Understanding landscape and the values of traditional architecture and construction

Ponencia presentada en el congreso internacional organizado por el Comité Internacional de Arquitectura Vernácula de ICOMOS - UNESCO.

Montecarlo method applied to comparison of tenders in construction projects.

La comparación de las diferentes ofertas presentadas en la licitación de un proyecto,con el sistema de contratación tradicional de medición abierta y precio unitario cerrado, requiere herramientas de análisis que sean capaces de discriminar propuestas que teniendo un importe global parecido pueden presentar un impacto económico muy diferente durante la ejecución. Una de las situaciones que no se detecta fácilmente con los métodos tradicionales es el comportamiento del coste real frente a las variaciones de las cantidades realmente ejecutadas en obra respecto de las estimadas en el proyecto. Este texto propone abordar esta situación mediante un sistema de análisis cuantitativo del riesgo como el método de Montecarlo. Este procedimiento, como es sabido, consiste en permitir que los datos de entrada que definen el problema varíen unas funciones de probabilidad definidas, generar un gran número de casos de prueba y tratar los resultados estadísticamente para obtener los valores finales más probables,con los parámetros necesarios para medir la fiabilidad de la estimación. Se presenta un modelo para la comparación de ofertas, desarrollado de manera que puede aplicarse en casos reales aplicando a los datos conocidos unas condiciones de variación que sean fáciles de establecer por los profesionales que realizan estas tareas. ABSTRACT: The comparison of the different bids in the tender for a project, with the traditional contract system based on unit rates open to and re-measurement, requires analysis tools that are able to discriminate proposals having a similar overall economic impact, but that might show a very different behaviour during the execution of the works. One situation not easily detected by traditional methods is the reaction of the actual cost to the changes in the exact quantity of works finally executed respect of the work estimated in the project. This paper intends to address this situation through the Monte Carlo method, a system of quantitative risk analysis. This procedure, as is known, is allows the input data defining the problem to vary some within well defined probability functions, generating a large number of test cases, the results being statistically treated to obtain the most probable final values, with the rest of the parameters needed to measure the reliability of the estimate. We present a model for the comparison of bids, designed in a way that it can be applied in real cases, based on data and assumptions that are easy to understand and set up by professionals who wish to perform these tasks.

Effect of fire on the microstructure and mechanical response of structural steels for building construction

The research is an exhaustive study of the microstructure and of the stress-strain curves of structural steel S460N at temperatures typical of a fire. It includes a fractographic study of the fracture suifaces of cylindrical specimens, tensile tested at different fire scenarios, explaining the relationship between the failure micromechanisms and temperature. The paper ends with the comparison between the experimentally found strain-stress curves with that one's proposed by the EUROCODE EC3, resulting that in the case of steel S460N these are on the side ofsafety.

Wind-induced loads over double cantilever bridges under construction

Within the last century the interest in wind-induced loads over civil engineering structures has become more and more important, the reason being that the development of new construction techniques and materials has allowed engineers and architects to design new structures far from the traditional concepts, and in many cases wind actions over these singular structures are not included in the existing codes of practice. In this paper the windinduced static loads over bridges constructed by the double cantilever method during erection stages are considered. The aerodynamic load over a double cantilever bridge under a yawing-angled wind produces a yawing (torsional) moment on the bridge deck, which can lead to undesirable rotation of the deck about the supporting pier. The effects of the wind yaw angle and the length of the deck are analysed. The wind action caused by the presence of sliding concrete forms at the ends of the deck is also studied.

Construction of a Pendentive Grid Crossing Vault

Nuts & bolts of construction history : culture, technology and society :[proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on Construction History, Paris, 3-7 July 2012. ISBN: 978-2-7084-0929-3 . Vol 1 págs 81 a 88

Plaster reinforcement with fibers obtained from the recycle of construction and demolition waste

The main objective of this research is to study the feasibility of recycling fibres from construction and demolition waste (C&DW) as an alternative material to chopped glass fibres which are used today as reinforcing elements in the prefabricated plaster. To do this, sets of samples are made with rockwool and different percentages of combinations between water / plaster. These series are repeated by changing the additive E glass fibre length of 25mm to make a comparative analysis with respect to the series infused with rockwool.

Plaster reinforcement with fibers by mineral wool obtained from the recycle of construction and demolition waste

The use of mineral wool is becoming more widespread due to increased acoustic and thermal demands of Spanish Technical Building Code. This increase affects both in rehabilitation and new construction projects. Therefore, waste generation of this type of insulating material is having more importance. The main objective of this research is to study the possibility of recycling fiber obtained from mineral wool of the C&DW as an alternative material to chopped glass fibers that are currently used as reinforcing elements in the prefabricated plaster. To achieve this objective, series are made of plaster E-35 additived with rock wool residue and glass wool residue at different rates of addition. These series are repeated by changing the additive by E fiberglass (length of 25mm) to make a comparative analysis with respect to the series additived with mineral wool waste. All the series are subjected to the test to determine Shore C surface hardness and mechanical testing to determine the compressive and flexural strength. From the results it can be concluded that: with rock wool residue, increases Shore C hardness up to 15% with respect to the glass fiber and 9% with respect to the glass wool, with a percentage of addition 2%. With rock wool residue, weight is decreased by 5% with respect to the glass fiber and 4% with respect to the glass wool waste, with an addition percentage of 4%. For an addition rate of 4%, results in the flexural strength test with fiberglass are 85% higher than those obtained with glass wool residue. However, for a percentage of 1% addition, the results obtained with glass wool residue are 35% higher than those obtained with fiberglass. For an addition rate of 3% results in the compressive strength test with fiberglass are 54% lower than those obtained with rock wool waste and 70% lower than those obtained with glass wool waste. Comparing the two mineral wools, it can be concluded that up to 3% of the addition, the glass wool series results obtained are 10% higher than those additived with rock wool. However, higher percentages of addition show that the results obtained with rock wool are 35% higher than those obtained with glass wool. The general conclusion is that the series additived with mineral wool from C&DW show better results in tests than the ones used nowadays as plaster reinforcement.

Assessing construction and demolition waste on masonry works to avoid future generation

The difficulty of dealing with construction and demolition waste (CDW) on construction sites is not new and continues to be a significant environmental problem. Currently the CDW collection system in Spain is done in a decentralized manner by each sub-contracted company, being necessary to implement effective waste management measures ensuring a correct management and minimization. During the last years several measures have been launched in order to improve and encourage the reuse and recycling of CDW. A widespread solution for CDW recovery is using them as a landscaping aggregate or for road bases and sub-bases. However, measures encouraging onsite prevention still need to be enhanced. This paper studies the major work stage generating CDW and analyses the categories of CDW produced during its execution. For this, several real building sites have been analysed in order to quantify the estimation of CDW generated. Results of this study show that a significant contributor to the CDW generation on building construction sites in Spain are the masonry works. Finally, a Best Practices Manual (BPM) is proposed containing several strategies on masonry works aimed not only at CDW prevention, but also at improving their management and minimization. The use of this BPM together with the Study and Plan of CDW management --required by law--, promotes the environmental management of the company, favouring the cohesion of the construction process organization at all stages giving rise to establishing responsibilities in the field of waste and providing a greater control over the process. Keywords: construction and demolition waste, management, masonry works, good practice measures, prevention.

Technical evolution of 3d modular construction from the nineteenth century to world war II

3D Modular construction is poorly known and scarcely published in technical literature. In spite of that there are an increasing number of manufacturers offering their products in different countries. This method has largely evolved from early examples such as the American Gold Rush prefabrication in the nineteenth century, the Sears precut homes or Voisin´s prototypes for modular homes, to the end of the first half of the twentieth century. In this period a non negligible number of attempts in 3D modular construction have been carried out, ranging from theoretical proposals to several hundred or thousand units produced. Selected examples of modular architecture will be analyses in order to illustrate its technical evolution, concerning materials, structure, transportation and on site assembly. Success and failure factors of the different systems will be discussed. Conclusions about building criteria shown in them and their applicability in current architecture will be drawn.

Tower of Martín González or castle of La Raya (Soria): territory, history, defense and construction / La torre de Martín González o castillo de La Raya (Soria): territorio, historia, defensa y construcción

Abstract The Tower of Martín González, also known as castle of La Raya, is placed in the actual border between the Spanish provinces of Soria and Zaragoza and in the historical limit between the Crowns of Castile and Aragon: this is the reason for its name. The castle dominates the hedge of the plain-moors that surround the Valley of Nágima River. It is a castle with courtyard and a high tower in the western flank. The paper analyzes the castle in four main levels. All references about the castle are studied to draw a historical narration and to relate with the territory and other fortifications, both Castilian and Aragonese. Despite its advanced state of ruin, it preserves many rests that allow making an analysis of its defensive elements and constructive aspects. Resumen La torre de Martín González, también conocida como el castillo de La Raya, se sitúa en el límite actual entre las provincias de Soria y Zaragoza y en el límite histórico entre las coronas de Castilla y Aragón. Domina el extremo de los páramos que circundan el río Nágima. Es un castillo de tipo torrejón con patio de armas y una torre del homenaje adosada a su flanco occidental. El análisis contempla cuatro niveles fundamentales para el entendimiento de la arquitectura fortificada. La comunicación revisa la documentación existente sobre los elementos históricos que se ponen en relación, mediante el análisis territorial, con el sistema fortificado de frontera. A pesar de su avanzado estado de ruina, conserva restos que permiten realizar una lectura interpretativa de sus elementos defensivos y de sus aspectos constructivos.

The construction of sexpartite vaults in Europe

Sexpartite vaults constitute one of the most interesting chapters in European Gothic architecture. Originally, the use of the square cross-ribbed vault was limited to relatively small spaces, but when the need arose to cover spaces of considerable size, a new vault with very peculiar characteristics appeared. This new vault was a cross-ribbed vault that was reinforced in the centre by a rib that was parallel to the transverse ribs which effectively divided the vault in half. This configuration breaks the side arch into two fragments, creating a pair of windows on each side. The volumetrics of these vaults is extremely complex and the difficulties involved in their construction perhaps explain why they were abandoned in favour of the simple cross ribbed vault, now with rectangular sections. The existence of the sexpartite vault barely lasted more than fifty years, from the end of the XII century and the beginning of the XIII. Towards the end of the 19th century Viollet-le-Duc gave a succinct explanation of this type of vault. A. Choisy also, later, devotes some pages to the French sexpartite vault; since then, the subject has only been broached in a few references in later studies on Gothic architecture. However, despite its short period of existence, the sexpartite vault spread throughout Europe and was used to build important vaulting. Viollet-le-Duc's sexpartite vault could be considered to be the prototype of them all, while it is true that the studies that we have conducted so far lead us to affirm that there is a wide variety of vaults, with different volumetric spaces and different construction strategies. Therefore, we believe that this chapter of international Gothic deserves further study applying the knowledge and resources that are available today. This paper has been written to explore the most significant European sexpartite vaults. New measurement technology has led to a revolution in research into the history of construction, allowing studies to be conducted that were hitherto impossible. Thorough data collection using total station and photogrammetry has enabled us to identify the stereotomy of the voussoirs, tas-de-charges and keystones, as well as the bonding of the surfaces of the severies. A comparison of the construction techniques employed in the different vaults studied reveals common construction features and aspects that are specific to each country. Thus we are able to establish the relationship between sexpartite vaults in different European countries and their influence on each other.

Factors impacting the market share of Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste recycling solutions

Current EU Directives force the Member States to assure by 2020 that 70% of the Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is recovered instead of landfilled. While some countries have largely achieved this target, others still have a long way to go. For better understanding the differences arising from local disparities, six factors related to technical, economic, legislative and environmental aspects have been identified as crucial influences in the market share of C&D waste recycling solutions. These factors are able to identify the causes that limit the recycling rate of a certain region. Moreover, progress towards an efficient waste management can vary through the improvement of a single factor. This study provides the background for further fine-tuning the factors and their combination into a mathematical model for assessing the market share of C&D recycling solutions.

El análisis de la construcción sin pérdidas (Lean Construction) y su relación con el Project & Construction Management : propuesta de regulación en España y su inclusión en la ley de la ordenación de la edificación

El presente trabajo se basa en la filosofía de la Construcción sin Pérdidas (“Lean Construction”), analizando la situación de esta filosofía en el sector de la edificación en el contexto internacional y español, respondiendo las siguientes preguntas: 1. ¿Cómo surge el “Lean Construction”? 2. ¿Cuáles son sus actividades, funciones y cometidos? 3. ¿Existe regulación del ¨Lean Construction” en otros países? 4. ¿Existe demanda del ¨Lean Construction” en España? 5. ¿Existe regulación del ¨Lean Construction” en España? 6. ¿Cómo debería ser la regulación ¨Lean Construction” en España? 7. ¿Cuál es la relación del “Lean Construction” con el “Project & Construction Management”? 8. ¿Cómo debería ser la regulación de “Lean Construction” en España considerando su relación con el “Project & Construction Management”? Las preguntas indicadas las hemos respondido detalladamente en el presente trabajo, a continuación se resume las respuestas a dichas preguntas: 1. El “Lean Construction” surge en agosto de 1992, cuando el investigador finlandés Lauri Koskela publicó en la Universidad de Stanford el reporte TECHNICAL REPORT N° 72 titulado “Application of the New Production Philosophy to Construction”. Un año más tarde el Dr. Koskela invitó a un grupo de especialistas en construcción al primer workshop de esta materia en Finlandia, dando origen al International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) lo que ha permitido extender la filosofía a EEUU, Europa, América, Asia, Oceanía y África. “Lean Construction” es un sistema basado en el enfoque “Lean Production” desarrollado en Japón por Toyota Motors a partir de los años cincuenta, sistema que permitió a sus fábricas producir unidades con mayor eficiencia que las industrias americanas, con menores recursos, en menor tiempo, y con un número menor de errores de fabricación. 2. El sistema “Lean Construction” busca maximizar el valor y disminuir las pérdidas de los proyectos generando una coordinación eficiente entre los involucrados, manejando un proyecto como un sistema de producción, estrechando la colaboración entre los participantes de los proyectos, capacitándoles y empoderándoles, fomentando una cultura de cambio. Su propósito es desarrollar un proceso de construcción en el que no hayan accidentes, ni daños a equipos, instalaciones, entorno y comunidad, que se realice en conformidad con los requerimientos contractuales, sin defectos, en el plazo requerido, respetando los costes presupuestados y con un claro enfoque en la eliminación o reducción de las pérdidas, es decir, las actividades que no generen beneficios. El “Last Planner System”, o “Sistema del Último Planificador”, es un sistema del “Lean Construction” que por su propia naturaleza protege a la planificación y, por ende, ayuda a maximizar el valor y minimizar las pérdidas, optimizando de manera sustancial los sistemas de seguridad y salud. El “Lean Construction” se inició como un concepto enfocado a la ejecución de las obras, posteriormente se aplicó la filosofía a todas las etapas del proyecto. Actualmente considera el desarrollo total de un proyecto, desde que nace la idea hasta la culminación de la obra y puesta en marcha, considerando el ciclo de vida completo del proyecto. Es una filosofía de gestión, metodologías de trabajo y una cultura empresarial orientada a la eficiencia de los procesos y flujos. La filosofía “Lean Construction” se está expandiendo en todo el mundo, además está creciendo en su alcance, influyendo en la gestión contractual de los proyectos. Su primera evolución consistió en la creación del sistema “Lean Project Delivery System”, que es el concepto global de desarrollo de proyectos. Posteriormente, se proponen el “Target Value Design”, que consiste en diseñar de forma colaborativa para alcanzar los costes y el valor requerido, y el “Integrated Project Delivery”, en relación con sistemas de contratos relacionales (colaborativos) integrados, distintos a los contratos convencionales. 3. Se verificó que no existe regulación específica del ¨Lean Construction” en otros países, en otras palabras, no existe el agente con el nombre específico de “Especialista en Lean Construction” o similar, en consecuencia, es un agente adicional en el proyecto de la edificación, cuyas funciones y cometidos se pueden solapar con los del “Project Manager”, “Construction Manager”, “Contract Manager”, “Safety Manager”, entre otros. Sin embargo, se comprobó la existencia de formatos privados de contratos colaborativos de Integrated Project Delivery, los cuales podrían ser tomados como unas primeras referencias para futuras regulaciones. 4. Se verificó que sí existe demanda del ¨Lean Construction” en el desarrollo del presente trabajo, aunque aún su uso es incipiente, cada día existe más interesados en el tema. 5. No existe regulación del ¨Lean Construction” en España. 6. Uno de los objetivos fundamentales de esta tesis es el de regular esta figura cuando actúe en un proyecto, definir y realizar una estructura de Agente de la Edificación, según la Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación (LOE), y de esta manera poder introducirla dentro de la Legislación Española, protegiéndola de eventuales responsabilidades civiles. En España existe jurisprudencia (sentencias de los tribunales de justicia españoles) con jurisdicción civil basada en la LOE para absolver o condenar a agentes de la edificación que son definidos en los tribunales como “gestores constructivos” o similares. Por este motivo, en un futuro los tribunales podrían dictaminar responsabilidades solidarias entre el especialista “Lean Construction” y otros agentes del proyecto, dependiendo de sus actuaciones, y según se implemente el “Lean Project Delivery System”, el “Target Value Design” y el “Integrated Project Delivery”. Por otro lado, es posible que el nivel de actuación del especialista “Lean Construcción” pueda abarcar la gestión del diseño, la gestión de la ejecución material (construcción), la gestión de contratos, o la gestión integral de todo el proyecto de edificación, esto último, en concordancia con la última Norma ISO 21500:2012 o UNE-ISO 21500:2013 Directrices para la dirección y gestión de proyectos. En consecuencia, se debería incorporar adecuadamente a uno o más agentes de la edificación en la LOE de acuerdo a sus funciones y responsabilidades según los niveles de actuación del “Especialista en Lean Construction”. Se propone la creación de los siguientes agentes: Gestor del Diseño, Gestor Constructivo y Gestor de Contratos, cuyas definiciones están desarrolladas en este trabajo. Estas figuras son definidas de manera general, puesto que cualquier “Project Manager” o “DIPE”, gestor BIM (Building Information Modeling), o similar, puede actuar como uno o varios de ellos. También se propone la creación del agente “Gestor de la Construcción sin Pérdidas”, como aquel agente que asume las actuaciones del “gestor de diseño”, “gestor constructivo” y “gestor de contratos” con un enfoque en los principios del Lean Production. 7. En la tesis se demuestra, por medio del uso de la ISO 21500, que ambos sistemas son complementarios, de manera que los proyectos pueden tener ambos enfoques y ser compatibilizados. Un proyecto que use el “Project & Construction Management” puede perfectamente apoyarse en las herramientas y técnicas del “Lean Construction” para asegurar la eliminación o reducción de las pérdidas, es decir, las actividades que no generen valor, diseñando el sistema de producción, el sistema de diseño o el sistema de contratos. 8. Se debería incorporar adecuadamente al agente de la edificación “Especialista en Lean Construction” o similar y al agente ¨Especialista en Project & Construction Management” o DIPE en la Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación (LOE) de acuerdo a sus funciones y responsabilidades, puesto que la jurisprudencia se ha basado para absolver o condenar en la referida Ley. Uno de los objetivos fundamentales de esta tesis es el de regular la figura del “Especialista en Lean Construction” cuando actúa simultáneamente con el DIPE, y realizar una estructura de Agente de la Edificación según la LOE, y de esta manera protegerlo de eventuales responsabilidades solidarias. Esta investigación comprueba que la propuesta de definición del agente de edificación DIPE, según la LOE, presentada en la tesis doctoral del Doctor Manuel Soler Severino es compatible con las nuevas definiciones propuestas. El agente DIPE puede asumir los roles de los diferentes gestores propuestos en esta tesis si es que se especializa en dichas materias, o, si lo estima pertinente, recomendar sus contrataciones. ABSTRACT This work is based on the Lean Construction philosophy; an analysis is made herein with regard to the situation of this philosophy in the building sector within the international and Spanish context, replying to the following questions: 1. How did the concept of Lean Construction emerge? 2. Which are the activities, functions and objectives of Lean Construction? 3. Are there regulations on Lean Construction in other countries? 4. Is there a demand for Lean Construction in Spain? 5. Are there regulations on Lean Construction in Spain? 6. How should regulations on Lean Construction be developed in Spain? 7. What is the relationship between Lean Construction and the Project & Construction Management? 8. How should regulations on Lean Construction be developed in Spain considering its relationship with the Project & Construction Management? We have answered these questions in detail here and the replies are summarized as follows: 1. The concept of Lean Construction emerged in august of 1992, when Finnish researcher Lauri Koskela published in Stanford University TECHNICAL REPORT N° 72 entitled “Application of the New Production Philosophy to Construction”. A year later, Professor Koskela invited a group of construction specialists to Finland to the first workshop conducted on this matter; thus, the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) was established, which has contributed to extending the philosophy to the United States, Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Lean Construction is a system based on the Lean Production approach, which was developed in Japan by Toyota Motors in the 1950s. Thanks to this system, the Toyota plants were able to produce more units, with greater efficiency than the American industry, less resources, in less time, and with fewer manufacturing errors. 2. The Lean Construction system aims at maximizing the value of projects while reducing waste, producing an effective coordination among those involved; it manages projects as a production system, enhancing collaboration between the parties that participate in the projects while building their capacities, empowering them, and promoting a culture of change. Its purpose is to develop a construction process free of accidents, without damages to the equipment, facilities, environment and community, flawless, in accordance with contractual requirements, within the terms established, respecting budgeted costs, and with a clear approach to eliminating or reducing waste, that is, activities that do not generate benefits. The Last Planner System is a Lean Construction system, which by its own nature protects planning and, therefore, helps to maximize the value and minimize waste, optimizing substantially the safety and health systems. Lean Construction started as a concept focused on the execution of works, and subsequently the philosophy was applied to all the stages of the project. At present it considers the project’s total development, since the time ideas are born until the completion and start-up of the work, taking into account the entire life cycle of the project. It is a philosophy of management, work methodologies, and entrepreneurial culture aimed at the effectiveness of processes and flows. The Lean Construction philosophy is extending all over the world and its scope is becoming broader, having greater influence on the contractual management of projects. It evolved initially through the creation of the Lean Project Delivery System, a global project development concept. Later on, the Target Value Design was developed, based on collaborative design to achieve the costs and value required, as well as the Integrated Project Delivery, in connection with integrated relational (collaborative) contract systems, as opposed to conventional contracts. 3. It was verified that no specific regulations on Lean Construction exist in other countries, in other words, there are no agents with the specific name of “Lean Construction Specialist” or other similar names; therefore, it is an additional agent in building projects, which functions and objectives can overlap those of the Project Manager, Construction Manager, Contract Manager, or Safety Manager, among others. However, the existence of private collaborative contracts of Integrated Project Delivery was confirmed, which could be considered as first references for future regulations. 4. There is a demand for Lean Construction in the development of this work; even though it is still emerging, there is a growing interest in this topic. 5. There are no regulations on Lean Construction in Spain. 6. One of the main objectives of this thesis is to regulate this role when acting in a project, and to define and develop a Building Agent structure, according to the Building Standards Law (LOE by its acronym in Spanish), in order to be able to incorporate it into the Spanish law, protecting it from civil liabilities. In Spain there is jurisprudence in civil jurisdiction based on the LOE to acquit or convict building agents, which are defined in the courts as “construction managers” or similar. For this reason, courts could establish in the future joint and several liabilities between the Lean Construction Specialist and other agents of the project, depending on their actions and based on the implementation of the Lean Project Delivery System, the Target Value Design, and the Integrated Project Delivery. On the other hand, it is possible that the level of action of the Lean Construction Specialist may comprise design management, construction management and contract management, or the integral management of the entire building project in accordance with the last ISO 21500:2012 or UNE-ISO 21500:2013, guidelines for the management of projects. Accordingly, one or more building agents should be appropriately incorporated into the LOE according to their functions and responsibilities and based on the levels of action of the Lean Construction Specialist. The creation of the following agents is proposed: Design Manager, Construction Manager, and Contract Manager, which definitions are developed in this work. These agents are defined in general, since any Project Manager or DIPE, Building Information Modeling (BIM) Manager or similar, may act as one or as many of them. The creation of the Lean Construction Manager is also proposed, as the agent that takes on the role of the Design Manager, Construction Manager and Contract Manager with a focus on the Lean Production principles. 7. In the thesis it is demonstrated that through the implementation of the ISO 21500, both systems are supplementary, so projects may have both approaches and be compatible. A project that applies the Project & Construction Management may perfectly have the support of the tools, techniques and practices of Lean Construction to ensure the elimination or reduction of losses, that is, those activities that do not generate value, thus designing the production system, the design system, or the contract system. 8. The Lean Construction Specialist or similar and the Specialist in Project & Construction Management should be incorporated appropriately into the LOE according to their functions and responsibilities, since jurisprudence has been based on such Law to acquit or convict. One of the main objectives of this thesis is the regulate the role of the Lean Construction Specialist when acting simultaneously with the DIPE, and to develop a structure of the building agent, according to the LOE, and in this way protect such agent from joint and several liabilities. This research proves that the proposal to define the DIPE building agent, according to the LOE, and presented in the doctoral dissertation of Manuel Soler Severino, Ph.D. is compatible with the new definitions proposed. The DIPE agent may assume the roles of the different managers proposed in this thesis if he specializes in those topics or, if deemed pertinent, recommends that they be engaged.

Construction History in Spain: the Discipline's Foundation

In the past two decades the History of Construction has started to become an independent discipline. On one hand, the number of articles, theses and books that could be assigned to this field has grown exponentially. Furthermore, there have been numerous and remarkably successful Congresses: 12 National (Spain 8; France 2; United Kingdom 1; Germany 1) and 4 International Congresses (Madrid 2003, Cambridge 2006, Cottbus 2009, Paris 2012), see Table 1 below. However, the situation is far from that corresponding to an already recognized discipline, such as the History of Art or the History of Science. There are no University chairs and departments, and in the reference databases “Construction History” is not listed as a common descriptor. This is not surprising; it reflects the inertia of academia to accept new disciplines. In what follows we will discuss the current state of discipline in Spain. Previous articles have tackled the matter. We will try to avoid unnecessary repetitions and concentrate on: 1) The activities of the Spanish Society of Construction History; 2) Its consequences on teaching and research, taken as a case study the experience in the School of Architecture of Madrid, and 3) We will give a provisional List of dissertations on Construction History read in Spain in the last forty years. First, we will try to define with the least possible ambiguity its field and its objectives. The intention is not to enter into the actual debate on the "definition" of Construction History, but to expose, in as detached as possible way, the ideas behind the actions made.

Les débats parlementaires autour du suffrage universel dans la construction de la représentation politique en Espagne et en Argentine: vers une analyse comparée (1860-1870)

This article aims to undertake a preliminary comparative review of the concepts of political representation developed by the Spanish and Argentinean liberalism during the construction of the parliamentary and constitutional regimes in the nineteenth century. The idea of the representative government, as a regulatory mechanism of political participation, is considered in terms of an analysis of the right to vote, of the processes to develop citizenship, and of political modernization. Legislation on the right to vote, born as the political right par excellence during the nineteenth century, gives an excellent guide to these political processes of major scope and depth that characterize the contemporary world. The comparison between the Spanish and Argentinean cases shows that exchanges, transfers of legislative models and cultural movements took place in the birth of the concept of political representation in both countries. This enables us to identify the differences of in each case.