Quality cost in bus operations based on activity-based costing

The study of service quality and its implication for transport contracts has several approaches in research and practical applications, where the main emphasis is the consideration of quality from the user's point of view, thus obtaining a customer satisfaction index as a measurement of the overall quality with no further implications for service providers. The main aim of this paper is to estimate the real economic impact of improving quality attributes for a bus operator. An application of the activity-based costing methodology is developed for a bus contract in Madrid, using quality data from surveys together with economic and performance information, and focusing on headway as a quality variable. Results show the consistency and practicality of this methodology, overcoming simplifications from traditional procedures. This method is a powerful tool in quality-based contracting as well as for effective investment in transport quality under poverty funding constraints

Project based learning activities as a means of adapting conventional curricula to the demands of the 21st century aeronautical engineer: The design and building of the EYEFLY 1.

In this paper we report the process of designing and building the EYEFLY 1, a real UAS platform which has just performed its maiden flight. For the development of this aircraft, 30 groups of students from successive years at the Escuela Universitaria de Ingeniería Técnica Aeronáutica (EUITA) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) carried out their compulsory End of Degree Project as a coordinated Project Based learning activity. Our conclusions clearly indicate that Project Based Learning activities can provide a valid complement to more conventional, theoretically-based, teaching methods. The combination of both approaches will allow us to maintain traditional but well-tested methods for providing our students with a sound knowledge of fundamental engineering disciplines and, at the same time, to introduce our students to exciting and relevant engineering situations and sceneries where social and business skills, such as communication skills, team-working or decision-taking, can be put into practice.

Seismic Activity Rates in the Iberian Peninsula

Evaluating the seismic hazard requires establishing a distribution of the seismic activity rate, irrespective of the methodology used in the evaluation. In practice, how that activity rate is established tends to be the main difference between the various evaluation methods. The traditional procedure relies on a seismogenic zonation and the Gutenberg-Richter (GR) hypothesis. Competing zonations are often compared looking only at the geometry of the zones, but the resulting activity rate is affected by both geometry and the values assigned to the GR parameters. Contour plots can be used for conducting more meaningful comparisons, providing the GR parameters are suitably normalised. More recent approaches for establishing the seismic activity rate forego the use of zones and GR statistics and special attention is paid here to such procedures. The paper presents comparisons between the local activity rates that result for the complete Iberian Peninsula using kernel estimators as well as two seismogenic zonations. It is concluded that the smooth variation of the seismic activity rate produced by zoneless methods is more realistic than the stepwise changes associated with zoned approaches; moreover, the choice of zonation often has a stronger influence on the results than its fairly subjective origin would warrant. It is also observed that the activity rate derived from the kernel approach, related with the GR parameter “a”, is qualitatively consistent with the epicentres in the catalogue. Finally, when comparing alternative zonations it is not just their geometry but the distribution of activity rate that should be compared.

Proyectar dibujando: Una aproximación fenomenológica al estado naciente del proyecto. Un estudio entre dos culturas arquitectónicas

La acción del dibujar intenta presentarse en este texto como lenguaje mudo, práctica común general y práctica común en el campo arquitectónico en concreto; y también como acción, apertura, exploración (no representación) en el estado naciente del proyecto. La tesis se presenta como un estudio basado en la experiencia directa, la observación in situ (Practice Based Design Doctórate) intentando reflexionar no desde sus productos alcanzados al dibujar, sino desde la propia acción, enfatizando la dinamicidad del cuerpo como productor de gestos dinámicos. El trabajo busca describir la acción del trazar como apertura, exploración (no representación) en el estado naciente del proyecto. Es el cruce entre la acción experienciada y el pensamiento crítico respecto al hacer con aproximaciones a la artesanía (Sennett, 2010), al placer del dibujar (Nancy, 2013) y la aventura de conformar (Badiou, 2006). La experiencia en el dibujar que este estudio recoge es la desarrollada por la autora en el contexto pedagógico del D.I.G.A. de la E.T.S.A. de Madrid en concreto en las asignaturas “Dibujo Avanzado e Interpretación Gráfica (DAII) I y II” y “Dibujo del Natural” ambas impartidas por el profesor Antonio Verd Herrero y en la participación en los trabajos del Grupo de Investigación y de Innovación Educativa denominado: “Hypermedia” dirigidos por el profesor Javier Seguí, en el periodo que va del año 2007 a la actualidad. La colección de acontecimientos que surgió de esta experiencia y se formó de aproximaciones sucesivas presenta algunos rasgos característicos de la acción del dibujar. Los acontecimientos abordan la acción del dibujar desde una experiencia muda, un tipo de lenguaje, escritura y comunicación común, intercultural pero a la vez impersonal, desde su relación con la escritura, la palabra, el movimiento, el gesto y su imagen. El dibujar se presenta como modo de exploración en la investigación proyectual basada en la arbitrariedad que requiere voluntad, compromiso, ir en contra para participar en cualquier transformación de los límites (físicos, nacionales, sociales, de género, religión, sentido). El dibujar no representativo se presenta como técnica imaginaria radical, “terapia” configural con capacidad para la experimentación con uno mismo (Sloderdijk, 2003), un modo de comunicación intercultural que, sin embargo, siempre recurre al lenguaje verbal, leída e interpretada para cobrar sentido. ABSTRACT The action of drawing is intended to be presented in this text as a mute language, a common practice in general and a common practice in the field of architecture specifically; and also as an action, opening, exploration (not representation) at the birth stage of a project. The thesis forms a study based on a direct observation in an in situ experience (Practice Based Design Doctórate), which intends to reflect not on the products produced by drawing, but on the action itself, emphasizing on the dynamics of the body as a generator of dynamic gestures. The work is the intersection of experienced action and critical thinking related with the making with an approach to a path on craftsmanship (Sennett, 2010), the pleasure in drawing (Nancy, 2013) and the adventure of compromise/ conciliation (Badiou, 2006). The experience in drawing was collected and developed for this study by the author in the context of D.I.G.A. at the E.T.S.A. of Madrid and in particular at the courses of “Advanced Drawing and Graphic Interpretation” (DAII) I y II” and “Life drawing”, together with the active participation and the work of the investigation and Innovation Educational Group “Hypermedia”, coordinated by professor Javier Seguí, during the period starting the year 2007 until the present (2013). The collection of the events derives from a process of successive attempts to approach some characteristic aspects of the action of drawing. The events approach the action of drawing as a mute experience, a kind of language, common communication, writing, gesture and image. Drawing is presented as a way of exploration for a project's investigation, based on arbitrarily and on the asking “what if”. At the same time this process requires will, compromise, opposition in order to participate in a transformation of any kind of limits (physical, national, social, genre, religion, sense). This thesis aims to present non-representative drawing as a radical imaginary technique, a configurational ‘therapy’ with the capacity to experiment with oneself (Sloderdijk, 2003). It can also be considered as a way of intercultural communication which always uses the verbal, readable and interpreted language in order to charge sense.

Non-failure analysis for logic programs

We provide a method whereby, given mode and (upper approximation) type information, we can detect procedures and goals that can be guaranteed to not fail (i.e., to produce at least one solution or not termínate). The technique is based on an intuitively very simple notion, that of a (set of) tests "covering" the type of a set of variables. We show that the problem of determining a covering is undecidable in general, and give decidability and complexity results for the Herbrand and linear arithmetic constraint systems. We give sound algorithms for determining covering that are precise and efiicient in practice. Based on this information, we show how to identify goals and procedures that can be guaranteed to not fail at runtime. Applications of such non-failure information include programming error detection, program transiormations and parallel execution optimization, avoiding speculative parallelism and estimating lower bounds on the computational costs of goals, which can be used for granularity control. Finally, we report on an implementation of our method and show that better results are obtained than with previously proposed approaches.

Diseño metodológico para la creación y desarrollo de organizaciones innovadoras, basadas en un modelo de liderazgo que genere entornos facilitadores de la creatividad, implantación de procesos de innovación y creación de productos y servicios innovadores

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo el desarrollo de una metodología que favorezca la innovación en las empresas a través de la actividad directiva, analizando a su vez, su influencia a nivel macro, en los sistemas de innovación, en las políticas de innovación y en el capital intelectual y a nivel micro, en la innovación, en el desempeño y en el clima organizacional. Se estima importante realizar un estudio sobre este tema debido a que la innovación se considera un pilar crítico para el desarrollo social a través de la competitividad de las empresas, así como, una fuente importante de ventaja competitiva. Existe abundante literatura sobre la influencia de la innovación en la gestión empresarial y el papel que el liderazgo desempeña en términos generales. Sin embargo, la literatura presenta diversos estilos de liderazgo sin mostrar una línea consistente de interrelación entre ellos, por lo que finalmente no existe una relación sólida entre el liderazgo, la gestión empresarial y la innovación. Este hecho se debe, como se muestra en la tesis, a que la literatura analiza las organizaciones y el liderazgo desde una perspectiva sociológica u organizacional, y otra desde la perspectiva psicológica sin aportar una línea de articulación entre ambas. Es decir, la literatura analiza el comportamiento organizacional pero no su causa. A lo largo de la tesis se van desarrollando diferentes líneas de trabajo que se convierten en aportaciones empíricas y académicas. Así, una de las aportaciones de la tesis es la sustitución de la figura del líder como persona, por la de un directivo con una doble función; por un lado, la función de liderazgo cuyo objetivo es generar cambio y por el otro, la función de gestionar el día a día o desempeño. Sustituir la figura del líder por una doble funcionalidad directiva facilita la comprensión del concepto liderazgo, lo que permite a su vez, establecer estrategias para su desarrollo, haciendo una realidad el que el liderazgo puede ser aprendido. Este resultado constituye la primera aportación de la tesis. Así mismo, a través de un exhaustivo análisis de la literatura, se desarrolla una propuesta de liderazgo integrado de acuerdo con el modelo Stuart-Kotze, el cual se describe también ampliamente. Encontrar un modelo único de liderazgo supone la piedra angular para el desarrollo de la metodología. Esta propuesta de liderazgo integrado da lugar a la segunda aportación de la tesis. Del mismo modo, se realiza un estudio en profundidad de la perspectiva psicológica de las organizaciones desarrollando el constructo Miedo al Error (ME) que resulta ser un rasgo de la personalidad existente en todos los seres humanos y que presenta una influencia negativa tanto en el desempeño, como en la innovación empresarial. Este resultado permite identificar cuales son las verdaderas barreras para el ejercicio del liderazgo, señalando que la disminución del ME debe ser considerada como una competencia de la Inteligencia Emocional a ser desarrollada por los directivos. Este resultado constituye la tercera aportación de la tesis. Una vez desarrollado el modelo de gestión empresarial expuesto, se procede a su validación, analizando la relación entre los constructos que definen el modelo de gestión: el desempeño, la innovación y el ME. Para identificar las influencias o relaciones de causalidad que subyacen entre los constructos, se utilizó la técnica del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM). La población objeto de estudio estuvo constituida por 350 profesionales con responsabilidad directiva, procedentes de empresas del sector servicios repartidas por toda la geografía española. Como fuente primaria de recolección de información se utilizó el cuestionario desarrollado por Stuart-Kotze M-CPI (Momentum Continuous Performance Improvement). En primer lugar se procedió a evaluar las propiedades psicométricas del modelo de medida, llevándose a cabo un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) y un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) de segundo orden. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto que el constructo desempeño (D) viene determinado por dos dimensiones, (DOP), desempeño orientado hacia la planificación y (DORT), desempeño orientado hacia la realización de la tarea. Es decir, la muestra de directivos no percibe que la planificación en el día a día y la realización de la tarea estén articuladas. Posteriormente se procede a realizar el contraste del modelo a través del método de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados muestran que la relación de influencia de la dimensión DOP no es significativa, por lo que el constructo D queda representado únicamente por la dimensión DORT. Los resultados de la investigación proporcionan conclusiones e hipótesis para futuras investigaciones. Si bien la muestra de directivos realiza un plan estratégico, éste no se tiene en cuenta en el día a día. Este hecho podría explicar el alto grado de administración por crisis tan frecuente en la empresa española. A su vez, el ME presenta una influencia negativa en la innovación, lo que concuerda con la literatura. Al respecto, considerar el ME como un rasgo de la personalidad, presente tanto en directivos como en colaboradores, facilita la comprensión de las barreras de la organización hacia la comunicación abierta a la vez, que una dirección de trabajo para la mejora de la capacidad innovadora de la organización. Por último, los resultados establecen la existencia de una relación causal entre el desempeño diario y la innovación. Con respecto a este segundo resultado y analizando los comportamientos que identifican el constructo D surgen también varias conclusiones e hipótesis para futuras investigaciones. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto que la muestra de directivos genera iniciativas de cambio con la finalidad de que el trabajo diario salga adelante según los estándares de calidad definidos. Sin embargo, estas iniciativas sólo proceden de los directivos, sin participación alguna de los colaboradores, los cuales son sólo responsables de la implementación produciéndose la consiguiente desmotivación y pérdida de oportunidades. Esta conclusión pone de manifiesto que la innovación de las empresas de la muestra sucede para garantizar la eficiencia de los procesos existentes, pero en ningún caso surge de la iniciativa de buscar una mejor eficacia empresarial. Este hecho plantea un origen doble de la innovación en los procesos. La innovación proactiva que buscaría la mejora de la eficacia de la organización y una innovación de carácter reactiva que buscaría la salvaguarda de la eficiencia. Quizás sea esta la causa del gap existente entre la innovación en España y la innovación de los países que ocupan los primeros puestos en el ranking de producción de innovación lo que constituye un importante punto de partida para una investigación futura. ABSTRACT This research aims to develop a methodology that supports innovation in companies through the managers’ activity, analysing in turn its influence at the macro level: innovation systems, innovation policies and Intellectual capital and at the micro level: innovation itself, performance and organizational climate. It is considered important to conduct a study on this subject due to the fact that innovation is considered a critical pillar for the development and future of the enterprise and an important source of competitive advantage. There is abundant literature about the influence of innovation in business management and the role that leadership plays in general terms. However, the literature presents various styles of leadership without showing a consistent relationship among them, so finally there is not a strong relationship among leadership, business management and innovation. As shown in the thesis, this is due to the fact that the literature analyses organizations and leadership from a sociological or organizational perspective and from a psychological perspective, without providing a hinge line between the two. That is, the existing literature discusses organizational behaviour but not its cause. Throughout the thesis, different lines of work that become empirical and academic contributions have been developed. Thus, one of the contributions of the thesis is replacing the figure of the leader as a person, by a manager with a dual function. Firstly, we have the leadership role which aims to generate change and, on the other hand, the function to manage the day-to-day task or performance. Replacing the figure of the leader by a dual managerial functionality facilitates the understanding of the leadership concept, allowing in turn, to establish development strategies and making true that leadership can be learned. This outcome is the first contribution of the thesis. Likewise, through a comprehensive literature review, an integrated leadership proposal is developed, according to the Kotze model, which is also described widely. Finding a specific leadership model represents the cornerstone for the development of the methodology. This integrated leadership proposal leads to the second contribution of the thesis. Similarly, an in-depth study was conducted about the psychological perspective of the organizations disclosing the construct Fear of Failure. This construct is a personality trait that exists in all human beings and has a negative influence on both performance and business innovation. This outcome allows identifying which are the real barriers to the exercise of leadership, noting that the decrease in fear of failure must be considered as an Emotional Intelligence competence to be developed by managers. This outcome represents the third contribution of the thesis. Once a business management model has been developed, we proceed to its validation by analysing the relationship among the model constructs: management, innovation and fear of failure. To identify the influence or causal relationships underlying the constructs, a structural equation model (SEM) technique was used. The study population consisted of 350 professionals with managerial responsibility, from companies in the services sector scattered throughout the Spanish geography. As a primary source for gathering information a questionnaire developed by Kotze M-CPI (Continuous Performance Improvement Momentum) was used. First we proceeded to evaluate the psychometric properties of the measurement model, carrying out an exploratory factorial analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) of second order. The results show that the performance construct D is determined by two-dimensions (DOP: performance oriented to planning) and (DORT: aiming at the realization of the task). That is, the sample of managers does not perceive that planning and the daily task are articulated. Then, we proceeded to make the contrast of the model through a structural equation model SEM. The results show that the influence of the DOP dimension is not significant, so that only the DORT dimension finally represents the construct D. The research outcomes provide conclusions and hypotheses for future research. Although the managers in the sample develop a strategic plan, it seems that managers do not take it into account in their daily tasks. This could explain the high degree of crisis management so prevalent in the Spanish companies. In turn, the fear of failure has a negative influence on innovation, consistent with the literature. In this regard, the fear of failure is considered as a personality trait, present in both managers and employees, which enables the understanding of organizational barriers to open communication and provides a direction to improve the organization’s innovative capacity as well. Finally, the results establish a causal relationship between daily performance and innovation. Regarding this second outcome and analysing the behaviours that identify the construct D, several conclusions and hypotheses for future research arise as well. The results show that the managers in the sample show initiatives of change in order to make everyday work go ahead, according to defined quality standards. However, these initiatives only come from managers without any participation of coworkers, which are only responsible for the implementation, and this produces discouragement and loss of opportunities. This finding shows that the innovation by the companies in the sample happens to guarantee the efficiency of existing processes, but do not arise from an initiative that seeks better business efficacy. This raises two sources of innovation in processes. The first source would be a proactive innovation that would seek improved organizational efficacy. The second one is a reactive innovation that would seek to safeguard efficiency. Perhaps this is the cause of the existing gap between the innovation activity in Spain and the innovation activity in those countries that occupy the top positions in the ranking of innovation outcomes. The Spanish companies seek process efficiency and the top innovators business efficacy. This is an important starting point for future research.

Incidencia, prevalencia y severidad de las lesiones deportivas en tres programas de entrenamiento para la pérdida de peso. Proyecto PRONAF

La práctica de actividad física y del deporte ha dado muestras indiscutibles sobre su relación con un buen estado de salud, tanto mental como corporal. Sin embargo, también entraña riesgos que pueden mermar la calidad de vida del practicante, siendo uno de los más comunes e importantes el riesgo de sufrir una lesión deportiva. Actualmente, se han dado respuesta a los factores de riesgo internos y externos que pueden afectar a que un deportista, tanto a nivel profesional como recreativo, pueda sufrir una lesión, pero pocos estudios se han realizado para evaluar la incidencia, la prevalencia y la severidad de las lesiones, en personas sedentarias con sobrepeso y obesidad que deciden comenzar a entrenar y/o a realizar actividad física. Incluso en aquellos casos que por razones clínicas, deben incluir el ejercicio físico como una parte integral del tratamiento terapéutico. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio fue analizar la incidencia, prevalencia y severidad de las lesiones deportivas registradas en los protocolos de entrenamiento desarrollados durante el proyecto de Nutrición y Actividad Física para el tratamiento del sobrepeso y la obesidad (PRONAF). Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y se evaluó el efecto y el grado de asociación entre la incidencia de lesión y la composición corporal, el sexo o el protocolo de entrenamiento. Por otro lado, se observó la localización anatómica más común de las lesiones en cada una de las fases. Por último, se propuso una ecuación para estimar el riesgo de lesión en sujetos en sobrepeso y obesidad, antes de comenzar un programa de ejercicio controlado. Un total de 167 adultos con sobrepeso y obesidad sanos (77 hombres, 90 mujeres) fueron evaluados durante el proyecto mediante un registro de lesiones previamente validado. Los principales resultados de este trabajo mostraron que un 47,3% de los participantes sufrió, al menos, una lesión o dolencia durante el programa de intervención, observando una incidencia de 1,22 lesiones por cada 100 horas de entrenamiento. No obstante, se observó que el 80,2% de las lesiones fueron menores (de 1 a 7 días). La rodilla fue la localización que mayor proporción de lesiones registró durante la intervención. Por otro lado, no se observaron asociaciones significativas entre la fase de sobrepeso y la fase de obesidad, ni entre ser hombre o mujer y sufrir más lesiones durante la intervención. Sin embargo, los protocolos de entrenamiento que incluyen cargas, mostraron hasta cinco veces más riesgo de sufrir una lesión que el protocolo que no las incluyó. Por último, se propuso una ecuación para predecir la influencia de las variables fase, lesión previa, protocolo de entrenamiento, sexo y edad para predecir el riesgo de lesión en una población con sobrepeso y obesidad que incluya los protocolos de entrenamiento propuestos en el proyecto PRONAF. ABSTRACT The practice of physical activity and sport has indisputable signs on his relationship with a good health, both mental and physical. However, it is true that also risks that may impair the quality of life of the practitioner, one of the most common and important risk of sports injury. However, although they have responded to factors internal and external risks that may affect an athlete, both professional and recreational may suffer an injury, few studies have been conducted to assess the incidence and prevalence of injuries in sedentary people who decide to start training and / or physical activity. Even in those cases for clinical reasons, such as overweight and obesity, should include exercise as an integral part of therapy. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the incidence, prevalence and severity of sports injuries registered training protocols developed during the project's Nutrition and Physical Activity for the treatment of overweight and obesity (PRONAF). A descriptive analysis was performed and the effect and the degree of association between the incidence of injury and body composition, sex or training protocol was evaluated. Furthermore, the most common anatomical injury location in each of the phases were observed. Finally, an equation for estimating the risk of injury in overweight and obese subjects, before starting a controlled exercise program was proposed A total of 167 healthy adults with overweight and obesity (77 men, 90 women) were evaluated during the project using a previously validated record injuries. The main results of this study showed that 47.3% of participants experienced at least one injury or illness during the intervention program, having an incidence of 1.22 injuries per 100 hours of training. However, it was observed that 80.2% of injuries were lower (1 to 7 days). Knee location was higher proportion of lesions that recorded during the procedure. On the other hand, no significant associations between the phase of overweight and obesity were observed phase or between being male or female and further injury during project. However, training protocols that included loads, showed up to five times the risk of injury to the protocol did not include them. Finally, an equation was proposed to predict the influence of the phase, previous injury, training protocol, sex and age to observe the risk of injury in a population of overweight and obesity with includes the training protocols proposed in the PRONAF project.

Knowledge pipeline in freight pipeline industry: competence- based model for open innovation

There is growing concern over the challenges for innovation in Freight Pipeline industry. Since the early works of Chesbrough a decade ago, we have learned a lot about the content, context and process of open innovation. However, much more research is needed in Freight Pipeline Industry. The reality is that few corporations have institutionalized open innovation practices in ways that have enabled substantial growth or industry leadership. Based on this, we pursue the following question: How does a firm’s integration into knowledge networks depend on its ability to manage knowledge? A competence-based model for freight pipeline organizations is analysed, this model should be understood by any organization in order to be successful in motivating professionals who carry out innovations and play a main role in collaborative knowledge creation processes. This paper aims to explain how can open innovation achieve its potential in most Freight Pipeline Industries.

Towards a concurrent semantics-based analysis of CC and CLP. principles and practice of constraint programming

Abstract is not available.

Localization and activity detection Based on the fusion of environment And inertial sensors = Localización y detección de actividad Basadas en integración de sensores y dispositivos inerciales

Los sensores inerciales (acelerómetros y giróscopos) se han ido introduciendo poco a poco en dispositivos que usamos en nuestra vida diaria gracias a su minituarización. Hoy en día todos los smartphones contienen como mínimo un acelerómetro y un magnetómetro, siendo complementados en losmás modernos por giróscopos y barómetros. Esto, unido a la proliferación de los smartphones ha hecho viable el diseño de sistemas basados en las medidas de sensores que el usuario lleva colocados en alguna parte del cuerpo (que en un futuro estarán contenidos en tejidos inteligentes) o los integrados en su móvil. El papel de estos sensores se ha convertido en fundamental para el desarrollo de aplicaciones contextuales y de inteligencia ambiental. Algunos ejemplos son el control de los ejercicios de rehabilitación o la oferta de información referente al sitio turístico que se está visitando. El trabajo de esta tesis contribuye a explorar las posibilidades que ofrecen los sensores inerciales para el apoyo a la detección de actividad y la mejora de la precisión de servicios de localización para peatones. En lo referente al reconocimiento de la actividad que desarrolla un usuario, se ha explorado el uso de los sensores integrados en los dispositivos móviles de última generación (luz y proximidad, acelerómetro, giróscopo y magnetómetro). Las actividades objetivo son conocidas como ‘atómicas’ (andar a distintas velocidades, estar de pie, correr, estar sentado), esto es, actividades que constituyen unidades de actividades más complejas como pueden ser lavar los platos o ir al trabajo. De este modo, se usan algoritmos de clasificación sencillos que puedan ser integrados en un móvil como el Naïve Bayes, Tablas y Árboles de Decisión. Además, se pretende igualmente detectar la posición en la que el usuario lleva el móvil, no sólo con el objetivo de utilizar esa información para elegir un clasificador entrenado sólo con datos recogidos en la posición correspondiente (estrategia que mejora los resultados de estimación de la actividad), sino también para la generación de un evento que puede producir la ejecución de una acción. Finalmente, el trabajo incluye un análisis de las prestaciones de la clasificación variando el tipo de parámetros y el número de sensores usados y teniendo en cuenta no sólo la precisión de la clasificación sino también la carga computacional. Por otra parte, se ha propuesto un algoritmo basado en la cuenta de pasos utilizando informaiii ción proveniente de un acelerómetro colocado en el pie del usuario. El objetivo final es detectar la actividad que el usuario está haciendo junto con la estimación aproximada de la distancia recorrida. El algoritmo de cuenta pasos se basa en la detección de máximos y mínimos usando ventanas temporales y umbrales sin requerir información específica del usuario. El ámbito de seguimiento de peatones en interiores es interesante por la falta de un estándar de localización en este tipo de entornos. Se ha diseñado un filtro extendido de Kalman centralizado y ligeramente acoplado para fusionar la información medida por un acelerómetro colocado en el pie del usuario con medidas de posición. Se han aplicado también diferentes técnicas de corrección de errores como las de velocidad cero que se basan en la detección de los instantes en los que el pie está apoyado en el suelo. Los resultados han sido obtenidos en entornos interiores usando las posiciones estimadas por un sistema de triangulación basado en la medida de la potencia recibida (RSS) y GPS en exteriores. Finalmente, se han implementado algunas aplicaciones que prueban la utilidad del trabajo desarrollado. En primer lugar se ha considerado una aplicación de monitorización de actividad que proporciona al usuario información sobre el nivel de actividad que realiza durante un período de tiempo. El objetivo final es favorecer el cambio de comportamientos sedentarios, consiguiendo hábitos saludables. Se han desarrollado dos versiones de esta aplicación. En el primer caso se ha integrado el algoritmo de cuenta pasos en una plataforma OSGi móvil adquiriendo los datos de un acelerómetro Bluetooth colocado en el pie. En el segundo caso se ha creado la misma aplicación utilizando las implementaciones de los clasificadores en un dispositivo Android. Por otro lado, se ha planteado el diseño de una aplicación para la creación automática de un diario de viaje a partir de la detección de eventos importantes. Esta aplicación toma como entrada la información procedente de la estimación de actividad y de localización además de información almacenada en bases de datos abiertas (fotos, información sobre sitios) e información sobre sensores reales y virtuales (agenda, cámara, etc.) del móvil. Abstract Inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) have been gradually embedded in the devices that people use in their daily lives thanks to their miniaturization. Nowadays all smartphones have at least one embedded magnetometer and accelerometer, containing the most upto- date ones gyroscopes and barometers. This issue, together with the fact that the penetration of smartphones is growing steadily, has made possible the design of systems that rely on the information gathered by wearable sensors (in the future contained in smart textiles) or inertial sensors embedded in a smartphone. The role of these sensors has become key to the development of context-aware and ambient intelligent applications. Some examples are the performance of rehabilitation exercises, the provision of information related to the place that the user is visiting or the interaction with objects by gesture recognition. The work of this thesis contributes to explore to which extent this kind of sensors can be useful to support activity recognition and pedestrian tracking, which have been proven to be essential for these applications. Regarding the recognition of the activity that a user performs, the use of sensors embedded in a smartphone (proximity and light sensors, gyroscopes, magnetometers and accelerometers) has been explored. The activities that are detected belong to the group of the ones known as ‘atomic’ activities (e.g. walking at different paces, running, standing), that is, activities or movements that are part of more complex activities such as doing the dishes or commuting. Simple, wellknown classifiers that can run embedded in a smartphone have been tested, such as Naïve Bayes, Decision Tables and Trees. In addition to this, another aim is to estimate the on-body position in which the user is carrying the mobile phone. The objective is not only to choose a classifier that has been trained with the corresponding data in order to enhance the classification but also to start actions. Finally, the performance of the different classifiers is analysed, taking into consideration different features and number of sensors. The computational and memory load of the classifiers is also measured. On the other hand, an algorithm based on step counting has been proposed. The acceleration information is provided by an accelerometer placed on the foot. The aim is to detect the activity that the user is performing together with the estimation of the distance covered. The step counting strategy is based on detecting minima and its corresponding maxima. Although the counting strategy is not innovative (it includes time windows and amplitude thresholds to prevent under or overestimation) no user-specific information is required. The field of pedestrian tracking is crucial due to the lack of a localization standard for this kind of environments. A loosely-coupled centralized Extended Kalman Filter has been proposed to perform the fusion of inertial and position measurements. Zero velocity updates have been applied whenever the foot is detected to be placed on the ground. The results have been obtained in indoor environments using a triangulation algorithm based on RSS measurements and GPS outdoors. Finally, some applications have been designed to test the usefulness of the work. The first one is called the ‘Activity Monitor’ whose aim is to prevent sedentary behaviours and to modify habits to achieve desired objectives of activity level. Two different versions of the application have been implemented. The first one uses the activity estimation based on the step counting algorithm, which has been integrated in an OSGi mobile framework acquiring the data from a Bluetooth accelerometer placed on the foot of the individual. The second one uses activity classifiers embedded in an Android smartphone. On the other hand, the design of a ‘Travel Logbook’ has been planned. The input of this application is the information provided by the activity and localization modules, external databases (e.g. pictures, points of interest, weather) and mobile embedded and virtual sensors (agenda, camera, etc.). The aim is to detect important events in the journey and gather the information necessary to store it as a journal page.

HF spectrum activity prediction model based on HMM for cognitive radio applications

Although most of the research on Cognitive Radio is focused on communication bands above the HF upper limit (30 MHz), Cognitive Radio principles can also be applied to HF communications to make use of the extremely scarce spectrum more efficiently. In this work we consider legacy users as primary users since these users transmit without resorting to any smart procedure, and our stations using the HFDVL (HF Data+Voice Link) architecture as secondary users. Our goal is to enhance an efficient use of the HF band by detecting the presence of uncoordinated primary users and avoiding collisions with them while transmitting in different HF channels using our broad-band HF transceiver. A model of the primary user activity dynamics in the HF band is developed in this work to make short-term predictions of the sojourn time of a primary user in the band and avoid collisions. It is based on Hidden Markov Models (HMM) which are a powerful tool for modelling stochastic random processes and are trained with real measurements of the 14 MHz band. By using the proposed HMM based model, the prediction model achieves an average 10.3% prediction error rate with one minute-long channel knowledge but it can be reduced when this knowledge is extended: with the previous 8 min knowledge, an average 5.8% prediction error rate is achieved. These results suggest that the resulting activity model for the HF band could actually be used to predict primary users activity and included in a future HF cognitive radio based station.

Activity based costing, time-driven activity based costing and lean accounting: differences among three accounting systems' approach to manufacturing

Choosing an appropriate accounting system for manufacturing has always been a challenge for managers. In this article we try to compare three accounting systems designed since 1980 to address problems of traditional accounting system. In the first place we are going to present a short overview on background and definition of three accounting systems: Activity Based costing, Time-Driven Activity Based Costing and Lean Accounting. Comparisons are made based on the three basic roles of information generated by accounting systems: financial reporting, decision making, and operational control and improvement. The analysis in this paper reveals how decisions are made over the value stream in the companies using Lean Accounting while decisions under the ABC Accounting system are taken at individual product level, and finally we will show how TD-ABC covers both product and process levels for decision making. In addition, this paper shows the importance of nonfinancial measures for operational control and improvement under the Lean Accounting and TD-ABC methods whereas ABC relies mostly on financial measures in this context.

Towards a fuzzy-based multi-classifier selection module for activity recognition applications

Performing activity recognition using the information provided by the different sensors embedded in a smartphone face limitations due to the capabilities of those devices when the computations are carried out in the terminal. In this work a fuzzy inference module is implemented in order to decide which classifier is the most appropriate to be used at a specific moment regarding the application requirements and the device context characterized by its battery level, available memory and CPU load. The set of classifiers that is considered is composed of Decision Tables and Trees that have been trained using different number of sensors and features. In addition, some classifiers perform activity recognition regardless of the on-body device position and others rely on the previous recognition of that position to use a classifier that is trained with measurements gathered with the mobile placed on that specific position. The modules implemented show that an evaluation of the classifiers allows sorting them so the fuzzy inference module can choose periodically the one that best suits the device context and application requirements.

Strategies and good practice for sustainable and liveable cities of tomorrow

This contribution deals with the question, what makes cities sustainable and integrative, and suggests an approach for "liveable cities of tomorrow" designed to sustain mobility. The liveable city of tomorrow needs to meet both ecological and social requirements in an integrative approach. To design urban patterns appropriate or “sustainable mobility” based on a concept of mobility defined as the number of accessible destinations (different to that for “fossil mobility” defined as the ability to cover distances) is a key element of such an approach. Considering the limited reserves of fossil fuels and the long lifetime of the built structure, mobility needs to rely on modes independent of fossil fuels (public transport and pedestrians) to make it sustainable and the urban pattern needs to be developed appropriately for these modes. Crucial for the success of public transport is the location of buildings within the catchment area of stops. An attractive urban environment for pedestrians is characterised by short distances in a compact settlement with appropriate/qualified urban density and mixed land use as well as by attractive public space. This, complemented by an integrative urban development on the quarter level including neighbourhood management with a broad spectrum of activity areas (social infrastructure, integration of diverse social and ethnic groups, health promotion, community living, etc.), results in increased liveability. The role of information technology in this context is to support a sustainable use of the built structures by organisational instruments. Sustainable and liveable communities offer many benefits for health, safety and well-being of their inhabitants.

Nationwide impact and vehicle to grid application of electric vehicles mobility using an activity based model

This paper describes the impact of electric mobility on the transmission grid in Flanders region (Belgium), using a micro-simulation activity based models. These models are used to provide temporal and spatial estimation of energy and power demanded by electric vehicles (EVs) in different mobility zones. The increment in the load demand due to electric mobility is added to the background load demand in these mobility areas and the effects over the transmission substations are analyzed. From this information, the total storage capacity per zone is evaluated and some strategies for EV aggregator are proposed, allowing the aggregator to fulfill bids on the electricity markets.