UPCommons (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya)
Not a member yet
281550 research outputs found
Sort by
DRL-driven padel players: Simulating padel matches through deep reinforcement learning in real and hypothetical scenarios
No full textRecent advances in Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) have opened new avenues for sport research. DRL allows virtual agents to learn and solve complex tasks with minimal input, which means that models can be trained with little or no data collection. This enables the creation of sport simulations that go beyond the replication of real matches, exploring entirely new conditions where prior knowledge is limited. In this paper, we investigate the generation of simulated data for padel matches, aiming to either replicate real environments or investigate hypothetical ones with altered parameters such as non-standard court sizes. We focus on high-level behavioural aspects of the players rather than low-level skills. We present a proof-of-concept implementation of a DRL system that enables robot-like agents to learn and play padel under varying conditions. After training different types of virtual agents, we observed their overall behaviour during simulated matches. In particular, for certain combinations of parameters, the agents learned to coordinate their movements similarly to professional players. We argue that DRL-driven players have the potential to complement traditional mathematical models, especially in scenarios where data collection is challenging or unfeasible. This could lead to more engaging, safer and more inclusive sports in the future.This work was supported by the MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF/EU under [Grant PID2021-122136OB-C21], and the Department of Research andUniversities of the Government of Catalonia [2021 SGR 01035].Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Barcimed: Un recorrido inmersivo por la historia de Barcelona
No full textEste proyecto de fin de grado, titulado Barcimed (Barcelona Immersiva Medieval) busca crear y desarrollar una experiencia inmersiva e interactiva que combine geolocalización, narrativa cinematográfica en motion graphics o animación 2D y mecánicas de gamificación.
El objetivo es crear una herramienta educativa sobre la historia medieval de Barcelona, basada en hechos históricos reales extraídos de fuentes fiables como los archivos del MUHBA (Museu d'Història de Barcelona). La narrativa permitirá a los usuarios explorar la ciudad y conocer a sus figuras emblemáticas, fomentando el turismo local y acercando la historia a un público joven de manera dinámica y atractiva.
La motivación de este proyecto surge del interés por la historia de Barcelona y la intención de innovar en el formato de guía turístico al integrar herramientas digitales avanzadas. También responde a la curiosidad por el uso de tecnologías de RA y VR en experiencias educativas, aprovechando la posibilidad de guiar a los usuarios en una exploración dinámica y lúdica de la ciudad.
Para esta propuesta se pretende crear una aplicación web para móvil que servirá como guía y permitirá a los usuarios vivir una ruta de ocho puntos clave de Barcelona. En cada uno de estos puntos, el usuario podrá interactuar con el escenario, desbloquear fragmentos de la narrativa y moverse por distintos espacios de la ciudad, conectando físicamente con la historia a través de la realidad virtual y la geolocalización.
La metodología del proyecto incluye varias fases. En primer lugar, se realiza una investigación sobre las tecnologías inmersivas y herramientas disponibles, así como un análisis de los aspectos históricos de Barcelona que se integrarán en la narrativa y diseño. A continuación, se procede al desarrollo del proyecto, que abarca la escritura del guion, el diseño de la experiencia, ilustraciones, diseño de interfaces, producción de video 360 y programación de la aplicación web.
En conclusión, este proyecto presenta una propuesta innovadora que combina la narrativa inmersiva con la geolocalización para ofrecer una experiencia interactiva en el contexto urbano de Barcelona y de esta forma acercar la cultura local a las nuevas generaciones
Scaling properties of rainfall as a basis for intensity-duration-frequency relationships and their spatial distribution in Catalunya, NE Spain
No full textThe spatial distribution of rainfall intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) values, essential for hydrological applications, were estimated for Catalunya, Spain. From a larger database managed by the Meteorological Service of Catalunya and after rigorous quality control, 163 high-quality daily series spanning from 1942 to 2016, with an average length of 39.8 years and approximately one station per 200 km², were selected. A monofractal downscaling methodology was applied to derive rainfall intensities for sub-daily durations using the intensities from a reference 24 h duration as the basis, followed by spatial interpolations on a 1 km × 1 km grid. The scaling parameter values have been found to be higher in the northwestern mountainous areas, influenced by Atlantic climate, and lower in the central–western driest zones. A general negative gradient was observed toward the coastline, reflecting the increasing influence of the Mediterranean Sea. The IDF results are presented as spatial distribution maps, providing intensity–frequency estimates for durations between one hour and one day, and return periods between 2 and 200 years, with an estimated uncertainty below 12 % for the 200-year return period, and lower for shorter return periods. These findings highlight the need to capture rainfall spatial variations for urban planning, flood control, and climate resilience efforts.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::6 - Aigua Neta i SanejamentObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::6 - Aigua Neta i Sanejament::6.b - Donar suport i enfortir la participació de les comunitats locals en la millora de la gestió de l'aigua i el sanejamentObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats SosteniblesObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats Sostenibles::11.5 - Per a 2030, reduir de forma significativa el nombre de morts causades per desastres, inclosos els relacionats amb l’aigua, i de persones afectades per aquests, i reduir substancialment les pèrdues econòmiques directes causades per desastres relacionades amb el producte interior brut mundial, fent un èmfasi especial en la protecció de les persones pobres i de les persones en situacions de vulnerabilitatObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::11 - Ciutats i Comunitats Sostenibles::11.b - Per a 2020, augmentar substancialment el nombre de ciutats i assentaments humans que adopten i posen en marxa polítiques i plans integrats per promoure la inclusió, l’ús eficient dels recursos, la mitigació del canvi climàtic i l’adaptació a aquest, així com la resiliència davant dels desastres, i desenvolupar i posar en pràctica una gestió integral dels riscos de desastre a tots els nivells, d’acord amb el Marc de Sendai per a la reducció del risc de desastres 2015.2030Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima::13.1 - Enfortir la resiliència i la capacitat d’adaptació als riscos relacionats amb el clima i els desastres naturals a tots els païsosObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al ClimaPostprint (published version
Impact assessment of second-life batteries and local photovoltaics for decarbonizing enterprises through system digitalization and energy management
No full textThis paper shows an impact assessment of second-life batteries (SLBs) and local photovoltaics (PV) for decarbonizing enterprises through system digitalization and energy management. SLBs from electric vehicles offer a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy storage solution for enterprises. These systems can significantly reduce fossil fuel dependence coupled with local PV installations. This paper proposes a methodology for developing the complete digital twin of an enterprise in combination with an optimization algorithm for energy management. This methodology can be applied to a wide range of enterprises across different sectors, both industrial and non-industrial, with diverse consumption patterns. A sensitivity analysis has been carried out to evaluate the potential of this methodology for enterprises in different contexts, where different battery sizes, PV installations, consumption types, and environmental prioritization policies are encountered. Findings indicate that combining SLBs and PV installation, supported by digital energy management, can substantially reduce carbon footprints and operational costs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Experimental and theoretical analysis of auxetic cementitious composite: a comparative study with recycled and virgin steel fibers
No full textThis research investigated the development of auxetic cementitious composites (ACC) reinforced with recycled steel fibers (ranging from 0 % to 2 % volume in increments of 0,5 %). The mechanical and auxetic properties of these composites were compared to an ACC reinforced with virgin steel fibers. Additionally, a theoretical model was developed to understand stress-strain behavior, specific energy absorption, and their corresponding measured errors. This novel material has the potential to significantly impact global infrastructure resilience, offering solutions for seismic protection, impact absorption, and collision mitigation. Additive manufacturing techniques were employed to produce the ACCs. The study utilized an Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) formulation tailored for both high strength and workability. The ACCs underwent mechanical testing and physical characterization, including measurements of Poisson's ratio. The results revealed that ACCs reinforced with recycled steel fibers achieved the desired properties, comparable to those of the virgin fiber-reinforced ones. Notably, Poisson's ratio reached -1,12, signifying pronounced auxetic behavior. This implies that under longitudinal compression, the specimen would contract in the transverse direction by up to 112 % of its vertical strain, exceeding the typical strain recoveries (15–30 %) of conventional construction materials like concrete and steel. Furthermore, the specific deformation energy absorption of the auxetic specimen reached 0,92 J/cm^3. This research successfully developed and characterized auxetic cementitious composites using recycled steel fibers, contributing to the material's sustainability and offering a promising solution for global challenges in infrastructure resilience and energy efficiency.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Advanced machine learning strategies to estimate the inflection point of response and relapse in preclinical GL261 glioblastoma
No full textGlioblastoma is currently considered one of the most aggressive brain tumours, characterised by rapid progression, high heterogeneity, limited treatment success, and frequent recurrence. In this work, we propose a machine learning pipeline to predict treatment outcomes in a preclinical mouse model of glioblastoma using longitudinal MRI data. Our approach first applies classical machine learning techniques to radiomic features extracted from segmented tumour regions, with the aim of identifying imaging biomarkers that correlate with biologically meaningful patterns of tumour progression or regression. We then introduce a complementary deep learning strategy based on convolutional neural networks, which learns hierarchical representations directly from the images and reduces reliance on manual feature engineering. Both pipelines are rigorously evaluated and compared. The overarching goal is to discover early predictors of tumour relapse or cure that align with underlying biological processes, contributing to the development of non-invasive monitoring strategies and enhancing treatment assessment in translational research
Rehabilitación y preservación patrimonial de las "Cases de Cós" con adaptación a la sostenibilidad y a la habitabilidad: la vivienda tradicional unifamiliar entre medianeras
No full textLas casas unifamiliares entre medianeras constituyen una herencia y un pasado arquitectónico muy importante desde el punto de vista de la evolución y el crecimiento urbano de los pueblos. Estas construcciones fueron la tipología clave de la configuración de la ciudad industrial de la 2ª parte del S.XIX. Constituyeron la mayor parte de las viviendas en los nuevos barrios de baja densidad surgidos tras la Primera Guerra Mundial y aunque fueron realizadas en una época de cambios y progresos técnicos, las técnicas constructivas corresponden a esquemas primitivos y de conocimiento popular. (Naceta y Navarro, 1987).
Forman parte de nuestro pasado y poseen un importante valor histórico tanto a escala arquitectónica como urbanística. Nacidas de la tradición y del saber popular, no responden a las exigencias de hoy en día en cuanto a eficiencia energética, sostenibilidad, habitabilidad o accesibilidad. Por esta razón muchas de ellas son objeto de rehabilitación con el objetivo de mejorar estos aspectos y adaptarlas a las necesidades actuales.
Este trabajo tiene como propósito estudiar el contexto y la evolución histórica de este tipo de arquitectura tradicional, con el fin de comprender los antecedentes, la tipología histórica y las técnicas de construcción populares que se empleaban.
En la segunda parte, se analizan tres casos de estudio de “Cases de Cós” que han sido rehabilitadas o se encuentran en proceso de rehabilitación; Francesc Macià, Panagall y Rosers.¹ De cada uno de estos casos, se estudia el entorno urbano en el que se ubica, la evolución tipológica, la tipología constructiva de cada vivienda y sus valores. A partir del análisis, se proponen posibles estrategias de rehabilitación orientadas a mejorar estos valores, para finalmente, plantear una hipotética intervención en un cuarto caso de estudio; Eixample
Regenerar les ruïnes d'una colònia minera: recuperar el patrimoni oblidat i l’activitat perduda de les colònies mineres de la Consolació i Sant Josep a Cercs
No full textAquest treball ha permès fer una investigació sobre la recuperació d’una colònia minera al Berguedà, la colònia de la Consolació - Sant Josep ubicada a Cercs. Amb aquest estudi es vol fer valdre i conservar el patrimoni industrial que va deixar l’explotació de les mines a aquesta comarca de Catalunya. El motiu pel qual s’ha decidit enfocar el treball al municipi de Cercs ha estat gràcies al mapa de les 7 cares del Pedraforca. Aquesta proposta d’eco-viatge entorn de la muntanya emblemàtica del Pedraforca, contempla una sèrie d’activitats enfocades al turisme. L’objectiu principal d’aquesta proposta va ser el d’atraure més gent a l’Alt Berguedà, i per tant aconseguir que els visitants no només contemplessin el Pedraforca sinó altres punts d’interès a la comarca. Però tot i ser Cercs la porta d’accés a l’Alt Berguedà en la direcció Berga-Guardiola, la proposta de les 7 cares del Pedraforca no contempla el municipi com a referent turístic. I és per això que es volen mostrar tots els llocs d’interès que aquest municipi podria aportar al turisme del país. Un d’aquests punts d’interès són les mines de carbó que hi va haver a la zona i, per tant, les colònies mineres dels treballadors i les famílies que s’hi van instal·lar.
A Cercs trobem la colònia minera de Sant Corneli la qual un cop finalitzada l’activitat minera de la mina Sant Romà l’any 1964, ha continuat funcionant com a petit poble. Però la colònia veïna de la Consolació-Sant Josep va quedar parcialment abandonada, trobant avui dia el barri de Sant Josep habitatges de segona residència i el barri de la Consolació totalment abandonat i en ruïnes. S’han analitzat i valorat cada un d’aquests edificis abandonats, des de l’estructura, l’envolupant i la distribució interior fins a l’accessibilitat i l’espai exterior dels edificis. Amb aquest treball s’han pogut treure unes conclusions respecte a la viabilitat en rehabilitar les edificacions, i per tant decidir quins usos es podrien incorporar. Per decidir quins usos/activitats convindria més a la zona, s’ha fet un estudi previ dels serveis actuals al municipi i les activitats turístiques de la comarca. Tot això s’ha fet pensant en el turisme, però també en els habitants locals i les oportunitats que el territori els pot oferir. Per tant, es podria resumir aquest treball com una reivindicació del patrimoni industrial que s’està perdent en aquesta colònia minera. Fent un tanteig de petites propostes per reactivar aquest nucli industrial i reconvertir-ho en un referent pel que fa a la història i turisme del Berguedà.This work has allowed to carry out an investigation on the recovery of a mining colony in Berguedà, the colony of la Consolació - Sant Josep located in Cercs. With this study, the aim is to assert and preserve the industrial heritage that the exploitation of the mines left in this region of Catalunya. The reason why it has been decided to focus the work on the municipality of Cercs has been thanks to the map of “les 7 cares del Pedraforca”. This proposal of eco-tour around the emblematic mountain of Pedraforca, contemplates a series of activities focused on tourism. The main objective of this proposal was to attract more people to Alt Berguedà and therefore get visitors not only to contemplate Pedraforca but other points of interest in the region. But despite Cercs being the gateway to Alt Berguedà in the direction Berga-Guardiola, the proposal of “les 7 cares del Pedraforca” does not contemplate the municipality as a tourist reference. And that is why it’s important to show all the places of interest that this municipality could bring to the tourism of the country. One of these points of interest is the coal mines that were in the area and, therefore, the mining colonies of the workers and families that settled there.
In Cercs we find the mining colony of Sant Corneli, which after the mining activity of the Sant Romà mine in 1964, has continued to function as a small town. But the neighbouring colony of la ConsolacióSant Josep was partially abandoned, finding today the neighbourhood of Sant Josep houses second residence and the neighbourhood of Consolació totally abandoned and in ruins. Each of these abandoned buildings has been analysed and evaluated, from the structure, envelope and interior distribution to the accessibility and outer space of the buildings. With this work, it has been possible to draw some conclusions to decide what uses could be incorporated, and to see the feasibility when rehabilitating the buildings. To decide which uses/activities would be most convenient in the area, a previous study of the current services in the municipality and the tourist activities of the region has been carried out. All this has been done with tourism in mind, but also with the local inhabitants and the opportunities that the territory can offer them. Therefore, this work could be summarized as a claim of the industrial heritage that is being lost in this mining colony. Making small proposals to reactivate this industrial nucleus and convert it into a reference in terms of history and tourism within Berguedà
Continuum and computational modeling of surface effects in flexoelectric materials
No full textIn recent times, with the rise of nanoscale technologies, miniaturization of devices has prompted the need to study electromechanical phenomena at small scales. Most studies focus on the phenomena occurring at the bulk portion of the material, such as flexoelectricity, but neglect the effects that arise from the surfaces of the samples. Given the fact that, at such scales, surface-to-volume ratio is inherently large, surface effects cannot be ignored if the full and accurate description of the material’s response wants to be provided. In this work, we present a model that successfully integrates flexoelectricity and the effects of surfaces, and we properly derive the governing equations and boundary conditions for the boundary value problem. We also present a numerical approach in order to computationally solve it, converging at high-order optimal rates. In addition, we present an analytical 1D Euler–Bernoulli electromechanical beam model. Numerically, we find the presence of boundary layers in the transversal electric field across the beam thickness, which are not accounted for in the analytical 1D model. Finally, we find numerical solutions for geometrically-polarized flexoelectric lattice metamaterials, which have large area-to-volume ratios, giving rise to very relevant surface effects. This work emphasizes the importance of accounting for surface effects in modeling and design of flexoelectric devices, including geometrically-polarized metamaterials.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version