through the CDC's Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project to reduce obesity and improve health behaviors in children ages 2–12 years. Implemented in two low‐income communities in Massachusetts, MiM Kids uses evidence based interventions in clinics, schools, after‐school programs, child care, and the community at large. Using a combination of pre‐post time series and quasi‐experimental designs and comparing two intervention communities to one control community, the effectiveness of MiM Kids is examined in reference to individual lifestyle behaviors, change in body mass index (BMI), satisfaction with health care, and quality of life. Data collection integrates robust and efficient clinical and community data acquisition processes including school BMI data, electronic medical record extraction, parent surveys, environmental audits, document reviews, and community stakeholder interviews. In addition to the local evaluation, common measures developed in coordination with an evaluation center will be utilized across CORD sites. Community interventions hold great promise, but there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of multi‐sector interventions. MiM Kids and its evaluation advances community nutrition intervention science by filling this gap. Findings may inform local and state policy and future community interventions.Grant Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: U18DP003370–01. This work is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the CDC.

The CLIMIT Program and its Strategy for Norwegian Research, Development and Demonstration of CCS Technology

The Norwegian CLIMIT program for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of carbon capture and storage (CCS) was established in 2005 to provide financial support to RD&D of CCS technologies. Research institutions and companies in Norway together with international partners may apply to CLIMIT for funding of their projects. The program is funded by the Norwegian government with an annual budget of € 24 million. CLIMIT has so far provided € 120 million to about 200 projects covering basic research, technology development and pilot scale demonstration projects. This paper presents a new strategy for the CLIMIT program, provides some background on CCS in Norway and a brief overview of Norwegian activities within CCS. The new CLIMIT strategy is based on seven foundation reports; 1) Technology status, 2) Market analysis, 3) Cost of CCS, 4) Policies and regulations, 5) International energy and CCS roadmaps, 6) Current infrastructure and test sites and 7) Innovative processes. Major findings from these reports are presented together with the resulting CLIMIT program strategy for 2012 – 2020.

Customized self-employment and the use of Discovery for entrepreneurs with disabilities

Discovery, a key component of the customized employment model, is a method to identify an individual's connections and supports, skills and interests through a series of interviews, conversations, and observations. The purpose of the StartUp Alaska research-demonstration project was to identify promising practices in the self-employment realm. The study included 71 participants with disabilities who were interested in or pursuing self-employment. Of the 71 participants, 33 individuals launched their business during the four-year project. Results based on a self-employment facilitator generated database and survey on individual participants indicated an association between successful business launch and the use of Discovery. While findings suggest an association, further research on all of the model components, including Discovery, Business Planning, and Virtual Incubator should be conducted.

Moving from rhetoric to reality: adapting Housing First for homeless individuals with mental illness from ethno-racial groups.

BackgroundThe literature on interventions addressing the intersection of homelessness, mental illness and race is scant. The At Home/Chez Soi research demonstration project is a pragmatic field trial investigating a Housing First intervention for homeless individuals with mental illness in five cities across Canada. A unique focus at the Toronto site has been the development and implementation of a Housing First Ethno-Racial Intensive Case Management (HF ER-ICM) arm of the trial serving 100 homeless individuals with mental illness from ethno-racial groups. The HF ER-ICM program combines the Housing First approach with an anti-racism/anti-oppression framework of practice. This paper presents the findings of an early implementation and fidelity evaluation of the HF ER-ICM program, supplemented by participant narrative interviews to inform our understanding of the HF ER-ICM program theory.MethodsDescriptive statistics are used to describe HF ER-ICM participant characteristics. Focus group interviews, key informant interviews and fidelity assessments were conducted between November 2010 and January 2011, as part of the program implementation evaluation. In-depth qualitative interviews with HF ER-ICM participants and control group members were conducted between March 2010 and June 2011. All qualitative data were analysed using grounded theory methodology.ResultsThe target population had complex health and social service needs. The HF ER-ICM program enjoyed a high degree of fidelity to principles of both anti-racism/anti-oppression practice and Housing First and comprehensively addressed the housing, health and sociocultural needs of participants. Program providers reported congruence of these philosophies of practice, and program participants valued the program and its components.ConclusionsAdapting Housing First with anti-racism/anti-oppression principles offers a promising approach to serving the diverse needs of homeless people from ethno-racial groups and strengthening the service systems developed to support them. The use of fidelity and implementation evaluations can be helpful in supporting successful adaptations of programs and services.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN42520374

Innovative Stormwater Treatment Implementation at Parking Lot in China

Xikeng Reservoir is one of the major water supply reservoirs in Shenzhen. The water quality of Xikeng Reservoir has been poor, with much of the pollution coming from nonpoint sources. An innovative low impact development type of BMP called the BioBox was used at the Administration Building parking lot location, as a research site and demonstration project to show how small alterations to parking lot designs can dramatically decrease pollutant loads. Manual samples were collected during storm events and analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS); five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5); ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and total phosphorus (TP). In summary, the ranges of removal rates of the BioBox are: TSS 70% - 90%; BOD5 20% - 50%, and ammonia and phosphorus 30% - 70%. The BioBox system effectively reduced the concentrations of pollutants in the parking lot runoff.

Experimental investigations of the effect of coal type and coal burner with different oxygen supply angles on gasification characteristics

The IGCC (Integrated gasification combined cycle) is known as one of the coal fueled power generating technologies with the highest efficiency and lowest emissions. To achieve the required higher efficiency and lower emission performance, Korea's 300 MW IGCC RDD&D (Research Development, Demonstration and Dissemination) project was launched in December 2006 under the leadership of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), with the support of the Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy. Our research group, the KEPCO Research Institute, set up a coal gasifier for the pilot test and conducted many experiments for the parametric study in this project. Our group focused its research on the effect of different types of coal and oxygen supply angles on the optimum O 2/coal ratio for gasification. Through this study we found that using higher oxygen content coal reduced the optimum O 2/coal ratio for gasification. However, there was no apparent relationship between the oxygen supply angle and the optimum O 2/coal ratio. And, two types of coal burners having different oxygen supply angles were used to conduct the feasibility study on a variable angle burner for the coal gasifier.

Application of Repair and Anti-Corrosion Technology on Reinforced Concrete Structures of a Domestic Wharf

According to the status and service environment of a domestic wharf, the corrosion of reinforced concrete structure was evaluated by multiple detection methods, on the base of which the corresponding repair and anti-corrosion program were adopted, thus good preservative effect was achieved. The research work and demonstration project are expected to provide technical discussion and reference for peer experts, as well as technical basis for the corrosion protection of reinforced concrete structures in similar marine environment.

Gas turbine combustion performance test of hydrogen and carbon monoxide synthetic gas

Abstract The development of coal IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) technology has made it possible to exploit electricity generated from coal at a low cost. Furthermore, IGCC is a pre-requisite for the development of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technology and hydrogen generated from coal. To achieve the need to reduce CO 2 emissions, Korea’s 300 MW IGCC RDD&D (Research Development, Demonstration and Dissemination) project was launched in December 2006 under the leadership of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), with the support of the Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy.When a new fuel is adapted to a gas turbine (such as syngas for IGCC), it is necessary to study the gas turbine combustion characteristics of the fuel, because gas turbines are very sensitive to its physical and chemical properties. This experimental study was conducted by investigating the combustion performance of synthetic gas, which is composed chiefly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The results of a test on synthetic gas combustion performance were compared with the results of methane combustion, which is a major component of natural gas. The results of the combustion test of both gases were examined in terms of the turbine’s inlet temperature, combustion dynamics, emission characteristics, and flame structure.From the results of this experimental study, we were able to understand the combustion characteristics of synthetic gas and anticipate the problems when synthetic gas rather than natural gas is fuelled to a gas turbine.