Aplicación de algoritmos paramétricos de generación formal en el diseño estructural. La Ópera de Sídney desde una perspectiva contemporánea.

El importante desarrollo tecnológico e industrial surgido especialmente durante la segunda mitad del siglo pasado ha eliminado las históricas limitaciones técnicas en el ámbito de los pro-­? yectos arquitectónicos, desembocando en la situación actual en la que cualquier planteamiento formal puede ser analizado desde un punto de vista estructural, concluyéndose por tanto que ha desaparecido la barrera del análisis en lo que al desarrollo de un proyecto arquitectónico se refiere. En la actualidad, al igual que a finales del siglo XIX, nos encontramos en un periodo de transi-­? ción, y también, como entonces, es la tecnología la que orienta el cambio. No la tecnología de los nuevos materiales (hormigón y acero) como sucedía tras la revolución industrial sino que es la nueva tecnología digital aplicada a los sistemas de diseño, cálculo y fabricación la que están siendo el motor de la actual transformación. Hoy no es tanto el paradigma mecanicista el que prevalece en muchos casos en la concepción de los edificios sino que, nuevos elementos como la tecnología digital integrada está cambiando la forma de diseñar y concebir el entorno cons-­? truido. Ante este contexto cabría plantearse las siguientes cuestiones: ¿Puede el diseño paramétrico y la tecnología CAD-­?CAM-­?CAE en conjunción con los programas actuales de análisis estructural basados en el Método de los Elementos Finitos hacer más sencilla la construcción de estructu-­? ras ligeras y eficientes hoy en día? ¿Puede la tecnología digital ayudar a ampliar el abanico for-­? mal a la hora de diseñar edificios y a la vez permitir el uso de sistemas estructurales racionales que optimicen el consumo de materiales bajo dichas circunstancias?

Effects of soluble humic acids on the uptake of heavy metals by Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash in contaminated mining soils

In the past, mining wastes were left wherever they might lie in the surroundings of the mine area. Unfortunately, inactive and abandoned mines continue to pollute our environment, reason why these sites should be restored with minimum impact. Phytoextraction is an environmental-friendly and cost-effective technology less harmful than traditional methods that uses metal hyperaccumulator or at least tolerant plants to extract heavy metals from polluted soils. One disadvantage of hyperaccumulator species is their slow growth rate and low biomass production. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, perennial species adapted to Mediterranean climate has a strong root system which can reach up to 3 m deep, is fast growing, and can survive in sites with high metal levels (Chen et al., 2004). Due to the fact that metals in abandoned mine tailings become strongly bonded to soil solids, humic acids used as chelating agents could increase metal bioavailability (Evangelou et al., 2004; Wilde et al., 2005) and thereby promote higher accumulation in the harvestable parts of the plant. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of humic acid assisted phytoextraction using Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash in heavy metals contaminated soils.

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.

Zonificación bioclimática de la moringa (Moringa oleífera Lam.) en la Península Ibérica para producir biocombustibles.

Zonificación bioclimática de la moringa (Moringa oleífera Lam.) en la Península Ibérica para producir biocombustibles.

Environmental impact indicators estimation in European rural devlopment programs. Limitations of evaluators and financial institutions? Expectatios

The European Commission established Mid-term evaluation for the period 2007-2013 on Rural Development Programs as part of a continuous evaluation system. Mid-term evaluations are important for the Commission because they help measuring the success of a program, as well as giving advice and pointing out good practices for the current and consecutive programming periods. One of the main elements used to achieve these objectives is the impact indicators estimation of the program. This paper will focus on how impact indicators estimation is done for just the environmental indicators. To do this the 88 Mid-term evaluations of Rural Development Programs for 2007-2013 period, were analyzed. This study shows how far the actual methodologies to obtain impact indicators? values are from what the European Commission expects when demanding this task to be done.

Analyzing intergibles in rural development project management

Facing the frequent failure of projects in rural areas with top-down approaches, there has been a promotion of participation of the local people in decisions that affect their territories (bottom-up approach) to promote sustainable regional development (Chambers, 1997; Lusthaus et al., 1999; Horton, 2004; Vazquez-Barquero, 2000). In fact participation was deemed necessary to ensure the success and sustainability of projects (UNDP, 2006; WRI, 2008; Davies, 2009). Hence, the progressive strengthening of the local population should be promoted so that they can acquire a range of skills and knowledge that allow them to manage resources properly and undertake productive activities in their territory (Contreras, 2000). These are intangibles and therefore difficult to measure. Hence, in this research a model of integration of intangibles in rural development projects management is proposed. The model designed supplements and enriches the conceptual framework ?Working with People? WWP (Cazorla et al, 2013).

Agricultural trade and prosperity

In an environment where there is no communication between different social levels and which is suffering an increasing demand in agricultural production, agribusiness and quality, trade, as a regulator of the supply and demand, has a strong impact on the economic and environmental areas as well as on the farmers quality of life. This entails the need to find a sustainable and fair balance between the different parties (farmers and traders). This paper seeks to find this balance through the integration of trade with prosperity, understood not from a purely economic point of view, but as an improvement in life quality. This proposal is framed within Working With People (WWP) as the main conceptual base for achieving concrete actions that will promote a rapprochement between the parties that will lead to the sector?s sustainable resilience. This will be achieved through a exhaustive review of scientific literature in order to analyze and develop the state of the art of the concepts involved. The result is a conceptual proposal presented from the three dimensions of the WWP model: technical-entrepeneurial, ethical-social, political-contextual"

Evaluation of the competitiveness of agri-food sector in the región of the Alcarria Conquense(Spain)

The agrifood industry, like other sectors, faces the ongoing challenge of improving their competitiveness in order to strengthen its market presence and cater to the growing global population. This research measures the competitiveness of the agrifood industry in the region of La Alcarria Conquense (Spain), in the framework of the evaluation of programs in the territory that have aimed at improving and enhancing this sector. Through building the competitiveness profiles (Porter, 1990) and cluster analysis we have identified six competitive strategy patterns in food companies in the region. In addition, we have analyzed each of the areas of competitiveness and we can identify the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, and identify recommendations for increasing the responsiveness of the territory. Among the defining characteristics are the lack of association, the limitation on payment systems or virtual absence of training and innovation. However, programs to support the sector are highly valued and reverse in the long-term viability of these companies.

The chair of food Banks UPM as a tool of raising awareness and promoting a culture of rational food comsumption

The Chair of Food Banks UPM arises from a cooperation agreement between the Spanish Federation of Food Banks (FESBAL) and the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), with the aim of raising awareness and promoting rational food consumption to avoid food waste, through activities of training, transfer of knowledge and promotion of I+D+i. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the activities carried out during the first year in order to obtain learning lessons and improve the management of activities and resources.

Analysis of the essential literature on project management in Spanish

The advancement of science and engineering projects is brewing major changes in the various phases of a project. These changes have produced more rigorous aspects of project management that tracks the research fronts of engineering and project management becomes key. However, research in engineering and project management in Spanish is hindered by access to information to enable the person concerned to ascertain the most recent and current research, limiting the exchange of information and strengthening research networks in this field interest with great implications in business, industry and scientific issues. Therefore, the article aims to present the state of the art of engineering research and project management in Spanish, using the analysis of scientific domains and network analysis of the research literature to identify and analyze relationships between authors and documents that establish the base and research fronts topic under study. The results also provide statistics on the contribution of international research in Spanish and scientific collaboration networks.

Resilence, rural development and suistainable management: a working with people model approach

Nowadays, it has become evident the need to seek sustainable development models that address challenges arising in a variety of contexts. The resilience concept appears connected to the ability of people to cope with adversities that inevitably arise due to context dynamics, at different spatial and temporal scales. This concept is related to the model known as Working With People (WWP), focused on rural development projects planning, management and evaluation, from the integration of three dimensions: technical-entrepreneurial, ethical-social and political-contextual. The research reported is part of the RETHINK European Project, whose overall aim is farm modernization and rural resilience. The resilience concept has been analyzed, in the scope of rural development projects management, and a relationship with the WWP model has been established. To this end, a thorough review of the scientific literature concerning this topic has been addressed, in order to develop the state of the art of the different concepts and models involved. A conceptual proposal for the integration of resilience in rural development projects sustainable management, through the three-dimensional WWP model is presented.

Teaching Planning of Forestry Engineering in Spain : origins and evolution

This paper addresses the historical evolution of, from its inception, to the present day, within the changing context of EHEA and linked to professional competences. The research methodology, although it is mainly a historical document review, expert opinions on university educational planning of university education of forestry engineering in Spain are also included. The results show the evolution of centralized planning, based on technical knowledge transmission to an approach based on competences (technical, contextual and behavioral) focusing on learning for improving employability.

Communication Project for development: 25 years of experience in andean rural communities in Ecuador

IThis paper analyses communication for development from a new perspective: the project in its broader and most genuine sense, as an instrument for changing current reality. This is examined from both its theoretical and practical implementation side. Knowledge/action binomial as a two-way relationship is one of the basis of the project cycle. It allows for better knowing the reality that the project itself (what constitutes the action) is intended to improve. Besides that, this knowledge/action binomial also offers new knowledge that nourishes future actions (projects). From a project based communication perspective, the project nourishes the knowledge, which leads to a transformative action. Reflecting about the action is a new knowledge source whose adoption by the community is eased by the communication process. Radio Mensaje project among the indigenous Andean communities in Cayambe (Ecuador) was born and also developed within this approach, supporting the collaborative participation in project management. This leads to the development process which is described in this case study.

Best practices for school leaders: Implementation of a profesional competence model for school management in Chile

In Chile, during the last three decades there has been a strong decentralization process whose main objective has been to improve the management of schools through the transfer of responsibilities and resources of education and thus improve the outcome of learning, reducing equity gaps between schools and territories. This is how, there has been an evolution of school principals¿ professional profile from an administrative to a management approach, in which principals have become project managers of educational projects. From a competence model for school leaders, based on IPMA guidelines, the present article presents an analysis of best practices for school management, allowing to generate a link between competencies and school management, from the perspective of project management. Results showed that the different competence elements, have relative weights according to the different practice fields, and that this analysis can be considered as a strategic element in educational project planning and development.