Conceptual design of liquid lithium laboratory in the TECHNOFUSION project

The Technofusion project involves the construction of a relevant set of scientific technical facilities in Madrid, providing new tools to fusion energy community.

Génesis, evolución y presente actual del sistema científico tecnológico de la ciudad de Madrid y su área metropolitana

La ciudad de Madrid y su área metropolitana han sido y son ahora también, uno de los más importantes polos de actividad científico-tecnológica de España. Madrid concentra en una región uniprovincial una gran parte de las instituciones públicas de investigación y desarrollo del país. La mayor parte se concentran en la ciudad de Madrid y el resto en el área metropolitana inmediata en un reducido espacio territorial. Madrid ha sido un lugar de primer nivel para localización y producción científico-tecnológica nacional: desde los inicios de la Edad de la Ilustración en la época de Carlos III, posteriormente en el siglo XIX, en el periodo del “Cajalismo” de principios del XX, con la JAE (Junta de Ampliación de Estudios) hasta 1939, con el CSIC “Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas” desde 1939 hasta ahora y en la actualidad con los organismos ministeriales de Ciencia e Tecnología y con “MADRID NETWORK”, la agencia regional de desarrollo de parques científico-tecnológicos. Ha habido una secuencia temporal y espacial en la ubicación de las sedes de instituciones científico-técnicas en la ciudad a través del tiempo. En esta tesis doctoral se ha analizado la creación de este sistema y sus características básicas. Se ha evaluado si se ha formado un conjunto de áreas significativas en la ciudad que permitan hablar de un proyecto, o un grupo de proyectos, que han formado el sistema científico-técnico de Madrid. Al final se ha analizado cómo es en la actualidad este sistema, por medio de un estudio de la nueva red de parques científicos tecnológicos y si este último proyecto del sistema científico tecnológico de Madrid está concluido o si por el contrario está pendiente de terminar y desarrollar en estos momentos a principios del siglo XXI. Se ha estudiado los sectores y actividades a los que se dedican las empresas y organismos públicos presentes en los parques. ABSTRACT: The city of Madrid and its metropolitan area have been, and now are too, one of the most important scientific and technical activity poles of Spain. Madrid concentrates in a single-province region a great part of the public Research and Development institutions of the country. The majority are concentrated in the city of Madrid and the rest in the immediate metropolitan area in a limited territorial space. Madrid has been a first level place for location and national scientific and technical production: since the beginnings of the Age of Enlightenment in the Carlos III epoch, during the XIX century, in the “Cajalismo” period at first of the XX century, With JAE “Junta de Ampliación de Estudios” until 1939, with CSIC “Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas” since 1939 up to now and nowadays with the Ministerial agencies of Science and Technology and with “MADRID NETWORK” the regional agency for the development of scientific and technical parks. There has been a temporal and spatial sequence in location of the scientific and technical headquarters and institutions in the city over time. In this doctoral thesis it has been analyzed the building this system and its basic characteristics. It has been evaluated if it has formed a set of significant areas in the city that lead us to talk about one project, or a group of projects, that have formed the scientific and technical system of Madrid. At the end is has been analyzed how is this system actually, by means of a study of the new network of scientific and technologic parks and if this last project of the Madrid´s scientific and technologic system is finished or, on the other hand, it is waiting to be finished, and be developed, in this moment, at the beginning of the XXI century. It has studied the sectors and activities to which are dedicated the companies and public organism that stay in the parks.

Evaluación del impacto del programa Monumenta en los centros históricos del sur de Brasil : los casos de Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) y São Francisco do Sul (Santa Catarina)

Esta Tesis tiene como objetivo demostrar que los programas de preservación del patrimonio, durante su fase de implementación, deben someterse a un análisis multidisciplinar que haga un balance de su ejecución. Dicho análisis permitirá identificar resultados significativos, capaces de fundamentar la rectificación de las bases conceptuales de la política pública en cuestión. Este reajuste podrá darse, por lo tanto, durante su vigencia y, de forma más relevante, posteriormente, sus motivos y resultados permitirán elaborar nuevas estrategias que serán aplicadas en futuros programas de intervención. Por otro lado se indagó, además, si las ciudades participantes en un programa nacional de preservación del patrimonio, regidas por normas y metas comunes, podrían alcanzar resultados diferentes. Para atender a estos objetivos, la investigación se encuentra enfocada a la realidad brasileña, siendo seleccionado como objeto de estudio el Programa Monumenta. Este Programa formó parte de la política pública cultural del Ministerio de Cultura con una importante implicación del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Implementado a partir de 1999, procuró promover un proceso de recuperación urbana sostenible y de preservación del patrimonio de 26 Sitios Históricos Urbanos o Conjuntos de Monumentos Urbanos protegidos por el Instituto del Patrimonio Histórico y Artístico Nacional (Iphan). El Programa contó con el apoyo de la Unesco y del Iphan, así como con la participación de las Administraciones Municipales y/o Estatales, sectores privados y la sociedad civil. Las hipótesis planteadas en esta Tesis Doctoral fueron: (a) el análisis de los resultados en la fase de implementación de un programa de preservación del patrimonio es imprescindible, porque permite extraer conclusiones preliminares y orientar sus reformas; (b) los objetivos a corto plazo establecidos por el Programa Monumenta fueron alcanzados de modo diferenciado en las distintas ciudades beneficiadas; (c) a pesar de las diferencias, el Programa Monumenta presentó resultados preliminares positivos y significativos en la preservación del patrimonio histórico urbano brasileño. Los procedimientos metodológicos se centraron en un análisis cuantitativo, cualitativo y comparativo de los resultados alcanzados por tres ciudades beneficiadas por el Programa Monumenta, seleccionadas según su tamaño poblacional: Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Estado de Rio Grande do Sul) y São Francisco do Sul (Estado de Santa Catarina). Estos procedimientos fueron aplicados en los siguientes indicadores: utilización de los equipamientos culturales, características de la población y de los domicilios, variación de las actividades económicas, financiación destinada al sector privado para la recuperación de inmuebles y el fomento de la seguridad urbana. La Tesis ha englobado discusiones y conceptos abordados en las disciplinas de la Sociología Urbana, Geografía Urbana, Historia, Economía y Estadística de modo que se atribuye al objeto de investigación una visión interdisciplinar que ayudará a la comprensión de la teoría y la práctica preservacionistas. El análisis de la varianza, la regresión lineal y el análisis factorial fueron las herramientas estadísticas aplicadas sobre los datos con el objetivo de constatar la significación de los resultados y la relación de correspondencia entre algunas variables. Esta Tesis contribuye a la elaboración de una metodología analítica que puede ser aplicada en el cálculo de la superficie ocupada por las actividades económicas, con base en el método estadístico del Diagrama de Caja y Bigotes, de John Wilder Tukey. Las conclusiones corroboran las hipótesis planteadas y pretenden contribuir al diseño de las nuevas políticas públicas de preservación de sitios históricos de carácter urbano, enfatizando, con ello, la necesidad de evaluaciones más profundas de los resultados durante su fase de implementación. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESUMO--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A presente Tese apresenta como objetivo principal demonstrar que os programas de preservação do patrimônio histórico, durante a sua fase de implementação, necessitam de uma análise multidisciplinar sobre a sua execução. Essa análise permite identificar resultados significativos, capazes de fundamentar a retificação das bases conceituais da política pública em questão. A correção poderá, portanto, ser realizada tanto durante a sua vigência como posteriormente, ao permitir a elaboração de novas estratégias a serem aplicadas nos futuros programas de intervenção. Por outro lado, indagou-se se cidades participantes de um mesmo programa nacional de preservação do patrimônio histórico, regidas por normas e metas comuns, poderiam alcançar resultados não similares. Para atender tais objetivos, a investigação enfoca a realidade brasileira, tendo sido selecionado o Programa Monumenta como objeto de estudo. Esse Programa fez parte de uma política pública cultural do Ministério da Cultura, que atuou em parceria com o Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento. Implantado em nível nacional, a partir de 1999, visava promover um processo de recuperação urbana sustentável, bem como a preservação do patrimônio de 26 Sítios Urbanos Históricos ou Conjuntos de Monumentos Urbanos, protegidos pelo Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan). O Programa contou com o apoio da Unesco e do Iphan, além da participação das Administrações Municipais e/ou Estaduais, setores privados e sociedade civil. As hipóteses estabelecidas nesta Tese Doutoral foram: (a) a análise dos resultados na fase de implementação de um programa de preservação do patrimônio é imprescindível, pois permite extrair conclusões preliminares e orientar as suas reformulações; (b) os objetivos em curto prazo, estabelecidos pelo Programa Monumenta, foram alcançados de modo diferente pelas cidades beneficiadas; (c) apesar das diferenças, o Programa Monumenta apresentou resultados preliminares positivos e significativos sobre a preservação do patrimônio histórico urbano brasileiro. Os procedimentos metodológicos se centraram em análises quantitativa, qualitativa e comparativa dos resultados alcançados em três cidades beneficiadas pelo Programa Monumenta, selecionadas de acordo com o tamanho populacional: Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Estado do Rio Grande do Sul) e São Francisco do Sul (Estado de Santa Catarina). Esses procedimentos foram aplicados nos seguintes indicadores: utilização dos equipamentos culturais, características da população e dos domicílios, atividades econômicas, financiamento destinado ao setor privado para a recuperação dos imóveis e, ainda, o fomento da segurança urbana. A Tese inclui discussões e conceitos abordados nas disciplinas de Sociologia Urbana, Geografia Urbana, História, Economia e Estatística, de modo a atribuir ao objeto de investigação uma visão interdisciplinar e uma compreensão entre a teoria e a prática preservacionista. A análise de variância, regressão linear e análise fatorial foram as técnicas estatísticas aplicadas sobre os dados, com o objetivo de constatar a significação dos resultados e a relação de correspondência entre algumas variáveis. Esta Tese contribui com a elaboração de uma metodologia aplicada no cálculo da superfície ocupada pelas atividades econômicas, utilizando como método estatístico o Diagrama de Caixa e Bigodes, de John Wilder Tukey. As conclusões corroboram com as hipóteses estabelecidas e pretendem contribuir para o desenho de novas políticas públicas de preservação de sítios históricos de caráter urbano, enfatizando a necessidade de avaliações mais profundas dos resultados durante a sua fase de implementação. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The main goal of this PhD. Thesis is to demonstrate that a multidisciplinary analysis is needed during the implementation phase of preservation of heritage programmes. Such analysis allows the identification of significant results, which in turn can serve as the foundation for the conceptual bases of the public policy at hand. Thus, any corrections can be made both during the programme and afterward, by introducing new strategies to be applied in future intervention programmes. On the other hand, this project also asks whether cities participating in the same national preservation of heritage programme with common rules and goals can achieve distinct results. In order to meet these objectives, the project chose Brazil as its focus and Monumenta Programme for its object of study. This Programme is part of the Ministry of Culture’s public cultural policy, and was developed with cooperation by the Inter-American Development Bank. Implemented at the national level in 1999, the Programme aimed at promoting a process of sustainable urban renewal and the preservation of 26 urban historic sites or urban monumental ensembles, protected by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN). UNESCO and IPHAN supported the Programme, and participants included municipal and state offices, private businesses, and local residents. The hypotheses established in this Doctoral Thesis were: (a) the analysis of the results in the implementation phase of a cultural public policy is imperative, because it enables preliminary conclusions to be drawn and orientate reforms; (b) the short-term objectives set out in the Monumenta Programme were achieved differently in the benefitted cities; (c) despite the differences, the Monumenta Programme displayed significant positive preliminary results in the conservation of the urban historic heritage in Brazil. Methodology procedures centered around quantitative, qualitative, and comparative analyses of the results achieved in three benefiting cities, selected according to population size: Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul State) and São Francisco do Sul (Santa Catarina State). These procedures were applied to the following indicators: the use of the cultural facilities, characteristics of the population and the residential housing, variation of the economic activities, financing destined for the recovery of real estate, and promoting urban safety. The Thesis includes discussions and concepts addressed in urban sociology, urban geography, history, economics, and statistics, in order to examine the object of study with an interdisciplinary eye and an understanding between preservation theory and practice. Variance analysis, linear regression, and factorial analysis were the statistical techniques applied to the data, with the goal of defining the significance of the results and the correspondence ratio between some of the variables. This Thesis attempted to elaborate an applied methodology for calculating the space occupied by economic activities, using John Wilder Tukey's statistical method of Box-and-Whisker Plot. The conclusions corroborated the hypotheses established and are meant to contribute to the design of new public policies of historical site preservation in urban settings, emphasizing the need for deeper evaluations of the results during the implementation phase.

Imposed Deformations Measured on a Real Integral Structure: New Airport Terminal Barajas, Madrid, Spain

Experimental research on imposed deformation is generally conducted on small scale laboratory experiments. The attractiveness of field research lies in the possibility to compare results obtained from full scale structures to theoretical prediction. Unfortunately, measurements obtained from real structures are rarely described in literature. The structural response of integral edifices depends significantly on stiffness changes and constraints. The New Airport Terminal Barajas in Madrid, Spain provides with large integral modules, partially post?tensioned concrete frames, cast monolithically over three floor levels and an overall length of approx. 80 m. The field campaign described in this article explains the instrumentation of one of these frames focusing on the influence of imposed deformations such as creep, shrinkage and temperature. The applied monitoring equipment included embedded strain gages, thermocouples, DEMEC measurements and simple displacement measurements. Data was collected throughout construction and during two years of service. A complete data range of five years is presented and analysed. The results are compared with a simple approach to predict the long?term shortening of this concrete structure. Both analytical and experimental results are discussed.

Cycling habits and other psychological variables affecting commuting by bicycle in Madrid, Spain

To develop effective cycling policies, decision makers and administrators should know the factors influencing the use of the bicycle for daily mobility. Traditional discrete choice models tend to be based on variables such as time and cost, which do not sufficiently explain the choice of the bicycle as a mode of transportation. Because psychological factors have been identified as particularly influential in the decision to commute by bicycle, this paper examines the perceptions of cycling factors and their influence on commuting by bicycle. Perceptions are measured by attitudes, other psychological variables, and habits. Statistical differences in the variables are established in relation to the choice of commuting mode and bicycle experience (commuter, sport-leisure, no use). Doing so enables the authors to identify the main barriers to commuting by bicycle and to make recommendations for cycling policies. Two underlying structures (factors) of the attitudinal variables are identified: direct benefits and long-term benefits. Three other factors are related to variables of difficulty: physical conditions, external facilities, and individual capacities. The effect of attitudes and other psychological variables on people's decision to cycle to work-place of study is tested by using a logit model. In the case study of Madrid, Spain, the decision to cycle to work-place of study is heavily influenced by cycling habits (for noncommuting trips). Because bicycle commuting is not common, attitudes and other psychological variables play a less important role in the use of bikes.

Analysis of house prices to assess economic impacts of new public transport infrastructure: Madrid metro line 12.

Transportation infrastructure is known to affect the value of real estate property by virtue of changes in accessibility. The impact of transportation facilities is highly localized as well, and it is possible that spillover effects result from the capitalization of accessibility. The objective of this study was to review the theoretical background related to spatial hedonic models and the opportunities that they provided to evaluate the effect of new transportation infrastructure. An empirical case study is presented: the Madrid Metro Line 12, known as Metrosur, in the region of Madrid, Spain. The effect of proximity to metro stations on housing prices was evaluated. The analysis took into account a host of variables, including structure, location, and neighborhood and made use of three modeling approaches: linear regression estimation with ordinary least squares, spatial error, and spatial lag. The results indicated that better accessibility to Metrosur stations had a positive impact on real estate values and that the effect was marked in cases in which a house was for sale. The results also showed the presence of submarkets, which were well defined by geographic boundaries, and transport fares, which implied that the economic benefits differed across municipalities.

Assessment of oral bioaccessibility of arsenic in playground soil in Madrid (Spain): A three-method comparison and implications for risk assessment

Three methodologies to assess As bioaccessibility were evaluated using playgroundsoil collected from 16 playgrounds in Madrid, Spain: two (Simplified Bioaccessibility Extraction Test: SBET, and hydrochloric acid-extraction: HCl) assess gastric-only bioaccessibility and the third (Physiologically Based Extraction Test: PBET) evaluates mouth–gastric–intestinal bioaccessibility. Aqua regia-extractable (pseudo total) As contents, which are routinely employed in riskassessments, were used as the reference to establish the following percentages of bioaccessibility: SBET – 63.1; HCl – 51.8; PBET – 41.6, the highest values associated with the gastric-only extractions. For Madridplaygroundsoils – characterised by a very uniform, weakly alkaline pH, and low Fe oxide and organic matter contents – the statistical analysis of the results indicates that, in contrast with other studies, the highest percentage of As in the samples was bound to carbonates and/or present as calcium arsenate. As opposed to the As bound to Fe oxides, this As is readily released in the gastric environment as the carbonate matrix is decomposed and calcium arsenate is dissolved, but some of it is subsequently sequestered in unavailable forms as the pH is raised to 5.5 to mimic intestinal conditions. The HCl extraction can be used as a simple and reliable (i.e. low residual standard error) proxy for the more expensive, time consuming, and error-prone PBET methodology. The HCl method would essentially halve the estimate of carcinogenic risk for children playing in Madridplaygroundsoils, providing a more representative value of associated risk than the pseudo-total concentrations used at present

Behavior competence development through e-learning: experience at the undergraduate level in the context of Aula a Distancia Abierta (ADA) Madrid, Spain

This communication presents the results of an innovative approach for competencedevelopment suggesting a new methodology for the integration of these elements in professional development within the ADA initiative (AulaaDistanciaAbierta, Distance and Open Classroom) of the Community of Madrid. The main objective of this initiative is to promote the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for educational activities by creating a new learning environment structured on the premises of commitment to self–learning, individual work, communication and virtual interaction, and self and continuous assessment. Results from this experience showed that conceptualization is a positive contribution to learning, as students added names and characteristics to competences and abilities that were previously unknown or underestimated. Also, the diversity of participants’ disciplines indicated multidimensional interest in this idea and supported the theory that this approach to competencedevelopment could be successful in all knowledge areas.

Effect of row orientation on soil water content and vine water status on a Cabernet franc vineyard in Madrid, spain

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of row orien¬tation on vine and soil water status in an irrigated vineyard. The trial was developed during 2006, 2007 and 2008, in the South East region of Madrid (Spain) on 5-year old Cabernet franc grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grafted onto 140Ru. Plant spacing was 2.5 m x 1.5 m and vines were trained to a VSP. Four orientations were stu¬died: North-South (N-S), East-West (E-W), Northeast-Southwest (N+45) and North-South +20o (N+20). Irrigation (0.4•ET0) started when shoot growth stopped. Soil water availability was measured using a TDR technique with forty buried probes. Row orientation did not have any effect on water consumption in the vineyard. At maturity, leaf water potential was measured at predawn, early mor¬ning, midday and 14:00 solar time, on both canopy sides - sun and shade – ; the early morning measurement was the one that better differentiated treatments. Leaf water potential was a good indica¬tor of plant water status. Differences between (N-S and E-W) and (N+20 and N+45) treatments were obtained both on sun and shade canopy sides, N+20 and N+45 having lower leaf water potentials then drier leaves. The water stress integral shows that N-S and E-W reach the end of maturation with a greater level of hydration than N+45 and N+20. As a whole, N+45 and N+20 orientations, without affecting too much the soil available water content, induce regularly more water stress to the vine at some periods, probably due to an higher sunlight interception in early morning which makes water limitation for the vine more early and thus more severe during the day.

Geochemical fingerprints and controls in the sediments of an urban river: River Manzanares, Madrid (Spain)

The geochemical fingerprint of sediment retrieved from the banks of the River Manzanares as it passes through the City of Madrid is presented here. The river collects the effluent water from several Waste Water Treatment (WWT) plants in and around the city, such that, at low flows, up to 60% of the flow has been treated. A total of 18 bank-sediment cores were collected along the course of the river, down to its confluence with the Jarama river, to the south–east of Madrid. Trace and major elements in each sample were extracted following a double protocol: (a) “Total” digestion with HNO3, HClO4 and HF; (b) “Weak” digestion with sodium acetate buffered to pH=5 with acetic acid, under constant stirring. The digests thus obtained were subsequently analysed by ICP-AES, except for Hg which was extracted with aqua regia and sodium chloride-hydroxylamine sulfate, and analysed by Cold Vapour-AAS. X-ray diffraction was additionally employed to determine the mineralogical composition of the samples. Uni- and multivariate analyses of the chemical data reveal the influence of Madrid on the geochemistry of Manzanares' sediments, clearly manifested by a marked increase in the concentration of typically “urban” elements Ag, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn, downstream of the intersection of the river with the city's perimeter. The highest concentrations of these elements appear to be associated with illegal or accidental dumping of waste materials, and with the uncontrolled incorporation of untreated urban runoff to the river. The natural matrix of the sediment is characterised by fairly constant concentrations of Ce, La and Y, whereas changes in the lithology intersected by the river cause corresponding variations in Ca–Mg and Al–Na contents. In the final stretch of the river, the presence of carbonate materials seems to exert a strong geochemical control on the amount of Zn and, to a lesser extent, Cu immobilised in the sediments. This fact suggests that a variable but significant proportion of both elements may be susceptible to reincorporation in the aqueous phase under realistic environmental conditions.

High-Speed Rail Versus Air Transportation: Case Study of Madrid–Barcelona, Spain.

Travel time savings, better quality of the supplied services, greater comfort for the users, and improved accessibility are the main factors of success of High Speed Rail(HSR)links. This paper presents the results from a revealed and stated preference survey conducted to both HSR and air transport users in the Madrid Barcelona corridor. The data gathered from the stated preference survey was used to calibrate a modal choice model aiming at explaining competition between HSR and air transportation in the corridor. From the model, the authors obtain that prices and service frequency are the most important variables to compete with the other mode. In addition, they found that check-in and security controls at the airport are a crucial variable for the users in their modal choice. Other policies, such as the improvement of parking facilities at the train stations, play a secondary role.

Diffuse illuminance availability on horizontal and vertical surfaces at Madrid, Spain

The overall objective of this work is to provide diffuse illuminance availability at Madrid (Spain) through a statistical analysis of illuminance values corresponding to a long-term data series. The illuminance values are obtained from irradiance measurements by means of different empirical models for luminous efficacy. The values of diffuse illuminance on a horizontal and on vertical surfaces facing the four cardinal points are estimated and the different aspects related to daylight availability in an area with specific climatic conditions are analyzed. The experimental data consist of global and diffuse irradiance measurements on a horizontal surface provided by the National Meteorological Agency in Spain (AEMET) for Madrid. These data consist of hourly values measured in the period of 1980–2005. The statistical results derived correspond to a daylight typical year for the five surfaces considered. This information will be useful to building experts to estimate natural illumination availability when daylighting techniques are applied in building design with the main aim of electric energy savings.

Comparasion of road traffic emission models in Madrid (Spain)

Many cities in Europe have difficulties to meet the air quality standards set by the European legislation, most particularly the annual mean Limit Value for NO2. Road transport is often the main source of air pollution in urban areas and therefore, there is an increasing need to estimate current and future traffic emissions as accurately as possible. As a consequence, a number of specific emission models and emission factors databases have been developed recently. They present important methodological differences and may result in largely diverging emission figures and thus may lead to alternative policy recommendations. This study compares two approaches to estimate road traffic emissions in Madrid (Spain): the COmputer Programme to calculate Emissions from Road Transport (COPERT4 v.8.1) and the Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport (HBEFA v.3.1), representative of the ‘average-speed’ and ‘traffic situation’ model types respectively. The input information (e.g. fleet composition, vehicle kilometres travelled, traffic intensity, road type, etc.) was provided by the traffic model developed by the Madrid City Council along with observations from field campaigns. Hourly emissions were computed for nearly 15 000 road segments distributed in 9 management areas covering the Madrid city and surroundings. Total annual NOX emissions predicted by HBEFA were a 21% higher than those of COPERT. The discrepancies for NO2 were lower (13%) since resulting average NO2/NOX ratios are lower for HBEFA. The larger differences are related to diesel vehicle emissions under “stop & go” traffic conditions, very common in distributor/secondary roads of the Madrid metropolitan area. In order to understand the representativeness of these results, the resulting emissions were integrated in an urban scale inventory used to drive mesoscale air quality simulations with the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modelling system (1 km2 resolution). Modelled NO2 concentrations were compared with observations through a series of statistics. Although there are no remarkable differences between both model runs, the results suggest that HBEFA may overestimate traffic emissions. However, the results are strongly influenced by methodological issues and limitations of the traffic model. This study was useful to provide a first alternative estimate to the official emission inventory in Madrid and to identify the main features of the traffic model that should be improved to support the application of an emission system based on “real world” emission factors.