The episcopal complex of Eio-El Tolmo de Minateda (Hellín, Albacete, Spain). Architecture and spatial organization. 7th to 8th centuries AD

The episcopal complex of Eio, located in El Tolmo de Minateda, was built between the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th century, possibly as a political decision taken by the ecclesiastical authority in the capital of the Visigothic kingdom (Toletum). With the comprehensive study of the whole complex presented below (construction cycles, furniture, decoration and location of spaces), we can interpret the function of each space in the basilica and the domus episcopi, the liturgical and general movement routes, the existence of some hierarchical environments, and specify the chronological development of the buildings. After the Arab-Berber conquest of Hispania in the early 8th century, the whole complex will experience a series of transformations that will convert the religious and monumental public area into a private, residential and industrial Islamic quarter.

A methodology for evacuation route planning inside buildings using geospatial technology

Evacuation route planning is a fundamental task for building engineering projects. Safety regulations are established so that all occupants are driven on time out of a building to a secure place when faced with an emergency situation. As an example, Spanish building code requires the planning of evacuation routes on large and, usually, public buildings. Engineers often plan these routes on single building projects, repeatedly assigning clusters of rooms to each emergency exit in a trial-and-error process. But problems may arise for a building complex where distribution and use changes make visual analysis cumbersome and sometimes unfeasible. This problem could be solved by using well-known spatial analysis techniques, implemented as a specialized software able to partially emulate engineer reasoning. In this paper we propose and test an easily reproducible methodology that makes use of free and open source software components for solving a case study. We ran a complete test on a building floor at the University of Alicante (Spain). This institution offers a web service (WFS) that allows retrieval of 2D geometries from any building within its campus. We demonstrate how geospatial technologies and computational geometry algorithms can be used for automating the creation and optimization of evacuation routes. In our case study, the engineers’ task is to verify that the load capacity of each emergency exit does not exceed the standards specified by Spain’s current regulations. Using Dijkstra’s algorithm, we obtain the shortest paths from every room to the most appropriate emergency exit. Once these paths are calculated, engineers can run simulations and validate, based on path statistics, different cluster configurations. Techniques and tools applied in this research would be helpful in the design and risk management phases of any complex building project.

Construction of 17-19th century domes in the province of Alicante (Spain): the case of San Juan Bautista in Cox

From the late seventeenth to early nineteenth centuries, many religious temples have been built in the province of Alicante (south east of Spain) with brick domes as their main characteristic feature. Often, the limited data available about these remarkable constructions make rehabilitation interventions become into real research projects, with a high value for their historic conservation over time. The aim of this paper is to show a detailed refurbishment analysis of a religious temple built in 1778, showing the need of preservation of historic buildings as a part of the architectural heritage by establishing a common pattern of materials, geometry and constructive systems, specifically in their domes. In most cases, there was not an architectural project for the construction, that is why the analysis of any documentary and archival sources available is essential to find different ways to proceed on the use and maintenance of these religious buildings.

How to measure healthiness in buildings: Experiences in teaching with BIM tools

Introducing teaching about healthy solutions in buildings and BIM has been a challenge for the University of Alicante. Teaching attached to very tighten study plans conditioned the types of methods that could be used in the past. The worldwide situation of crisis that especially reached Spain and the bursting of the housing bubble generated a lack of employment that reached universities where careers related to construction, Architecture and Architectural Technologist, suffered a huge reduction in the number of students enrolled. In the case of the University of Alicante, students’ enrolment for Architectural Technology reached an 80% reduction. The necessity of a reaction against this situation made the teachers be innovative and use the new Bologna adapted study plans to develop new teaching experiences introducing new concepts: people wellbeing in buildings and BIM. Working with healthy solutions in buildings provided new approaches for building design and construction as an alternative to sustainability. For many years sustainability was the concept that applied to housing gave buildings an added value and the possibility of having viability in a very complex scenario. But after lots of experiences, the approved methodologies for obtaining sustainable housing were ambiguous and at the end, investors, designers, constructors and purchasers cannot find real and validated criteria for obtaining an effective sustainable house. It was the moment to work with new ideas and concepts and start facing buildings from the users’ point of view. At the same time the development of new tools, BIM, has opened a wide range of opportunities, innovative and suggestive, that allows simulation and evaluation of many building factors. This paper describes the research in teaching developed by the University of Alicante to adapt the current study plans, introducing work with healthy solutions in buildings and the use of BIM, with the aim of attracting students by improving their future employability. Pilot experiences have been carried out in different subjects based on the work with projects and case studies under an international frame with the cooperation of different European partner universities. The use of BIM tools, introduced in 2014, solved the problems that appeared in some subjects, mainly building construction, and helped with the evaluation of some healthy concepts that presented difficulties until this moment as knowledge acquired by the students was hard to be evaluated. The introduction of BIM tools: Vasari, FormIt, Revit and Light Control among others, allowed the study of precise healthy concepts and provided the students a real understand of how these different parameters can condition a healthy architectural space. The analysis of the results showed a clear acceptance by the students and gave teachers the possibility of opening new research lines. At the same time, working with BIM tools to obtain healthy solutions in building has been a good option to improve students’ employability as building market in Spain is increasing the number of specialists in BIM with a wider knowledge.

Barcelona, Spain, 1862 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plano de la ciudad de Barcelona. It was published by Manuel Sauri y José Matas editores in 1862. Scale [ca.1:25,000]. Covers Barcelona, Spain. Map in Spanish. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31 North coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, fortification, and more. Depths shown by soundings. Includes index. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Barcelona, Spain, 1910 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plano guia de Barcelone, F. Noriega grabó. It was published by Bailly-Bailliere e Hijos in 1910. Scale 1:11,000. Covers Barcelona, Spain. Map in Spanish. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31 North coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, city districts, parks, and more. Relief is shown by hachures and contours. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Barcelona, Spain, 1911 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plano general de Barcelona : su ensanche y pueblos el llano en 1911 by F. Puig. It was published in 1911. Scale [ca. 1:20,650]. Covers Barcelona, Spain. Map in Spanish.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31 North coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map.This map shows features such as roads, railroads, street railroads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, parks, city districts, and more. Relief shown by contours.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Barcelona, Spain, 1943 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Barcelona : city plan. 1st ed.--AMS 1. It was published by the Army Map Service in 1943. Scale 1:14,000. Covers Barcelona, Spain. Copied from a Spanish Map, 1:14,000, Plano de Barcelona; corrected from I.S.I.S. Report, 1:8,000, Barcelona, CB 1811 No. 22, 1942 and a Spanish Map, 1:25,000, Barcelona, 1935. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31 North coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads, drainage, docks, selected buildings, points of military interest, city districts, and more. Includes inset: [Enlargement of old city section]. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Madrid, Spain, 1735 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Madritum sive Manuta Capretanorum celeberrima Castiliae Novae civitas et monarcharum Hispanicorum magnificentissima regia sedes = Madrit la plus celebre ville dans la Castille nouvelle et la plus magnifique residence des monarques d'Espange, sumtib[us] et cura Matth. Seutteri Ch. Aug. It was published by Matt. Seutteri in [1735]. Scale [ca. 1:8,400]. Map in Latin and French. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the European Datum 1950, UTM Zone 30N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, ground cover, and more. Relief is shown pictorially and by hachures. Includes index, text, illustrations, and inset view: Madrit. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Madrid, Spain, 1785 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plano geom�trico de Madrid : dedicado y presentado al rey nuestro Se�or Don Carlos III por mano del excelentisimo Se�or Conde de Floridablanca, su autor Don Tomas Lopez, geografico de S.M. de las Reales Academias de la Historia, de San Fernando, de la de Bueans Letras de Sevilla y de las Sociedades Bascongada y Asturzias. It was published by [Tomas Lopez] in 1785. Scale [ca. 1:16,700]. Map in Spanish. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the European Datum 1950, UTM Zone 30N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map.This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, ground cover, and more. Relief is shown by hachures. Includes text, index, and inset: Des de la Puerta de Toledo ...This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Madrid, Spain, 1831 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Madrid, W.B. Clarke, archt.; engraved by J. Henshall. It was published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge [by] Charles Knight & Co. Decr. 1, 1831. Scale [ca. 1:11,800]. Map in English and Spanish. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the European Datum 1950, UTM Zone 30N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, ground cover, and more. Relief is shown by hachures. Includes illustrations. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Madrid, Spain, 1910 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Nuevo plan de Madrid, lit. Juan Bravo. It was published by [Juan Bravo in 1910]. Scale [ca. 1:20,000]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the European Datum 1950, UTM Zone 30N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, ferries, drainage, selected buildings, parks and gardens, and more. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Madrid, Spain, 1943 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Madrid :city plan, prepared under the direction of the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army. It was published by Army Map Service, U.S. Army in 1943. Scale 1:12,500. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the European Datum 1950, UTM Zone 30N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, and more. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Spain:countries of the world

Spain has been the home of some of the world's great artists and has museums and galleries to match. In the cities, narrow twisting old streets suddenly open up to views of the daring modern architecture, as a culture of old and new mix and mingle in the city's nightlife. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast. Culturally, the country is littered with superb old buildings, from Roman aqueducts to Gothic cathedrals, and almost every second village has a medieval castle. With more than 115 years exploring the globe with its writers, photographers, and research expeditions, "National Geographic" is uniquely positioned to introduce your readers to everything they need to know about the countries of the world.

Development of new vocational training modules on sustainable buildings maintenance and refurbishment

This article presents the methodology and main results obtained in Spain within the FORMAR project, a European-funded project under the Leonardo Da Vinci scheme (Lifelong Learning Programme), whose main goal is to jointly develop training resources and modules to improve the skills on sustainability issues of buildings maintenance and refurbishment workers, in three different European countries: Spain, Portugal (Project Coordinator) and France. The Units of Short-term Training (UST) developed within this project are focused on the VET of carpenters, painters, bricklayers, building technicians and installers of solar panels, and a transversal unit containing basic concepts on sustainable construction and nearly Zero Energy Buildings (n-ZEB) is also developed. In parallel, clients’ guides for the aforementioned professionals are also implemented to improve the information provided to clients and owners in order to support the procurement decisions regarding building products and materials. Therefore, the project provides an opportunity to exchange experiences between organizations of these three European countries, as the UST will be developed simultaneously in each of them, exploring opportunities for training, guidance and exchange of experience. Even though the UST will have a common structure and contents, they will be slightly different in each country to adapt them to the different specific training needs and regulations of Spain, Portugal and France. This paper details, as a case study, the development process of the UST for carpenters and building technicians in Spain, including the analysis of needs and existing training materials, the main contents developed and the evaluation and testing process of the UST, which involves the active participation of several stakeholders of this sector as well as a classroom testing to obtain the students’ feedback.