La traves��a obsoleta: la indefensi��n del consumidor

La obsolescencia programada es el deseo de tener algo un poco m��s nuevo, un poco mejor, un poco m��s r��pido de lo necesario. El texto estudia este fen��meno a la luz del Estatuto del Consumidor ��� Ley 1480 de 2011 para determinar si el consumidor colombiano est�� suficientemente protegido con ��l.

An��lisis de la industria automotriz colombiana frente al Tratado de Libre Comercio con la Rep��blica de Corea

Mediante este proyecto, se hace un an��lisis de la industria automotriz en Colombia, c��mo se puede ver afectada y cu��les ser��n los pros y contras ante la puesta en ejecuci��n del Tratado de Libre Comercio con la Rep��blica de Corea, tomando como base diferentes agentes que incursionan directamente en la industria mencionada, como lo son sus consumidores, los comerciantes, productores (ensambladoras) y el gobierno nacional. Igualmente, la globalizaci��n como aspecto fundamental para las econom��as mundiales, genera la apertura de estas y afianza a su vez la firma de diferentes tratados que permitan mejorar el comercio y bajar los precios de bienes y servicios entre pa��ses; pero en este caso dicha apertura, puede no ser beneficiosa para la industria automotriz colombiana debido a las grandes diferencias en capacidad de producci��n y tecnolog��a entre ambos pa��ses. Por lo anterior, se realizan comparaciones entre las dos econom��as y sus industrias (la automotriz), para encontrar los puntos en los cuales Colombia es m��s d��bil y buscar estrategias que permitan contrarrestar los efectos negativos que puede traer consigo el Tratado de Libre Comercio, as�� mismo, buscar oportunidades para mejorar el desarrollo tecnol��gico y de esta manera incentivar la inversi��n para consolidar dicha industria en el mercado.

Perfil log��stico de colombia sector automotriz

Mediante este proyecto se caracteriza la situaci��n actual del sector automotriz en Colombia a trav��s de las oportunidades y amenazas que presenta hoy en d��a el sector a partir de la situaci��n econ��mica mundial y la importancia del sector automotriz para el mundo y otros sectores de la econom��a dadas sus condiciones de arrastre debido al impacto de la globalizaci��n y la celebraci��n de nuevos tratados de libre comercia para el pa��s. Se identifica la importancia del sector debido a su relaci��n directa por el crecimiento de n��mero de veh��culos vendidos con el crecimiento del PIB de la econom��a y su importancia como soporte para el crecimiento de otros sectores de la econom��a y por ende la importancia de conocer la caracterizaci��n de la industria que permita identificar factores de hacinamiento y definir estrategias que permitan aumentar la perdurabilidad a trav��s de la diferenciaci��n. Por lo anterior es necesario caracterizar el sector en cuanto a los canales utilizados, niveles de innovaci��n, el alto nivel de importaciones y nuevos actores en el mercado debido a su alto nivel de competitividad que permita identificar donde podr��an las empresas colombianas innovar permiti��ndoles mitigar el hacinamiento y aumentar su competitividad en el mercado.

Factores de riesgo del comportamiento y readiness de aficionados inscritos a carreras atl��ticas de fondo de 18-64 a��os en Bogot�� D.C., 2014���

La participaci��n en carreras atl��ticas de calle ha aumentado; esto requiere detectar riesgos previos al esfuerzo f��sico. Objetivo. Identificar factores de riesgo del comportamiento y readiness de inscritos a una carrera. M��todo. Estudio transversal en aficionados de 18-64 a��os. Encuesta digital con m��dulos de IPAQ, PARQ+ y STEP. Muestreo aleatorio sistem��tico con n=510, para una inactividad f��sica esperada de 35% (��5%). Se evalu�� nivel de actividad f��sica, consumo de alcohol (peligroso), de fruta, verdura, tabaco y sal, y readiness. Resultados. El cumplimiento de actividad f��sica fue 97,4%; 2,4% consume nivel ��ptimo de fruta o verdura (diferencias por edad, sexo y estrato), 3,7% fuma y 44,1% consumo peligroso de alcohol. El 19,8% report�� PARQ+ positivo y 5,7% requiere supervisi��n. Hay diferencias por trabajo y estudio. Discusi��n. Los aficionados cumplen el nivel de actividad f��sica; pero no de otros factores. Una estrategia de seguridad en el atletismo de calle es evaluar los factores de riesgo relacionados con el estilo de vida as�� como el readiness.

Disseny d���un motllo i components per a la seva fabricaci��

Partint del disseny en 3D i del pl��nol d���una pe��a de pl��stic, es vol fabricar un motllo d���injecci�� de pl��stic per a la seva producci�� amb un bon disseny comercial i un cost acceptable per al mercat actual. La pe��a ser�� el bot��/polsador ���ASL��� (AUTOMATIC SPEED LIMIT) del quadre de comandament del model de cotxe ���JAGUAR XF���. A sota de la pe��a anir�� un let per il���luminar les zones indicades en ambients foscos o de nit, per a la indicaci�� a l���usuari de la seva funci�� i per q��estions est��tiques

Modificaci�� d'un vehicle industrial

Tenint en compte la problem��tica de les ag��ncies de missatgeria de gran extensi�� i petit volum de clients, en el projecte s���estudien modificacions en un vehicle industrial d���una empresa de missatgeria per tal de redefinir el funcionament d���aquest tipus d���ag��ncies. Les modificacions interiors consisteixen a ubicar els elements de treball necessaris per a fer les feines del personal d���oficina dins del vehicle. Les modificacions exteriors tenen com a finalitat diferenciar la imatge exterior del vehicle per associar-la als valors del servei. Per analitzar els avantatges del nou sistema de funcionament que permet gestionar l���ag��ncia gr��cies a les modificacions aplicades al vehicle, es realitza un pla d���empresa

Architectural, construction and environmental matters of Bahrain's international formula 1 circuit

The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is considered its one of the best international racing car track in terms of technical aspects and architectural quality. Two Formula 1 races have been hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in 2004 and 2005, at BIC. The BIC had recently won the award of the best international racing car circuit. This paper highlights on the elements that contributed to the success of such project starting from the architectural aspects, construction, challenges, tendering process, risk management, the workforce, speed of the construction method, and future prospects for harnessing solar and wind energy for sustainable electrification and production of water for the circuit, i.e. making BIC green and environment-friendly international circuit.

Joint modelling of obstacle induced and mesoscale changes: current limits and challenges

Obstacles considerably influence boundary layer processes. Their influences have been included in mesoscale models (MeM) for a long time. Methods used to parameterise obstacle effects in a MeM are summarised in this paper using results of the mesoscale model METRAS as examples. Besides the parameterisation of obstacle influences it is also possible to use a joint modelling approach to describe obstacle induced and mesoscale changes. Three different methods may be used for joint modelling approaches: The first method is a time-slice approach, where steady basic state profiles are used in an obstacle resolving microscale model (MiM, example model MITRAS) and diurnal cycles are derived by joining steady-state MITRAS results. The second joint modelling approach is one-way nesting, where the MeM results are used to initialise the MiM and to drive the boundary values of the MiM dependent on time. The third joint modelling approach is to apply multi-scale models or two-way nesting approaches, which include feedbacks from the MiM to the MeM. The advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches and remaining problems with joint Reynolds-averaged Navier���Stokes modelling approaches are summarised in the paper.

Design and development of a low NOx Coanda ejector burner

Small gaseous combustion systems are being targeted by strict pollution legislation which will provide challenges to reduce the NOx being emitted. A novel type of gas burner has been successfully designed and developed which incorporates a Coanda ejector to promote recirculation of flue gas from the burner exit. This provides a combustion system which gives very low emissions of NOx and CO, whilst maintaining a high degree of flame stability over a range of air/fuel ratios and fuel flow rates. Recirculation of flue gas was obtained by manipulating the aerodynamics of the system, without the aid of external duct work or moving parts. The design of the burner allowed very low pollutant emissions near stoichiometric conditions, resulting in high temperatures of the exit gas. Potential applications of this type of burner are in small and intermediate furnaces where low NOx emissions are required. Moreover, very high-temperature applications, such as glass furnaces could benefit in both cost and pollutant emissions from such a burner.

A wind-tunnel study of flow distortion at a meteorological sensor on top of the BT Tower, London, UK

High quality wind measurements in cities are needed for numerous applications including wind engineering. Such data-sets are rare and measurement platforms may not be optimal for meteorological observations. Two years' wind data were collected on the BT Tower, London, UK, showing an upward deflection on average for all wind directions. Wind tunnel simulations were performed to investigate flow distortion around two scale models of the Tower. Using a 1:160 scale model it was shown that the Tower causes a small deflection (ca. 0.5��) compared to the lattice on top on which the instruments were placed (ca. 0���4��). These deflections may have been underestimated due to wind tunnel blockage. Using a 1:40 model, the observed flow pattern was consistent with streamwise vortex pairs shed from the upstream lattice edge. Correction factors were derived for different wind directions and reduced deflection in the full-scale data-set by <3��. Instrumental tilt caused a sinusoidal variation in deflection of ca. 2��. The residual deflection (ca. 3��) was attributed to the Tower itself. Correction of the wind-speeds was small (average 1%) therefore it was deduced that flow distortion does not significantly affect the measured wind-speeds and the wind climate statistics are reliable.

An assessment of a three-beam Doppler lidar wind profiling method for use in urban areas

Currently there are few observations of the urban wind field at heights other than rooftop level. Remote sensing instruments such as Doppler lidars provide wind speed data at many heights, which would be useful in determining wind loadings of tall buildings, and predicting local air quality. Studies comparing remote sensing with traditional anemometers carried out in flat, homogeneous terrain often use scan patterns which take several minutes. In an urban context the flow changes quickly in space and time, so faster scans are required to ensure little change in the flow over the scan period. We compare 3993 h of wind speed data collected using a three-beam Doppler lidar wind profiling method with data from a sonic anemometer (190 m). Both instruments are located in central London, UK; a highly built-up area. Based on wind profile measurements every 2 min, the uncertainty in the hourly mean wind speed due to the sampling frequency is 0.05���0.11 m s���1. The lidar tended to overestimate the wind speed by ���0.5 m s���1 for wind speeds below 20 m s���1. Accuracy may be improved by increasing the scanning frequency of the lidar. This method is considered suitable for use in urban areas.

Observations of wind speed profiles over Greater London, UK, using a Doppler lidar

To calculate the potential wind loading on a tall building in an urban area, an accurate representation of the wind speed profile is required. However, due to a lack of observations, wind engineers typically estimate the characteristics of the urban boundary layer by translating the measurements from a nearby reference rural site. This study presents wind speed profile data obtained from a Doppler lidar in central London, UK, during an 8 month observation period. Used in conjunction with wind speed data measured at a nearby airport, the data have been used to assess the accuracy of the predictions made by the wind engineering tools currently available. When applied to multiple changes in surface roughness identified from morphological parameters, the non-equilibrium wind speed profile model developed by Deaves (1981) provides a good representation of the urban wind speed profile. For heights below 500 m, the predicted wind speed remains within the 95% confidence interval of the measured data. However, when the surface roughness is estimated using land use as a proxy, the model tends to overestimate the wind speed, particularly for very high wind speed periods. These results highlight the importance of a detailed assessment of the nature of the surface when estimating the wind speed above an urban surface.

Estimating the potential yield of small wind turbines in urban areas: a case study for Greater London, UK

To optimise the placement of small wind turbines in urban areas a detailed understanding of the spatial variability of the wind resource is required. At present, due to a lack of observations, the NOABL wind speed database is frequently used to estimate the wind resource at a potential site. However, recent work has shown that this tends to overestimate the wind speed in urban areas. This paper suggests a method for adjusting the predictions of the NOABL in urban areas by considering the impact of the underlying surface on a neighbourhood scale. In which, the nature of the surface is characterised on a 1 km2 resolution using an urban morphology database. The model was then used to estimate the variability of the annual mean wind speed across Greater London at a height typical of current small wind turbine installations. Initial validation of the results suggests that the predicted wind speeds are considerably more accurate than the NOABL values. The derived wind map therefore currently provides the best opportunity to identify the neighbourhoods in Greater London at which small wind turbines yield their highest energy production. The model does not consider street scale processes, however previously derived scaling factors can be applied to relate the neighbourhood wind speed to a value at a specific rooftop site. The results showed that the wind speed predicted across London is relatively low, exceeding 4 ms-1 at only 27% of the neighbourhoods in the city. Of these sites less than 10% are within 10 km of the city centre, with the majority over 20 km from the city centre. Consequently, it is predicted that small wind turbines tend to perform better towards the outskirts of the city, therefore for cities which fit the Burgess concentric ring model, such as Greater London, ���distance from city centre��� is a useful parameter for siting small wind turbines. However, there are a number of neighbourhoods close to the city centre at which the wind speed is relatively high and these sites can only been identified with a detailed representation of the urban surface, such as that developed in this study.