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New Experimental Teaching Proposal to Evaluate Foreign Students in Technical Subjects
No full textWith the implementation of the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Plan), there is a desire to equate the university degrees of the different countries involved in the project. This fact, in addition to having important repercussions from the point of view of professional opportunities once the degree is finished, facilitates the exchange of students between European countries (Erasmus scholarships among others). In this way, as there is a clear tendency to unify and equalize degrees, problems to validate subjects between universities tend to be fewer. However, there are some subjects, typical of degrees with a significant regulatory dependency (such as Law, Architecture or Engineering), in which it is very difficult to establish interrelationships between what is taught in two different countries. Thus, this work shows the results of a pilot experience developed at the Higher Technical Building School of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain). In it, a differentiated evaluation methodology was proposed for foreign students who were studying some of the subjects of the discipline of “Construction Materials” of the “Degree in Building” of the institution. The explained proposal consisted in the development of a supervised course work in which students had to analyze and compare the regulations and differentiating aspects of both: the destination country (Spain) and their countries of origin, in relation to some of the materials studied during the subject. In this way, it was possible to give a solution to one of the great problems that these students encountered when they returned to their countries: the total ignorance of the regulations of their territories (having studied those of Spain, which, in most of the cases, they will never need in their professional life). The results show a wide degree of satisfaction by the students, as well as for the professors involved in the experience. It has been a very interesting activity that shows us peculiarities and aspects of other countries, and that some of them, perhaps in the future, could be considered to update Spanish standards
Evaluation of urban landscape distortion caused by energy rehabilitation interventions on façades: the case of sculptoric stone buildings in the ensanche of San Sebastián
No full textA Fuzzy Decision Support System for Real Estate Valuations
No full textThe field of real estate valuations is multivariate in nature. Each property has different intrinsic attributes that have a bearing on its final value: location, use, purpose, access, the services available to it, etc. The appraiser analyzes all these factors and the current status of other similar properties on the market (comparable assets or units of comparison) subjectively, with no applicable rules or metrics, to obtain the value of the property in question. To model this context of subjectivity, this paper proposes the use of a fuzzy system. The inputs to the fuzzy system designed are the variables considered by the appraiser, and the output is the adjustment coefficient to be applied to the price of each comparable asset to obtain the price of the property to be appraised. To design this model, data have been extracted from actual appraisals conducted by three professional appraisers in the urban center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). The fuzzy system is a decision-helping tool in the real estate sector: appraisers can use it to select the most suitable comparables and to automatically obtain the adjustment coefficients, freeing them from the arduous task of calculating them manually based on the multiple parameters to consider. Finally, an evaluation is presented that demonstrates its applicability
Water Resistance Analysis of New Lightweight Gypsum-Based Composites Incorporating Municipal Solid Waste
No full textIncorporating waste to produce new environmentally friendly construction products has become one of the great challenges of the industry nowadays. The aim of this research is to analyse the behaviour of novel gypsum composites against water action, incorporating recycled rubber aggregates (up to 8.5% vol.) and dissolved expanded polystyrene (up to 10.0% vol.). To this end, a total of 10 dosages have been proposed with the progressive substitution of natural resources by these secondary raw materials. The results show how it is possible to reduce the total water absorption of the gypsum composites by up to 8.3% compared to traditional gypsum material. In addition, it is also possible to reduce water absorption by capillary by up to 52.7%, resulting in lighter composites with good performance against water action. In all composites analysed, the mechanical strengths exceeded the minimum values of 1 MPa in bending and 2 MPa in compression, making them an optimal solution for the development of lightweight prefabricated products for damp rooms
New Technologies in the Processing of European Digital Heritage and Their Application to the Historical Images of the American Flight of 1944 Over Spain
No full textHistorical aerial images constitute an invaluable heritage that requires meticulous recovery and preservation. Interest in this task has been shown at the international level, where several congresses have been held to analyse orthophotographs production techniques, as well as the state of the art of preservation and dissemination of historical material. Innovative image orthorectification models, such as Structure for Motion and Multi-View Stereo, derived from classical photogrammetric methods such as collinearity equations, Direct Linear Transformation and Rational Function Model, have shown excellent results in the creation of 3D models from images captured by mobile devices and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These advances open up a new line of research for its application in historical flights, characterised by unsuitable flight and conservation conditions, with geometries away from the conventional geometric model and the absence of orientation parameters. On the basis of the papers presented at the EuroSDR congresses in 2019 and 2022, and using SfM and MVS algorithmic programmes, research on the processes of orthorectification of historical images has been deepened, particularly in the processing of large volumes of data. The methodology was applied to what is potentially the largest block of data to date, comprising over 4,000 images covering an area of over 40,000 square kilometres corresponding to the A-series flight, carried out by the US Army Map Service between 1945 and 1946. This technical process represents a significant step towards the accurate correction of valuable historical aerial imagery, contributing to architectural study, urban planning, property organisation, and historical heritage conservation
Assessment of industrialised construction through sustainability tools
No full textThe environmental impact of the construction sector and its importance to the economy makes the transition to a more sustainable model imperative. Industrialised construction can facilitate this transition. This sustainability must encompass economic, social and environmental aspects at all stages of a building's life cycle. Indicators are the only tools capable of assessing the impact of a project at different levels. This study aims to address the underrepresentation of industrialised construction's value in sustainability assessments by identifying gaps in existing indicators. In particular, it aims to analyse different tools to comprehensively assess the economic, social and environmental impact at all stages of the construction life cycle. It highlights the critical role of sustainability indicators—covering environmental, economic, and social dimensions across all life-cycle stages of buildings—as key tools for informed decision-making. An analysis of 329 indicators from seven internationally representative sustainability assessment systems was conducted. These indicators, selected for their geographical relevance, were categorised by sustainability aspects and life-cycle stages according to ISO 21930:2007. The findings reveal areas where industrialised construction's value may be underrepresented, underscoring the need for specific new indicators to assess this value effectively. The study aims to identify these gaps in order to assess the sustainability of industrialised construction. By identifying these shortcomings, the study contributes to the possible future development of specific indicators that better reflect the value of industrialised construction. These new metrics would support informed decision-making, promote a holistic understanding of sustainability and facilitate the transition to more sustainable building practices
AI potential for renovation measures identification
No full textBuilding renovation processes always require guidance from different experts or professionals who successfully conduct all the steps starting from the previous studies, project definition, intervention, commissioning, and maintenance. The quality of the results often depended on the professionals’ expertise when facing these challenges. This work evaluates whether the new open-access AI can conduct building energy renovation diagnosis effectively. Traditionally the use of AI was rather limited to some experts and activities. However, in November 2022 one of the first Open-source AI, ChatGPT, became public and is offering a chance to boost human capacities worldwide and for free. This mainstream AI potential raised concerns about human job replacement risk and lack of control. In a few months, the social perception of AI as a far-future issue turned upside-down and made it a very present fact. When applied to building energy renovation, AI can assist professionals, or even replace them, to identify the best renovation measures for achieving deep renovation. This study tested how responds this AI when asked about the best energy renovation measures in a certain case. To understand if AI can replace renovation experts’ diagnoses, the quality of the response is evaluated by experts and according to recent literature solutions. First, the AI is asked without any further preparation. Later, some additional data input is given to the AI to enlarge its preparation. Finally, some secondary questions are raised to enrich the analysis to evaluate the maximum potential of ChatGPT outcome. The study results prove that open-access AI can provide good responses, but can be incomplete without the proper specialized preparation and data input. In general, the AI findings can be trusted but their quality is limited. AI can help and provide a good start to any user and create comprehensive lists of feasible possibilities
Unveiling the performance of graphene nanofiber additives in gypsum plasters: A solid vs liquid perspective
No full textGraphene nanofibers (GNFs) are promising additives for the gypsum industry. However, their impact in different forms and configurations remains unexplored. This study delves into the effects of different types of GNF additives on the properties of gypsum plasters. Findings reveal that high-surface-area (HS) GNFs and liquid low-surface-area (LS) GNFs induced significant microstructural alterations. While rheology remained unaffected, GNFs accelerated gypsum hydration, leading to fast setting. Furthermore, these GNFs promoted the appearance of anhydrite, resulting in a porous matrix with shorter crystals and poor bonding. These microstructural changes significantly reduced both flexural and compressive strength, with losses of approximately 25%. The incorporation of surfactants further exacerbated these negative effects by limiting crystal formation and growth. Consequently, liquid GNF additives exhibited the lowest performance and durability attributes. While GNFs may impart improved thermal performance to gypsum components, their implementation can also lead to significant reductions in mechanical strength and durability. More research is required to develop additives that are more compatible and do not compromise the performance of the resulting components. Building practices interested in implementing graphene-based materials should focus on powdered additives with very low specific surface area (<100 m2/g) to minimize toxicity and negative impacts on strength and durability
Circular Material Usage Strategies and Principles in Buildings: A Review
No full textBuilding construction accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production. Applying circular economy (CE) principles in the building construction industry would considerably reduce these values. However, uptake by the industry is relatively slow, which is largely attributed to sectoral barriers, including limitations in knowledge and experience. This review paper aims to assess and contribute to diminishing these obstacles by offering a comprehensive review of circular material usage principles and strategies within the construction sector. Opportunities and facilitators of change are also presented, including innovations and emerging technologies in recycling, digitization, robotic systems, novel materials, and processing. Finally, four case studies demonstrate the application of circular theory via a novel block system, recycled aggregate, modular kitchen reuse, and an energy efficiency retrofit. The conclusions show that future efforts should prioritize the development of strong regulatory frameworks, awareness initiatives, and international cooperation. In this regard, the integration of technological advancements, such as AI, robotics, and blockchain, is essential for optimizing waste management efficiency. Furthermore, education on circular practices plays a critical role. Through global collaboration, standardizing circular construction approaches can promote a more sustainable and resilient building construction industry
Delicuencia en el sector de la construcción. Una situación que se torna "insostenible"
No full textSegún los cálculos más recientes de la industria, el robo en las obras de construcción cuesta a las empresas europeas al menos 1.500 millones de euros al año, sin incluir los incidentes que, por su menor relevancia, no acaban denunciándose ante la policía. Un informe de la compañía Bauwatch, especializada en vigilancia, retrata un panorama poco alentador sobre la seguridad en las obras de construcción de nuestro país