Contra as Secas: a engenharia e as origens de um planejamento regional no nordeste brasileiro

Droughts surfaced in 1877 as a crucial problem for the birthing Brazilian nation. Engineers, who formed the country's technical and scientific elite, took it upon themselves to study, understand and fight the problem through planned actions of intervention on space. This work, based on proposals and discussions contained in engineering magazines and reports, aims to provide elements for the comprehension of how these systematized actions against droughts, in the Iate nineteenth and early twentieth century, contributed to spatial analysis and the formation of a (then-inexistent) regional and territorial planning discipline in Brazi!. Engineers, by taking up the position of masterminds in the country's modernization, guaranteed for themselves personal economic stability, social prestige and political power. By understanding nature, either as a resource to be exploited or an adversary to national progress, they contributed to the delimitation of the region now known as the Northeast. By seeking to understand the drought phenomenon, they created knowledge about the space they sought to intervene on; by constructing their projects amid political and economical difficulty, they changed the organizational structures of cities and country in the northeast. The proposals for açudes (Iarge water reservoirs) allowed the fixation of population and the resistance against droughts; the roads - railroads and automotive roadways - connected the sertão to the capitais and the coast, speeding up help to the affected populations during droughts and allowing the circulation of goods so as to strengthen the local economies in normal rimes. The adopted practices and techniques, adapted from foreign experience and developed through trial and improvement, were consolidated as an eminently spatial intervention course, even if a theoretical body of regional or territorial planning wasn't formed in Brazil. Regional Planning proper was first applied in the country in the Northeast itself, in the 1950s, based off an economical view of reality in order to achieve development. The engineer's work prior tothat date, however, cannot be dlsconsldered. It was proved that, despite facing financial and political hurdles, engineers had a profound commitment to the problem and intended to act systematically to transform the economical and social relations in the region, in order to be victorious in their struggle against droughts

Visitabilidade-vivenciabilidade em assentamentos informais : um estudo da acessibilidade de percursos urbanos no Conjunto Santa Terezinha em Fortaleza-CE

This research approaches the issue of accessibility in informal settlements, seeking for the challenges and limits defined by informal urban settings, about the application of accessibility parameters. Take the empirical universe as the Conjunto Santa Terezinha, located in Fortaleza- Ce. Initially, the study presents a reflection about the housing issue in Brazil and the informal settlementes in view of the Right to the City. In this sense, the main references are, the works of Suzanne Pasternak (2008), Nabil Bonduki (1998) and Erminia Maricato (1996-97), among others. Follows with the discussion of the concepts and classifications of this type of settlement, making a content analysis of legislation and regulations relating to accessibility and proposed the discussion of the accessible route as the right strategy for the city. In another step, the methodology of 'walking together' created by Dischinger (2000) was applied in a passage previously chosen, which the researcher follows the disabled person during the journey through city making records like photos and video. The comments and perceptions are compared to the spatial analysis of urban morphology, made from the method of Del Rio (1990) and Panerai (2006), and the parameters of NBR 9050. Knowledge of the area is enriched by the methodology of the production of space made by Henri Lefebvre in his book 'The production of space' (1974) with these categories: space conceived, perceived and lived. Another key reference of this author it s the book 'The Right to the City' (991), which allowed in-depth reflections on the social function of town. In conclusion, the study finds that to guarantee a minimum access conditions in informal sittlements it´s necessary to know the specifics of their morphology, their relations and urban practices in view of the visitability- experiencebility, describing it as complementary concepts

Análise de agrupamentos dos dados de DFA oriundos de perfis elétricos de indução de poços de petróleo

The main objective of this study is to apply recently developed methods of physical-statistic to time series analysis, particularly in electrical induction s profiles of oil wells data, to study the petrophysical similarity of those wells in a spatial distribution. For this, we used the DFA method in order to know if we can or not use this technique to characterize spatially the fields. After obtain the DFA values for all wells, we applied clustering analysis. To do these tests we used the non-hierarchical method called K-means. Usually based on the Euclidean distance, the K-means consists in dividing the elements of a data matrix N in k groups, so that the similarities among elements belonging to different groups are the smallest possible. In order to test if a dataset generated by the K-means method or randomly generated datasets form spatial patterns, we created the parameter Ω (index of neighborhood). High values of Ω reveals more aggregated data and low values of Ω show scattered data or data without spatial correlation. Thus we concluded that data from the DFA of 54 wells are grouped and can be used to characterize spatial fields. Applying contour level technique we confirm the results obtained by the K-means, confirming that DFA is effective to perform spatial analysis

A diffuse reflectance comparative study of benzil inclusion within p-tert-butylcalix[n]arenes (n=4, 6, and 8) and silicalite

Diffuse reflectance and laser-induced techniques were used to access photochemical and photophysical processes of benzil in solid supports, namely p-tert-butylcalix[n]arenes with n = 4, 6, and 8. A comparative study was performed using these results and those obtained with another electronically inert support, silicalite, which is a hydrophobic zeolite. In the latter substrate, ground-state benzil has the two carbonyl groups in an s-trans planar conformation while in the calixarenes a distribution of conformers exists, largely dominated by skew conformations where the carbonyl groups are twisted one to the other. In all substrates, room-temperature phosphorescence was obtained in air-equilibrated samples. The decay times vary greatly and the largest lifetime was obtained for benzil/p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene, showing that this host cavity well accommodates benzil, enhancing its room-temperature phosphorescence. p-tert-Butylcalix[6] and [8]arene molecules provide larger hydrophobic cavities than silicalite, and inclusion complexes are formed with these hosts and benzil as guest; p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene does not include benzil. This probe is deposited outside the calix[41 cavity, in the form of microcrystals. Triplet-triplet absorption of benzil was detected in all cases and is predominant in the silicalite channel inclusion case. Benzil ketyl radical formation occurs with inclusion in calix[6]arene and calix[8]arene. In the three cases, benzoyl radical was detected at long times (in the millisecond time scale). Product analysis and identification clearly show that the main detected degradation photoproducts in all substrates are benzoyl radical derivatives. Calix[6] and [8]arenes are able to supply hydrogen atoms that allow also another reaction, the reduction to benzoin through benzil ketyl radical formation.

Avaliação dos principais programas de boas práticas agropecuárias implantados no Brasil para promover a sustentabilidade da cadeia leiteira

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, 2016.

Developing an Enhanced Model for Combined Heat and Air Infiltration Energy Simulation

The need for efficient, sustainable, and planned utilization of resources is ever more critical. In the U.S. alone, buildings consume 34.8 Quadrillion (1015) BTU of energy annually at a cost of $1.4 Trillion. Of this energy 58% is utilized for heating and air conditioning. Several building energy analysis tools have been developed to assess energy demands and lifecycle energy costs in buildings. Such analyses are also essential for an efficient HVAC design that overcomes the pitfalls of an under/over-designed system. DOE-2 is among the most widely known full building energy analysis models. It also constitutes the simulation engine of other prominent software such as eQUEST, EnergyPro, PowerDOE. Therefore, it is essential that DOE-2 energy simulations be characterized by high accuracy. Infiltration is an uncontrolled process through which outside air leaks into a building. Studies have estimated infiltration to account for up to 50% of a building’s energy demand. This, considered alongside the annual cost of buildings energy consumption, reveals the costs of air infiltration. It also stresses the need that prominent building energy simulation engines accurately account for its impact. In this research the relative accuracy of current air infiltration calculation methods is evaluated against an intricate Multiphysics Hygrothermal CFD building envelope analysis. The full-scale CFD analysis is based on a meticulous representation of cracking in building envelopes and on real-life conditions. The research found that even the most advanced current infiltration methods, including in DOE-2, are at up to 96.13% relative error versus CFD analysis. An Enhanced Model for Combined Heat and Air Infiltration Simulation was developed. The model resulted in 91.6% improvement in relative accuracy over current models. It reduces error versus CFD analysis to less than 4.5% while requiring less than 1% of the time required for such a complex hygrothermal analysis. The algorithm used in our model was demonstrated to be easy to integrate into DOE-2 and other engines as a standalone method for evaluating infiltration heat loads. This will vastly increase the accuracy of such simulation engines while maintaining their speed and ease of use characteristics that make them very widely used in building design.

Modelling and simulations of ductile iron solidification-induced variations in mechanical behaviour on component and microstructural level

The mechanical behaviour and performance of a ductile iron component is highly dependent on the local variations in solidification conditions during the casting process. Here we show a framework which combine a previously developed closed chain of simulations for cast components with a micro-scale Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation of the behaviour and performance of the microstructure. A casting process simulation, including modelling of solidification and mechanical material characterization, provides the basis for a macro-scale FEM analysis of the component. A critical region is identified to which the micro-scale FEM simulation of a representative microstructure, generated using X-ray tomography, is applied. The mechanical behaviour of the different microstructural phases are determined using a surrogate model based optimisation routine and experimental data. It is discussed that the approach enables a link between solidification- and microstructure-models and simulations of as well component as microstructural behaviour, and can contribute with new understanding regarding the behaviour and performance of different microstructural phases and morphologies in industrial ductile iron components in service.

Patterns in the space use of the Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus, on the Tay Reedbeds, Scotland

This thesis presents research into the space use of a specialist reedbed Passerine, the Bearded Reedling, or Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus, with a view to inform the conservation of this species and reedbeds as a whole. How a species uses space, and how space use changes between individuals or over time, can influence: the ability to forage and hunt effectively, breeding success, susceptibility to predation, genetic health, disease spread, robustness against environmental change and ultimately, colonisation or extinction. Thus, understanding the space use of animals can provide critical insight into ecological systems. Birds offer interesting models when studying animal space use, as, by being intrinsically mobile, many bird species can occupy multiple spatial scales. As a consequence of being completely dependent on patchy and ephemeral reedbed habitats, the Bearded Reedling, has a clustered, inhomogeneous distribution throughout its range. This drives the existence of distinct spatial scales upon which space use studies should be characterised. Distribution and movement within a single reedbed can be considered local-scale, while spatial processes between reedbeds can be considered wide-scale. Temporal processes may act upon both of these scales. For example, changing interactions with predators may influence nest positioning at a local-scale, while seasonal changes in resource requirements might drive processes such as migration at a wide-scale. The Bearded Reedling has a wide temperate breeding range, extending over much of Eurasia. On the IUCN’s red list, it is listed as ‘of least concern’, with an estimated European population between 240,000-480,000 breeding pairs. Despite its relatively favourable conservation status, its dependence on reedbed habitats drives a fragmented distribution, with populations being concentrated in small, isolated, stands. Over the last century reedbed wetlands have suffered rapid declines caused by drainage schemes undertaken to improve land for development or agriculture. Additionally, many remaining reed stands are subject to extensive commercial management to produce thatch or biofuel. Conversely, in other areas, management is driven by conservation motives which recognise the present threats to reedbeds, and aim to encourage the diversity of species associated with these habitats. As the Bearded Reedling is fundamentally linked to the quality and structure of a reed stand, understanding the space use of this species will offer information for the direct conservation of this specialist species, and for the effects of reedbed management as a whole. This thesis first presents studies of space use at a local-scale. All local-scale research is conducted at the Tay Reedbeds in eastern Scotland. Mist netting and bird ringing data are used within capture recapture models, which include an explicit spatial component, to gain insight into the abundance of the Bearded Reedling on the Tay. This abundance estimation approach suggests the Tay reedbeds are a stronghold for this species on the British Isles, and that, as a high latitude site, the Tay may have importance for range expansion. A combination of transect surveys and radio-tracking data are then used to establish the local-scale space use of this species during the breeding and autumnal seasons. These data are related to changes in the structure of reed caused by local management in the form of mosaic winter reed cutting. Results suggest that birds exploit young and cut patches of reed as foraging resources when they are available, and that old, unmanaged reed is critical for nesting and winter foraging. Further local-scale studies concern the spatial patterns in the nesting habits of this species. Mosaic reed cutting creates clear edges in a reedbed. Artificial nests placed in the Tay Reedbeds demonstrate increased nest predation rates closer to the edges of cut patches. Additionally, high predation rates become reduced as the cut reed re-grows, suggesting that reed cutting may increase accessibility of the stand to predators. As Bearded Reedling nests are uncommon and difficult to locate, the timing, site selection and structure of a sample of real nests from the Tay is then detailed. These demonstrate an early, and relatively rigid breeding onset in this species, the importance of dense, compacted reeds as nesting sites and a degree of flexibility in nest structure. Conservation efforts will also benefit from studies into wide-scale spatial processes. These may be important when establishing how colonisation events occur and when predicting the effects of climatic change. The Bearded Reedling has been traditionally considered a resident species which only occasionally undertakes wide-scale, between-reedbed, movements. Indeed, the ecology of this species suggests strict year round local residency to reedbeds, with distinct seasonal changes in diet allowing occupation of these habitats year round. The European ringing recoveries of this species, since the 1970s are investigated to better characterise the wider movements of specialist resident. These suggest residency in southern populations, but higher instances of movement than expected in more northerly regions. In these regions wide-scale movement patterns resemble those of partial regular migratory species. An understanding of local and wide-scale spatial processes can offer a strong foundation on which to build conservation strategies. This thesis aims to use studies of space use to provide this foundation for the Bearded Reedling and offer further insight into the ecology of reedbed habitats as a whole. The thesis concludes by proposing an effective strategy for the conservation management of reedbeds that will especially benefit the Bearded Reedling.

Prevalencia e incidencia de cáncer en habitantes de Sibaté, y georeferenciación de casos 2010-2014

Introducción: El Cáncer es prevenible en algunos casos, si se evita la exposición a sustancias cancerígenas en el medio ambiente. En Colombia, Cundinamarca es uno de los departamentos con mayores incrementos en la tasa de mortalidad y en el municipio de Sibaté, habitantes han manifestado preocupación por el incremento de la enfermedad. En el campo de la salud ambiental mundial, la georreferenciación aplicada al estudio de fenómenos en salud, ha tenido éxito con resultados válidos. El estudio propuso usar herramientas de información geográfica, para generar análisis de tiempo y espacio que hicieran visible el comportamiento del cáncer en Sibaté y sustentaran hipótesis de influencias ambientales sobre concentraciones de casos. Objetivo: Obtener incidencia y prevalencia de casos de cáncer en habitantes de Sibaté y georreferenciar los casos en un periodo de 5 años, con base en indagación de registros. Metodología: Estudio exploratorio descriptivo de corte transversal,sobre todos los diagnósticos de cáncer entre los años 2010 a 2014, encontrados en los archivos de la Secretaria de Salud municipal. Se incluyeron unicamente quienes tuvieron residencia permanente en el municipio y fueron diagnosticados con cáncer entre los años de 2010 a 2104. Sobre cada caso se obtuvo género, edad, estrato socioeconómico, nivel académico, ocupación y estado civil. Para el análisis de tiempo se usó la fecha de diagnóstico y para el análisis de espacio, la dirección de residencia, tipo de cáncer y coordenada geográfica. Se generaron coordenadas geográficas con un equipo GPS Garmin y se crearon mapas con los puntos de la ubicación de las viviendas de los pacientes. Se proceso la información, con Epi Info 7 Resultados: Se encontraron 107 casos de cáncer registrados en la Secretaria de Salud de Sibaté, 66 mujeres, 41 hombres. Sin división de género, el 30.93% de la población presento cáncer del sistema reproductor, el 18,56% digestivo y el 17,53% tegumentario. Se presentaron 2 grandes casos de agrupaciones espaciales en el territorio estudiado, una en el Barrio Pablo Neruda con 12 (21,05%) casos y en el casco Urbano de Sibaté con 38 (66,67%) casos. Conclusión: Se corroboro que el análisis geográfico con variables espacio temporales y de exposición, puede ser la herramienta para generar hipótesis sobre asociaciones de casos de cáncer con factores ambientales.

STAR Modeling of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Delay-Time in Diagnosis

Understanding what characterizes patients who suffer great delays in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is of great importance when establishing screening strategies to better control TB. Greater delays in diagnosis imply a higher chance for susceptible individuals to become infected by a bacilliferous patient. A Structured Additive Regression model is attempted in this study in order to potentially contribute to a better characterization of bacilliferous prevalence in Portugal. The main findings suggest the existence of significant regional differences in Portugal, with the fact of being female and/or alcohol dependent contributing to an increased delay-time in diagnosis, while being dependent on intravenous drugs and/or being diagnosed with HIV are factors that increase the chance of an earlier diagnosis of pulmonary TB. A decrease in 2010 to 77% on treatment success in Portugal underlines the importance of conducting more research aimed at better TB control strategies.

SISTEMA DE INFORMACIÓN GEOGRÁFICA PARA EL ANÁLISIS ESPACIAL DE LA PESQUERÍA ARTESANAL ASENTADA EN LA PENÍNSULA DE ARAYA, ESTADO SUCRE – VENEZUELA

Se desarrolló un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG) automatizado para el análisis espacial de las capturas, del esfuerzo pesquero, de la abundancia estimada de especies mediante el índice de Captura por Unidad de Esfuerzo (CPUE) y de su relación con algunos factores ambientales (profundidad, tipo de fondo y temperatura superficial del mar) de la esquería artesanal asentada en la península de Araya, Estado Sucre, República de Venezuela. Este programa automatizado, denominado SIGPAR, fue desarrollado utilizando el lenguaje Microsoft® Visual Basic 6 y la respectiva librería del software SIG Idrisi®, a cuyo menú principal fue agregado un nuevo módulo que facilita la interacción con los usuarios.Palabras claves: Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG); pesquería artesanal; Península de Araya, Venezuela.AbstractA Geographic Information System (GIS) application software was developed for the spatial analysis of fishing catches, the estimated abundance of species by the Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) index, and its relationship with various environmental factors (depth, type of bottom, and surface temperature of the sea) of the artisanal fishery based in the Peninsula of Araya, State of Sucre, in Venezuela. This application, named SIGPAR, was developed using Microsoft® Visual Basic 6 and IDRISI®. A menu button was added to the GIS software IDRISI® for convenience of users.Key Words: Geographic Information System (GIS), Artisanal Fisheries, Araya, Venezuela.

SISTEMAS DE INFORMACIÓN GEOGRÁFICA COMO HERRAMIENTA PARA EVALUAR LA APORTACIÓN ANTROPICA DE MERCURIO EN SUELOS

Este trabajo evalúa el contendido y la variabilidad espacial de mercurio en suelos agrícolas de Islas Baleares y Canarias utilizando técnicas integradas en los sistemas de información geográfica. El propósito de este estudio ha sido valorar el contenido y distribución del mercurio en el suelo y distinguir la contribución considerada como natural, y procedente del aporte de la roca de origen, de la inducida por actividades humanas, considerada como contaminante. El SIG se muestra comouna tecnología capaz de localizar fuentes de contaminación y proporcionar el alcance de éstos. Los mapas generados con la relación de Hg_suelo/Hg_roca han permitido cuantificar las entradas de este metal en el suelo y evaluar el enriquecimiento de mercurio en el mismo. Valores excesivamente elevados encontrados en un área de la Isla de Mallorca son atribuibles a las emisiones de una planta eléctrica de carbón cercana.PALABRAS CLAVE: Análisis espacial, SIG, geostadística, mercurio, contaminación de suelos.ABSTRACTThis study assesses Hg concentration and the spatial variability of mercury in agricultural soils of the Balearic and Canary Islands using integrated techniques of geographic information systems. The purpose of this study was to characterize in quantitative terms the mercury concentrations and to distinguish “natural” mercury contribution from that of human-induced contamination. GIS is shown to be technologically capable of locating sources of pollution and assessing their scope. The top soil/rock mercury content maps showed a high level of mercury in the same areas. Excessively high Hg values found in an area of the island of Mallorca are attributable to emissions from a coalfired power plant nearby.KEYWORDS: Spatial analysis, GIS, geostatistic, mercury, soil contamination

EVALUACIÓN DE HÁBITAT POTENCIAL PARA LA DANTA CENTROAMERICANA (TAPIRUS BAIRDII) EN EL CORREDOR BIOLÓGICO SAN JUAN-LA SELVA, COSTA RICA

La danta centroamericana (Tapirus bairdii) es el mamífero terrestre de mayor tamaño en el Neotrópico. Es un importante dispersor de semillas que contribuye al enriquecimiento de especies en los bosques donde habita. Varios estudios ecológicos han permitido conocer esta especie discreta; sin embargo, su distribución y el tamaño de sus poblaciones permanece sensiblemente desconocido fuera de las áreas silvestres protegidas. El propósito de esta investigación consistió en proponer una metodología de análisis geo-espacial sencilla que permitiera realizar una evaluación rápida del hábitat potencial para la danta centroamericana. Se seleccionaron siete variables de la ecología de la danta centroamericana, las cuales fueron evaluadas en el Corredor Biológico San Juan-La Selva, mediante un sistema de información geográfica (SIG). Estimamos la población de dantas con un rango de 69 a 208 individuos. Esto es una manera barata de determinar la viabilidad del hábitat de la danta cuando existe información confiable sobre los procesos dinámicos de los ecosistemas presentes en el área del estudio.Palabras clave: Tapiridae, danta centroamericana, Tapirus bairdii, evaluación de hábitat, analisis geo-espacial, Corredor Biológico San Juan-La Selva, Costa RicaAbstract: Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is the largest terrestrial mammal in the Neotropics. It is an important seed disperser that contributes to the enrichment of species in the forests where it lives. Several ecological studies on this species have generated knowledge about this discreet species; nevertheless, its distribution and the size of its populations outside protected wildlife areas sensibly remain unknown. The purpose of this investigation consisted in proposing a simple methodology of geo-space analysis that allowed realizing a fast evaluation of the potential habitat for Baird’s Tapir. Seven variables of the ecology of Baird’s Tapir were selected, which were evaluated in the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor, using a geographical information system (GIS) program. We estimated the tapir population to range from 69 to 208 individuals. This is an inexpensive way to assess Tapir’s habitat viability when there is a strong knowledge about the dynamic processes from the ecosystems present in the study area.Key Words: Tapiridae, Baird’s Tapir, Tapirus bairdii, habitat viability assessment, geo-spatial analysis, San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor, Costa Rica

HACIA UNA GEOGRAFÍA DE REDES: UN NUEVO PARADIGMA DE ANÁLISIS ESPACIAL ALTERNATIVO AL ENFOQUE REGIONAL

En este artículo se pretende rescatar el análisis de redes independientemente del enfoque aureolar, destacando sus virtudes en un mundo globalizado, en donde cada vez más el concepto de distancia es sustituido por de tiempo, hasta llegar al extremo de que el costo, de algunos productos o la información, ya no depende de la distancia como el caso de las tarifas planas de Internet. Se aborda un enfoque teórico metodológico que cuestiona  el  análisis  regional,  debido  a  que,  éste  enfoque  en  algunos  aspectos  ya  no puede  resolver  los  problemas  que  la  sociedad  actual  demanda.   En  el  espacio  red,la noción de  localización absoluta pierde vigencia, mientras se refuerza  la  importancia de la  conexión  a  las  redes. Las metodologías  propuestas,  podrían mejorar  la  ejecución  y operación  de  las  redes    presentes  en  los planes  de  ordenamiento  del  territorio,  tan  en boga, en nuestro país. Abstract:In  this article  it  is  tried  to rescue  the analysis of networks  independently of the approach  to  aureole, emphasizing  its  virtues  in a globalized world,  in where more and more the distance concept is replaced by the time, until arriving at the end of which the cost, no  longer depends on  the distance as  the case of  the  flat  tariffs of Internet. A theoretical/ methodological approach  that questions  the regional analysis, because,  this one approach  in some aspects no longer can solve the problems that the present society demand.  In  the  space  network,  the  notion  of  absolute  location  loses  use  while  the importance  of  the  connection  to  the  networks  is  reinforced.  The  proposed methodologies  could  improve  the  boarding  of  the  present  networks  in  the  regulating plans, so in rows, our country.

Essays in Economic Geography and Long-Term Development

This dissertation has two main themes: first, the economic impact of tourism on cities and, secondly, the determinants of European long-run development, with a focus on the pre-Industrial era. The common thread is the attempt to develop economic geography models that incorporate spatial frictions and are liable to be given empirical content. Chapter 1, written in conjunction with G. Alfredo Minerva, provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between tourism and economic activity across Italian municipalities, and lays down the basic elements of an urban theory of tourism in an a-spatial setting. Chapter 2 extends these ideas to a quantitative urban framework to study the economic impact and the welfare consequences of tourism into the city of Venice. The model is given empirical content thanks to a large collection of data at the Census tract level for the Municipality of Venice, and then used to perform counterfactual policty analysis. In chapter 3, with Matteo Santacesaria, we consider a setting where agents are continuously distributed over a two-dimensional heterogeneous geography, and are allowed to do business at a finite set of markets. We study the equilibrium partition of the economic space into a collection of mutually-exclusive market areas, and provide condition for this equilibrium partition to exist and to be unique. Finally, chapter 4 "The rise of (urban) Europe: a Quantitative-Spatial analysis", co-authored with Matteo Cervellati and Alex Lehner, sets up a quantitative economic geography model to understand the roots of the Industrial Revolution, in an attempt to match the evolution of the European urban network, and the corresponding city-size distribution, over the period A.D. 1000-1850. It highlights the importance of agricultural trade across cities for the emergence of large manufacturing hubs.