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Study of optimization and waterproofing solutions for surfboard transport systems on vehicles
No full textAquest projecte desenvolupa i valida un dispositiu optimitzat d’impermeabilització per a portaequipatges tous destinats al transport de taules de surf en vehicles. Mitjançant l’efecte Venturi i materials avançats, la solució evita l’entrada d’aigua, redueix la resistència aerodinàmica i el soroll de les corretges, i manté una instal·lació fàcil. El resultat és una alternativa pràctica, sostenible i assequible que millora l’experiència d’usuari per a surfistes ocasionals o sensibles al cost, afavorint l’accessibilitat i la sostenibilitat.Este trabajo de fin de grado aborda los principales retos del transporte de tablas de surf en vehículos, centrándose en la mejora de los portaequipajes blandos. El objetivo es ofrecer una solución que reduzca la entrada de agua, el arrastre aerodinámico y el ruido de las correas, manteniendo la facilidad de uso y un coste accesible. Para ello, se analizan las soluciones existentes, se realizan encuestas a usuarios para detectar los problemas más habituales y se diseña un dispositivo impermeabilizante innovador que utiliza el efecto Venturi para evacuar el agua en la interfaz entre la correa y la puerta. El concepto se valida mediante modelado CAD, selección de materiales y prototipado 3D, permitiendo una optimización ágil. Los resultados confirman que la solución evita eficazmente la filtración de agua a velocidades normales, reduce el ruido de las correas hasta en un 40% y es fácil de instalar, lo que mejora notablemente la experiencia de uso. En conclusión, la integración de mejoras ingenieriles específicas puede convertir los portaequipajes blandos en una alternativa más práctica y cómoda, especialmente para usuarios ocasionales o sensibles al coste, promoviendo además la sostenibilidad y la accesibilidad dentro de la comunidad surfera.This thesis analyses and develops solutions to the main problems of surfboard transport on vehicles, focusing on soft roof racks. The project aims to improve waterproofing, reduce aerodynamic drag and strap noise while maintaining ease of use. The methodology combines a review of current solutions, user surveys to identify key issues, and the design of a new waterproofing device using the Venturi effect to evacuate water at the strap-door interface. CAD modelling, material selection and 3D prototyping validate the concept. Results show the solution effectively prevents water ingress at typical driving speeds, reduces noise by up to 40%, and is easy to install. The study concludes that targeted engineering improvements can make soft roof racks more practical and comfortable, especially for occasional or costsensitive users, while supporting sustainability and accessibility for the surfing community
Hybrid diffuse optical monitoring and imaging: new approaches and applications in muscle and brain
No full text(English) The generation of energy in the human body relies on oxygen metabolism, determined by oxygen delivery through blood flow and extraction at the tissue level. Reliable assessment of these parameters is crucial for understanding physiological function and tissue adaptations under various stimuli. Conventional monitoring tools for blood flow and oxygen saturation face trade-offs between cost, portability, and technical limitations (depth, resolution, dynamics), restricting their real-time deep-tissue use.
This thesis advances diffuse optics, a non-invasive, safe, scalable approach exploiting light diffusion in scattering media, and introduces methodological and instrumental innovations for monitoring blood flow and oxygenation in adult skeletal muscle and brain—two of the most oxygen-demanding organs.
Part I investigated long-term physiological adaptations in forearm muscles of advanced rock climbers versus healthy controls. Rock climbing requires exceptional grip endurance, making it an ideal model for localized neuromuscular and hemodynamic adaptations to chronic training. Two protocols were applied: (1) a resting vascular occlusion test (VOT) combining near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS, oxygenation) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS, blood flow), and (2) an intermittent grip endurance test measuring force, NIRS, and electromyography (EMG). Results showed climbers had faster blood flow recovery and higher hemoglobin concentrations after occlusion, indicating enhanced vascular response. During exercise, they maintained force longer and used oxygen more efficiently. However, steady-state measures revealed no significant inter-group differences, suggesting adaptations are demand-driven rather than evident at rest. This study is novel in (1) applying DCS to climbing physiology and (2) integrating mechanical, neuromuscular, and hemodynamic measures in one framework.
Part II focused on high-density (HD) cerebral blood flow (CBF) mapping, a key marker of brain metabolism. Current systems are bulky, costly, and clinical-only. We developed a new diffuse optics platform using speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) and its tomographic extension (SCOT), leveraging cost-effective CMOS technology to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and scalability while retaining cortical sensitivity. A fiber-based prototype validated signal quality and flow sensitivity in forearm and forehead tests. Building on this, we designed a full-scale HD-SCOT system, nearing completion, intended for real-time, non-invasive mapping of CBF over large cortical areas (e.g., visual cortex).
Final contribution: a proof-of-concept SCOS extension enabling simultaneous blood flow and oxygenation measurement. Using multiple wavelengths, source-detector separations, and exposure times, it offers a simplified alternative to dual NIRS-DCS systems. Preliminary forearm tests confirmed feasibility, suggesting applications in muscle and brain monitoring.
In summary, this thesis advances diffuse optical monitoring by developing new instruments and methodologies for deep-tissue hemodynamics. Applications in sport physiology and neuroimaging highlight the potential of multi-modal, high-density optical systems to deepen understanding of oxygen metabolism in naturalistic, real-time contexts, paving the way for broader physiological and clinical applications.(Català) La generació d’energia en el cos humà depèn del metabolisme de l’oxigen, determinat pel seu subministrament mitjançant el flux sanguini i la seva extracció a nivell tissular. L’avaluació fiable d’aquests paràmetres és fonamental per comprendre la funció fisiològica i les adaptacions dels teixits davant diversos estímuls. Les eines convencionals de monitoratge del flux sanguini i de la saturació d’oxigen presenten limitacions de cost, portabilitat i tècniques (profunditat, resolució, dinàmica), que en restringeixen l’ús en temps real i en teixits profunds.
Aquesta tesi avança en l’òptica difusa, un enfocament no invasiu, segur i escalable basat en la difusió de la llum en medis dispersius, i presenta innovacions metodològiques i instrumentals per monitorar el flux sanguini i l’oxigenació al múscul esquelètic i al cervell adults, dos dels òrgans amb més consum d’oxigen.
Part I va investigar les adaptacions fisiològiques a llarg termini als músculs de l’avantbraç d’escaladors avançats en comparació amb controls sans. L’escalada requereix una resistència de presa excepcional, fet que la converteix en un model ideal per estudiar adaptacions neuromusculars i hemodinàmiques localitzades a l’entrenament crònic. Es van aplicar dos protocols: (1) una prova d’oclusió vascular en repòs (VOT) que combina espectroscòpia en l’infraroig proper (NIRS, oxigenació) i espectroscòpia de correlació difusa (DCS, flux sanguini), i (2) una prova de resistència intermitent de presa que mesura força, NIRS i electromiografia (EMG). Els resultats mostraren que els escaladors tenien una recuperació del flux sanguini més ràpida i concentracions més altes d’hemoglobina després de l’oclusió, indicant una resposta vascular millorada. Durant l’exercici van mantenir la força més temps i van utilitzar l’oxigen amb més eficiència. No obstant, les mesures en estat estable no van revelar diferències significatives entre grups, suggerint que les adaptacions es manifesten sota demanda i no en repòs. Aquest estudi és nou per (1) aplicar DCS a la fisiologia de l’escalada i (2) integrar paràmetres mecànics, neuromusculars i hemodinàmics en un mateix marc.
Part II es va centrar en el mapatge del flux sanguini cerebral (CBF) d’alta densitat (HD), un marcador clau del metabolisme cerebral. Els sistemes actuals són voluminosos, costosos i restringits a l’àmbit clínic. Vam desenvolupar una nova plataforma d’òptica difusa basada en l’espectroscòpia de contrast de gra (SCOS) i la seva extensió tomogràfica (SCOT), utilitzant tecnologia CMOS rendible per millorar la relació senyal/soroll (SNR) i l’escalabilitat, mantenint la sensibilitat cortical. Un prototip amb fibra va validar la qualitat del senyal i la sensibilitat al flux en proves a l’avantbraç i al front. A partir d’això, vam dissenyar un sistema HD-SCOT a gran escala, proper a la finalització, destinat a mapar en temps real i de manera no invasiva el CBF en àmplies àrees corticals (p. ex., còrtex visual).
Contribució final: una extensió de SCOS com a prova de concepte que permet mesurar simultàniament flux sanguini i oxigenació. Utilitzant múltiples longituds d’ona, separacions font-detector i temps d’exposició, ofereix una alternativa simplificada als sistemes NIRS-DCS duals. Proves preliminars a l’avantbraç en van confirmar la viabilitat, amb potencials aplicacions en el monitoratge muscular i cerebral.
En resum, aquesta tesi avança en el monitoratge òptic difús mitjançant el desenvolupament de nous instruments i metodologies per a l’hemodinàmica en teixits profunds. Les seves aplicacions en fisiologia de l’esport i neuroimatge destaquen el potencial dels sistemes òptics multimodals i d’alta densitat per aprofundir en la comprensió del metabolisme de l’oxigen en contextos naturalistes i en temps real, obrint la porta a aplicacions fisiològiques i clíniques més àmplies.(Español) La generación de energía en el cuerpo humano depende del metabolismo del oxígeno, determinado por su aporte a través del flujo sanguíneo y su extracción a nivel tisular. La evaluación fiable de estos parámetros es esencial para comprender la función fisiológica y las adaptaciones de los tejidos bajo distintos estímulos. Las herramientas convencionales de monitorización del flujo sanguíneo y la saturación de oxígeno presentan limitaciones en coste, portabilidad y aspectos técnicos (profundidad, resolución, dinámica), lo que restringe su uso en tiempo real y en tejidos profundos.
Esta tesis desarrolla la óptica difusa, un enfoque no invasivo, seguro y escalable basado en la difusión de la luz en medios dispersivos, e introduce innovaciones metodológicas e instrumentales para monitorizar el flujo sanguíneo y la oxigenación en el músculo esquelético y el cerebro adultos, dos de los órganos con mayor consumo de oxígeno.
Parte I investigó las adaptaciones fisiológicas a largo plazo en los músculos del antebrazo de escaladores avanzados en comparación con controles sanos. La escalada requiere una resistencia de agarre excepcional, lo que la convierte en un modelo idóneo para estudiar adaptaciones neuromusculares y hemodinámicas localizadas al entrenamiento crónico. Se aplicaron dos protocolos: (1) una prueba de oclusión vascular en reposo (VOT) que combina espectroscopia en el infrarrojo cercano (NIRS, oxigenación) y espectroscopia de correlación difusa (DCS, flujo sanguíneo), y (2) una prueba de resistencia intermitente de agarre que mide fuerza, NIRS y electromiografía (EMG). Los resultados mostraron que los escaladores tenían una recuperación del flujo sanguíneo más rápida y mayores concentraciones de hemoglobina tras la oclusión, indicando una respuesta vascular mejorada. Durante el ejercicio mantuvieron la fuerza más tiempo y utilizaron el oxígeno con mayor eficiencia. Sin embargo, las medidas en estado estable no revelaron diferencias significativas entre grupos, lo que sugiere que las adaptaciones se manifiestan bajo demanda y no en reposo. Este estudio es novedoso por (1) aplicar DCS a la fisiología de la escalada y (2) integrar parámetros mecánicos, neuromusculares y hemodinámicos en un mismo marco.
Parte II se centró en el mapeo de flujo sanguíneo cerebral (CBF) de alta densidad (HD), un marcador clave del metabolismo cerebral. Los sistemas actuales son voluminosos, costosos y limitados al ámbito clínico. Desarrollamos una nueva plataforma de óptica difusa basada en espectroscopia de contraste de moteado (SCOS) y su extensión tomográfica (SCOT), utilizando tecnología CMOS rentable para mejorar la relación señal/ruido (SNR) y la escalabilidad, manteniendo la sensibilidad cortical. Un prototipo con fibra validó la calidad de la señal y la sensibilidad al flujo en pruebas en antebrazo y frente. A partir de ello, diseñamos un sistema HD-SCOT a gran escala, próximo a finalizar, destinado a mapear en tiempo real y de forma no invasiva el CBF en amplias áreas corticales (p. ej., corteza visual).
Contribución final: una extensión de SCOS como prueba de concepto que permite medir simultáneamente flujo sanguíneo y oxigenación. Utilizando múltiples longitudes de onda, separaciones fuente-detector y tiempos de exposición, ofrece una alternativa simplificada a los sistemas NIRS-DCS duales. Pruebas preliminares en antebrazo confirmaron su viabilidad, con potenciales aplicaciones en la monitorización muscular y cerebral.
En resumen, esta tesis avanza en la monitorización óptica difusa mediante el desarrollo de nuevos instrumentos y metodologías para la hemodinámica en tejidos profundos. Sus aplicaciones en fisiología del deporte y neuroimagen destacan el potencial de sistemas ópticos multimodales y de alta densidad para profundizar en la comprensión del metabolismo del oxígeno en contextos naturalistas y en tiempo real, abriendo la puerta a aplicaciones fisiológicas y clínicas más amplias.Postprint (published version
Riesgos psicosociales en profesionales del tercer sector: Análisis del síndrome de burnout en la atención a personas en situación de exclusión social
No full textEste estudio de caso tiene como objetivo analizar la relación de los factores de riesgo psicosociales presentes en el entorno de trabajo y derivados de la intervención directa de personas en situación de exclusión social de los/las profesionales de una entidad del tercer sector de acción social, con la posible existencia del Síndrome de Burnout. El público diana de este estudio de caso, se centra en 41 personas distribuidas en los puestos de trabajo de integrador/a social, educador/a social, trabajador/a social, psicólogo/a y pedagogo/a de la entidad en cuestión.
Para ello se ha utilizado un método mixto con enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo. Este estudio utiliza tres técnicas de evaluación. Para identificar el nivel de presencia del Síndrome de Burnout en el personal de la entidad estudiada se utiliza el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) administrado en dos momentos diferentes y en los mismos periodos de tiempo, uno en el año 2024 y otro en el año 2025,con el fin de evaluar la evolución del síndrome de burnout, en los profesionales de la entidad objeto de estudio. Para identificar los factores de riesgo psicosociales se administra durante el año 2025 el test FPSICO 4.1. y se realiza una entrevista a tres profesionales que desempeñan sus tareas en los puestos de trabajo que han tenido una mayor participación en este estudio de caso.
La finalidad de este es proponer medidas preventivas ante los factores de riesgos psicosociales identificados en los puestos de trabajo evaluados, para que la organización preserve la seguridad y salud, como también reduzca la exposición a los riesgos psicosociales que sufren los y las trabajadoras de la entidad estudiada. Los resultados obtenidos del MBI-HSS muestran unos porcentajes altos en relación a las subescalas de agotamiento emocional, un nivel medio en la despersonalización y un puntuación baja de 30% en la subescala de realización personal evidenciando indicios de burnout en los puestos de trabajo estudiados. En referencia a los factores de riesgos psicosociales que se identifican como críticos mediante los resultados del FPSICO 4.1, son los de factores Participación y Supervisión (PS), Relaciones y Apoyo social (RAS), Desempeño de Rol (DR) y Demandas Psicológicas (DP), los cuales presentan una mayor exposición y un riesgo elevado y muy elevado con valores por encima del 50% de los profesionales participantes en el test.
Se concluye que existen indicios de burnout en los puestos de trabajo evaluados de esta entidad y que se identifican los factores de riesgo psicosociales más críticos en los que es necesario implementar medidas de prevención para reducir la exposición a esos riesgos. Finalmente se propone una planificación para la implementación de medidas de prevención y su seguimiento para que a futuro se pueda preservar la seguridad y salud de los y las profesionales de esta organización social
Cosmological implications of DESI DR2 BAO measurements in light of the latest ACT DR6 CMB data
No full textWe report cosmological results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) when combined with recent data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT). By jointly analyzing ACT and Planck data and applying conservative cuts to overlapping multipole ranges, we assess how different ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿+ACT dataset combinations affect consistency with DESI. While ACT alone exhibits a tension with DESI exceeding 3¿¿ within the ¿¿CDM model, this discrepancy is reduced when ACT is analyzed in combination with Planck. For our baseline DESI DR2 BAO+¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ P¿R¿4+ACT likelihood combination, the preference for evolving dark energy over a cosmological constant is about 3¿¿ , increasing to over 4¿¿ with the inclusion of type Ia supernova data. While the dark energy results remain quite consistent across various combinations of Planck and ACT likelihoods with those obtained by the DESI collaboration, the constraints on neutrino mass are more sensitive, ranging from ¿¿¿0¿¿eVPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Global tipping points report 2025
No full textAs COP30 approaches, we’ve synthesised the latest research on tipping points – both positive and negative – into the Global Tipping Points Report 2025. A total of 160 authors, from 23 countries and 87 institutions contributed. Together, we’ve consolidated knowledge on how to govern Earth system tipping points, the risks they pose, and the opportunities presented by understanding and acting on positive tipping points.Peer ReviewedArticle signat per 160 autors/es:
Carlo Aall, Western Norway Research Institute, Norway; Beniamino Abis Starion Group; Jesse Abrams, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Yevgeny Aksenov, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK Horizon Europe project EPOC, EU grant 101059547 and UKRI grant 10038003, EC Horizon Europe project OptimESM “Optimal High Resolution Earth System Models for Exploring Future Climate Changes”, grant 101081193 and UKRI grant 10039429, and from the UK NERC projects LTS-M BIOPOLE (NE/ W004933/1), CANARI (NE/W004984/1) and UK LTS-S Atlantic Climate & Environment Strategic Science – ATLANTIS and Interacting ice Sheet and Ocean Tipping - Indicators, Processes, Impacts and Challenges (ISOTIPIC) NE/Y503320/1. For the EU projects the work reflects only the authors’ view; the European Commission and their executive agency are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information the work contains; Floor Alkemade, Eindhoven University of Technology FA gratefully acknowledge support from the European Union (ERC, FAST, 101044076); Hassan Alkhayuon, School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Cork, Western Road, Cork, Ireland; Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia. Puerto Morelos. Quintana Roo. Mexico; Nadia Ameli Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, UK; Beatriz Arellano Nava Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK Horizon project COMFORT (grant No. 820989) and ARIA AdvanTip Project (grant SCOP-PR01-P003); Jesús Ernesto Arias-González, Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados I.P.N.- Unidad Merida. Carr. Ant. Progreso Km. 6, A.P. 73 Cordemex, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; David I. Armstrong, McKay Geography, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, UK; Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Constantin Arnscheidt, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, UK; Marius Årthun, Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Norway The Research Council of Norway (project “Overturning circulation in the new Arctic,” grant 335255); Peter Ashwin, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Exeter, UK; Rune Baastrup, Democracy X; Emma Bailey, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Mike Barrett WWF-UK; Bjørn Bedsted, Democracy X; Avit Bhowmik, Risk and Environmental Studies, Karlstad University, Sweden; Alina Bill-Weilandt, Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany ABW was supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its NTU Singapore International Graduate Award.; Claudia R. Binder, Laboratory on Human-Environment Relations in Urban Systems, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland; Fenna Blomsma, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Hamburg, Germany UNIVERSITY OF EXETER GLOBAL TIPPING POINTS REPORT 2025 global-tipping-points.org 285 Global tipping points Author Affiliation Funder acknowledgement; Nils Bochow, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Amber Boot, IMAU, Department of Physics, Utrecht University, Netherlands ERC-AdG, TAOC (project 101055096); Andreas Born, Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Norway; Chris A. Boulton, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK CAB acknowledges support from the UK Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA) via the AdvanTip project (grant SCOP-PR01-P003), and from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101137601 as part of the ClimTip project, of which this is ClimTip contribution #116; Maura Brunetti, Group of Applied Physics and Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland Swiss National Science Foundation (Sinergia Project No. CRSII5_213539); Joshua E. Buxton, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK JB acknowledges support from the PREDICT project which has received funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) under ESA Contract No. 4000146344/24/I-LR; Tristan Cann, University of Exeter, UK; Tomas Chaigneau, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Ruth Chapman, Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Hugues Chenet, IESEG School of Management, Univversity of Lille, CNRS UMR 9221 - LEM, France; Cristiano M. Chiessi, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Brazil CC acknowledges the financial support from FAPESP (grant 2024/00949-5), CNPq (grant 305285/2025-4) and CAPES-COFECUB (grants 425 8881.712022/2022- 1 and 49558SM); Joseph Clarke, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Sara Constantino, Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, USA; Christopher E. Cornwall, School of Biological Sciences and Coastal People Southern Skies Centre of Research Excellence, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand CEC was supported by funding from Coastal People Southern Skies Centre of Research Excellence; Vasilis Dakos, ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France; Bethan Joan Davies, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, UK Fieldwork to Juneau Icefield was supported by the Royal Geographical Society and the Geological Society; Judith Dax̱ootsú Ramos, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, Alaska, USA; Donovan P. Dennis, Earth Resilience Science Unit, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany and Max-Planck-Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany; Frank Dentener, European Commission, Joint Research Center, Italy; Henk Dijkstra, IMAU, Department of Physics, Utrecht University, Netherlands ERC-AdG, TAOC (project: 101055096); Jonathan F. Donges, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany; Department Integrative Earth System Science, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany; Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden EU Horizon Europe project ClimTIP (Grant No. 100018693); Sybren Drijfhout, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Netherlands; Norman C. Duke Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama; Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; Ida Edling Müller Faculty of Science, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden; Shivani Ehrenfeucht, Earth Resilience Science Unit, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany; Sibel Eker, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Austria; Grace Ellsworth, Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, UK; Jeremy C. Ely, School of Geography and Planning, University of Sheffield, UK; Matthew H. England, Centre for Marine Science and Innovation (CMSI), and ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, University of New South Wales, Australia MHE receives support from the Australian Research Council (Grants SR200100008, DP190100494 and DP250100759); Bernardo M Flores, EqualSeaLab, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Instituto Juruá, Manaus, Brazil; Morten Friis, Democracy X; Ajay Gambhir, Accelerator for Systemic Risk Assessment (ASRA); Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, UK; Julius Garbe, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Germany European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 820575 (TiPACCs); Ahjond Garmestani, Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law, Utrecht University, Netherlands; Franziska Gaupp, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany; Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Germany; Lauren Gifford, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, USA; Kai Greenlees, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Kathryn Gunn, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, UK; Andrew Hartley, Met Office, UK; Maria Anna Hecher, Laboratory on Human-Environment Relations in Urban Systems, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland; Dag O. Hessen, Center for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, Dept. Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway; Marina Hirota, Instituto Relva, Brazil; Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil Serrapilheira Institute (grant number Serra-1709-18983); Annika Högner, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria; Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany; Milena Holmgren, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands; Courtney Howard, Global Climate and Health Alliance; Ben Hudson, University of Exeter Law School, UK; Chris Huntingford, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK; Margot Hurlbert, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina, Canada; Sirkku Juhola, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, Universty of Helsinki, Finland; Andreas Kääb, Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway European Space Agency Glaciers_CCI, X-ECV, and EarthExplorer Harmony; Caroline Katsman, Department of Civil Engineering, TU Delft, Netherlands; Sonia Kéfi, ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France; Santa Fe Institute, USA; Rakhyun Kim, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Netherlands European Research Council (grant agreement no. 949252); Björn Kjerfve, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Departamento de Geoquímica, Niterói, RJ, CEP 24 210-5100, Brazil, and University of South Carolina, School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Steven Lade, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Australia; Petra M. Langebroek, NORCE Research AS, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway; iC3—Centre for Ice: Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate, Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University, Norway PL’s work is part of the TiPACCs project, which receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 820575; Laurie Laybourn, Strategic Climate Risks Initiative, UK; Timothy M. Lenton, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA); V. K. Rasmussen Foundation; Johannes Lohmann, Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Sina Loriani, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany; Max-Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany; Valerio Lucarini, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, UK VL acknowledges financial support from the EU Horizon Europe projects ClimTIP (Grant No. 100018693) and Past2Future (Grant No. 101184070), and by ARIA SCOP-PR01-P003 - Advancing Tipping Point Early Warning AdvanTip; Kerstin Lux-Gottschalk, Centre for Analysis, Scientific Computing and Applications, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Aaron Marr Page, University of Iowa College of Law; Forum Nobis PLLC, USA; Melanie McField, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and the USA. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, USA Summit Foundation, Mesoamerican Reef Fund, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Oak Hill Foundation. BNPPARIBAS with CORESCAM project; Claire Mellier, Iswe Foundation, UK; Gabriele Messori, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden; Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (climes), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden GM acknowledges funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101137601 (ClimTip); Rasmus Mikkelsen, Democracy X; Manjana Milkoreit, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Norway; Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Helen Millman, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK HM acknowledges support from the PREDICT project which has received funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) under ESA Contract No. 4000146344/24/I-LR; Tessa Möller, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria; Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany; Silvia Montagnani, Economic, Social, Planning and Management Sciences, University of Lille, France; Kyle Morgan, Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore KM was supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) under its NRF Fellowship scheme (Award NRF-NRFF14-2022-0004); Karen Morrow, School of Law, Swansea University, UK; Aarón Israel Muñiz-Castillo, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and the USA. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, USA; Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, USA Summit Foundation, Mesoamerican Reef Fund, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Oak Hill Foundation. BNPPARIBAS with CORESCAM project; Leila Niamir International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria; Lindsey Nicholson, Department of Atmopsheric and Cryospheric Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Austria Fieldwork to Juneau Icefield was supported by the Faculty of Geo and Atmospheric Sciences of the University of Innsbruck; Femke Nijsse, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Jan Nitzbon, Permafrost Research Section, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany; Yuki Numata, Rocky Mountain Institute, USA; Annika Ord, Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks and Sustainable Southeast Partnership, USA; Ilona M. Otto, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, Austria; Isobel Parry, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK IP acknowledges support from the Quadrature Climate Foundation (grant reference number 01-21- 000336); Francesco Pasimeni, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands FP gratefully acknowledge support from the European Union (ERC, FAST, 101044076); Paul Pearce-Kelly, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, UK; Laura Pereira, Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Benoît Pichon, ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France; Patricia Pinho, Amazon Enivironmental Research Institute - IPAM, Brazil; Valentin Portmann EPOC, Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France; Tom Powell, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Marie-Aude, Pradal Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Courtney Quinn, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Paul Ritchie, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Malcolm Rogge, Global Systems Institute; University of Exeter Law School, UK; Rosa M Roman-Cuesta, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy; School of Life Sciences,Technical University of Munich, Germany Support is acknowledged to BNP Paribas foundation (2019-2022) and their research funding for CORESCAM, on the resilience of Caribbean coastal ecosystems under extreme climate events; JB Ruhl, Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Stefanie Rynders, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK Horizon Europe EPOC (grants 101059547 and 10038003) and OptimESM (grants 101081193 and 10039429), and from the UK Programmes BIOPOLE (NE/W004933/1), CANARI (NE/W004984/1), AtlantiS (NE/Y005589/1), and ISOTIPIC (NE/Y503320/1); Boris Sakschewski, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany BS is part of the Planetary Boundaries Science Lab’s research effort at the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research (PIK); José A. Sanabria-Fernández, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain; College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Jürgen Scheffran, Institute of Geography, University of Hamburg, Germany JS acknowledges support in the CLICCS Excellence Cluster funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria; Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany; Jörg Schwinger, NORCE Climate & Environment, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway; Ashwin K Seshadri, Indian Institute of Science, India; Jana Sillmann, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, University of Hamburg, Germany; Sacha Sinet, Department of Physics, Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Bablu Sinha, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK Horizon Europe EPOC (grants 101059547 and 10038003) and OptimESM (grants 101081193 and 10039429), and from the UK Programmes BIOPOLE (NE/W004933/1), CANARI (NE/W004984/1), AtlantiS (NE/Y005589/1), and ISOTIPIC (NE/Y503320/1); Steven R. Smith, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; World Economic Forum; Niko Soininen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland; Melina Soto, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and the USA. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, USA Summit Foundation, Mesoamerican Reef Fund, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Oak Hill Foundation. BNPPARIBAS with CORESCAM project; Viktoria Spaiser, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, UK UKRI (UK Research and Innovation), Grant Nr: MR/ V021141/1; Bryan M. Spears, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK; Laurens Speelman, Rocky Mountain Institute, USA; Carla Staver, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, USA; Norman J. Steinert, CICERO Center for International Climate Research, Norway; Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany; Johnny Stormonth-Darling, Iswe Foundation, UK; Simone Stuenzi, Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany; Ivan Sudakow, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The Open University, UK IS acknowledges NSF Grant OPP-2438993; Didier Swingedouw, Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux (EPOC)—Université de Bordeaux, Pessac, France Horizon Europe, TipESM (project: 101137673); J. David Tàbara, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain; Thejna Tharammal, Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR), Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru-560012, India TT is supported by the DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, India and Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Early Career Research Grant; Kirsty Tooke, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, UK; Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, UK; KT was funded by the UK Research and Innovation– Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UKRI-BBSRC) via grant award BB/X010961/1 (Resilient Farming Futures) – specifically work package 2 - BBS/E/RH/230004B; Detecting agroecosystem ‘resilience’ using novel data science methods; Bregje van der Bolt, Earth Systems & Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands; Larissa van der Laan, Physics of Ice, Climate and Earth, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; René van Westen, IMAU, Department of Physics, Utrecht University, Netherlands ERC-AdG, TAOC (project: 101055096); Sebastian Villasante, Oportunius Researcher Professor, EqualSea LabCRETUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain SV gratefully acknowledges the financial support from EQUALSEA (Transformative adaptation towards ocean equity) project, under the European Horizon 2020 Program, ERC Consolidator (Grant Agreement # 101002784) funded by the European Research Council. SV also thanks the support of the Earth Commission and Future Earth; Anna von der Heydt Utrecht University, Nethrlands; Tabitha Watson Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK; Claudia Wieners, Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University, Netherlands CW’s work is supported by the Dutch government via the Sectorplan Science and Technology programme; Simon Willcock, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, UK; Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, UK SW is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) via workpackage two (BBS/E/RH/230004B) of the Resilient Farming Futures project (BB/X010961/1), and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) via RESTORE: Recovery pathways for lake
Star tracker algorithms for attitude determination in lost-in-space conditions
No full textThe Institute of Space Sciences of Catalonia (IEEC) is developing PhotSat, a 16U CubeSat whose scientific goal is the all-sky observation of the 40 million brightest astronomical sources. As such, the attitude knowledge and control of the satellite is paramount for the correct operation of the mission. This is the main task of the Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem featured in satellites, and its most precise attitude sensor, the star tracker, is a critical instrument. Star trackers are devices that capture an image of the stars and determine the satellite's orientation with respect to a fixed reference frame through a series of algorithms. In this project, we provide an overview of the different algorithms comprising a star tracker and review the literature for existing star tracker algorithms capable of being compliant with stringent accuracy requirements in the arcsecond range, such as in the PhotSat mission. We place special emphasis on the critical lost-in-space case, the first attitude acquisition with no prior information of the satellite's orientation.9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructur
Estudi per la implantació d’un edifici industrial destinat a la producció de carregadors per vehicles elèctrics
No full textAquest projecte de final del Màster en Enginyeria Industrial presenta l’estudi complet per a la implantació d’un edifici industrial destinat a la producció de carregadors per a vehicles elèctrics, amb l’objectiu de donar resposta a la creixent demanda d’aquest
producte degut a la transició cap a la mobilitat elèctrica. L’estudi comença amb la definició del procés de l’activitat industrial, incloent les seves necessitats i un anàlisi detallat del procés productiu.
A continuació, es proposen diverses alternatives de distribució en planta, basades en criteris específics relacionats amb les diferents àrees de l'edifici. Aquestes alternatives es comparen mitjançant un sistema de criteris ponderats. Un cop seleccionada l'opció més adequada, es determina la superfície necessària de la parcel·la per assegurar la viabilitat de l'estudi.
Definides les característiques mínimes de la parcel·la, s’avaluen diferents alternatives, on seguint un mètode de criteris ponderats es selecciona la òptima. Una vegada s’ha seleccionat, es presenta un resum de les característiques principals de la parcel·la
seguint la normativa urbanística aplicable al municipi. També es redacta la proposta tècnica de l’edificació, incloent la descripció dels sistemes constructius i del procés constructiu, seguint la normativa aplicable a la parcel·la.
L’estudi inclou la justificació del compliment de la normativa urbanística i es desenvolupa un annex específic per al compliment de la normativa de seguretat contra incendis, i la justificació de la selecció dels elements constructius.
Finalment, l’estudi conclou amb una estimació econòmica dels costos associats a la construcció i posada en marxa de l’edifici proposat, així com l’avaluació dels impactes ambientals i socials derivats de la seva implantació, i acaba amb la secció de les
conclusions.This final master's project presents a comprehensive study for the implementation of an industrial building dedicated to the production of electric vehicle chargers, with the aim of responding to the growing demand for this product as a result of the transition towards electric mobility. The study begins with the definition of the industrial activity, including its production needs and a detailed analysis of the manufacturing process.
Subsequently, several layout alternatives are proposed, based on specific criteria related to the different functional areas of the building. These alternatives are evaluated using a system of weighted criteria, and once the most suitable option is selected, the required plot surface area is defined to ensure the feasibility of the proposal.
With the minimum plot characteristics established, different location alternatives are assessed, and the optimal one is selected through a multicriteria evaluation method. Once selected, a summary of the main characteristics of the site is presented, in accordance with the applicable urban planning regulations. The technical design of the building is also developed, including a description of the construction systems and construction process,
following the current regulatory framework.
The study also includes the justification of compliance with urban planning regulations and a specific annex addressing fire safety compliance, including fire load calculations and the rationale behind the choice of construction elements.
Finally, the study concludes with an economic estimate of the costs associated with the construction and commissioning of the proposed building, along with an assessment of the environmental and social impacts of its implementation and closes with the conclusions section
Short-term hydro scheduling and hydro unit commitment of pumped storage hydropower plant with multiple variable-speed units
No full textThe increasing need for flexible resources in power systems with high renewable penetra- tion motivates exploring how variable-speed technology can enhance the flexibility and efficiency of Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plants by allowing continuous power regulation in pumping mode. This thesis addresses the Short-Term Hydro Scheduling (STHS) and Hydro Unit Commitment (HUC) problems for a PSH plant with multiple variable-speed units. The proposed two-stage methodology includes a Nonlinear Pro- gramming (NLP) formulation for plant-level STHS, followed by a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) HUC model. A key contribution is the exploitation of the fact that the presence of variable-speed units creates a continuous region of head and power combinations where the plant can operate at nearly constant and maximum overall efficiency. This justifies using an aggregated plant-based model in the STHS, allowing for the explicit treatment of nonlinear hydraulic characteristics while avoiding the complexity associated with binary variables. Crucially, this decomposition enables the inclusion of technical and operational features that would otherwise result in a large and computationally demanding single optimiza- tion problem. In particular, the HUC model introduces an innovative layer of operational decision-making by considering each unit’s operating mode (turbine or pump, fixed or variable-speed) as decision variables, capturing the trade-off between efficiency and flex- ibility when using full power converters (FPC). However, the decomposition introduces some loss of accuracy, especially in representing spinning reserves and participation in secondary regulation markets. The models are validated using fictitious data inspired by realistic PSH plants in Spain. The results confirm the validity of the methodology and its potential to enhance opera- tional flexibility in future grid scenarios.Outgoin
Learning from an ordinary suburban post-growth struggle: not by design, nor by disaster
No full textSuburbs worldwide are described as unsustainable given the high levels of resource consumption, waste disposal, and their vulnerability to climate change. While mainstream academic and policy discourses have long focused on densification - hence growth - as a solution to address the suburban sustainability crisis, an emerging body of scholarship suggests that the spatial and socio-technical structure of suburbs may off er opportunities for a postgrowth scenario. However, much of this literature remains either theoretical or rooted in narrow, anecdotal examples of single policy interventions, which replicate some of the shortcomings seen in broader postgrowth and degrowth studies. By exploring an ‘ordinary’ postgrowth transition in a medium-sized city in Southern Europe, I argue that such a shift will not unfold as suggested by existing literature: neither as a purely top-down or bott om-up process, nor as a totalizing victory or defeat, or a binary outcome of ‘by Design or Disaster’. Instead, a suburban postgrowth transition emerges as a multi-actor, multi-scalar, and multi-dimensional process of multiple niches, where although there is a broad consensus on the need to transition away from a growth-dependant water and sanitation system, a struggle for a more radical postgrowth future is taking place.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft