A decision-supporting web model for integrating rural buildings with multi-criteria spatial planning

Este trabajo presenta un modelo web ideado para asesorar en la toma de decisiones en la integración de construcciones turísticas rurales en su entorno, mediante el intercambio de información y colaboración entre los agentes implicados. Se expone el uso de metodologías espaciales para la selección de localizaciones adecuadas a partir de la evaluación de criterios múltiples (ECM) en un marco web. Se emplean cuatro criterios para la evaluación, que se muestran en un mapa final global de idoneidad, basado en cuatro mapas intermedios parciales según los criterios de evaluación. Como resultado se utilizan tres niveles de información: página de información general, página para la toma de decisión espacial multi-criterio y una página con mapas de intercambio de conocimiento. El modelo propuesto, aplicado al caso práctico de ‘Hervás’, pretende conseguir una discusión esclarecedora entre distintas percepciones de integración de construcciones en su entorno, consi¬derando diferentes alternativas de decisión y posibles contribucionesThis paper presents an interoperable web-based model able to interchange information amongst different stakeholders and to use the information as a means of promoting collaborative activities to integrate rural tourism buildings into a landscape with a case study, Hervás (Spain). Preliminary results from a continuing research are explained with a spatial methodology for selecting the suitable locations of rural buildings, coupling multi-criteria evaluations (MCE) into a web framework. The aim of this methodology is to classify four evaluation criteria and then is to show a final composite suitability map based on the four intermediate maps. The model deals with three types of information: a general overview page; a multi-criteria spatial decision-supporting page; and, a knowledge sharing map page. Using the proposed model, the regional spatial planning is intended to discuss different perceptions of building integration with the surroundings from various decision alternatives and to elucidate this model’s contribution.-- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto BIA 2007-61166)peerReviewe

On the influence of conformity on wheel–rail rolling contact mechanics

The aim of this work is to assess the effects of conformity on local contact related quantities at the wheel–rail interface such as traction distributions, subsurface stresses and frictional work distributions. For this purpose conformal contact analyses are carried out by means of Finite Element (FE) models, and also with the exact rolling contact theory approach developed by Kalker, which has been appropriately adapted by the authors in order to take into account some of the effects of conformity. On the other hand, equivalent cases are analysed without taking into account the effects of conformity. In this way, the validity of the hypothesis of non-conformity is evaluated in different cases with varying degrees of conformity.Spanish Research Ministry MICINN/Economy and Competitiveness Ministry MINECO through contracts TRA2014-59599-R, including funding by the FEDER-ERDF European Regional Development Fund. Basque Government through IT.691-13-IT.919-16. The financial assistance received from UPV/ EHU through training and research unit UFI-11/29

On the non-proportionality between wheel/rail contact forces and speed during wheelset passage over specific welds

This study investigates the influence on the wheel-rail contact forces of the running speed and the shape and position of weld defects along the track. For this purpose, a vertical dynamic model in the space domain is used. The model is obtained from the transformation between the domains of frequency and space using a Rational Fraction Polynomials (RFP) method, which is modified with multiobjective genetic algorithms in order to improve the fitting of track receptance and to assist integration during simulations. This produces a precise model with short calculation times, which is essential to this study. The wheel-rail contact is modelled using a non-linear Hertz spring. The contact forces are studied for several types of characteristic welds. The way in which forces vary as a function of weld position and running speed is studied for each type of weld. This paper studies some of the factors that affect the maximum forces when the vehicle moves over a rail weld, such as weld geometry, parametric excitation and contact stiffness. It is found that the maximum force in the wheel-rail contact when the vehicle moves over a weld is not always proportional to the running speed. The paper explains why it is not proportional in specific welds.This work was partly financed by the European Horizon 2020 Joint Technology Initiative Shift2Rail through contract No 730841. The authors also wish to thank the Spanish Research Ministry MICINN/Economy and Competitiveness Ministry MINECO for their funding through contract TRA2014-59599-R, including funding by the FEDER-ERDF European Regional Development Fund, and also the Basque Government for financial assistance through IT919-16. The financial assistance received from UPV/EHU through the training and research unit UFI11/29 is likewise gratefully acknowledged

A contact mechanics study of 3D frictional conformal contact

A contact mechanics study of three-dimensional conformal contact with friction is presented, based on numerical calculations with Finite Element models and an extension of Kalker's exact contact theory which takes into account the effects of conformity. Both the normal and the tangential parts of the contact problem are studied in situations with different conformity levels, up to total contact angle variations in the contact patch of about 100, assessing the particular characteristics brought about by conformity and the differences with respect to non conformal contact. The study may be of interest in important industrial applications where conformal contact may be found, such as rolling bearings or the wheel-rail case.This work has been partly financed within the European Horizon 2020 Joint Technology Initiative Shift2Rail through contract no. 730841. The authors wish to thank as well the Spanish Research Ministry MICINN/Economy and Competitiveness Ministry MINECO for their funding through contract TRA2014-59599-R, including funding by the FEDER-ERDF European Regional Development Fund, and also the Basque Government for financial assistance through IT919-16. The financial assistance received from UPV/EHU through the training and research unit UFI11/29 is likewise gratefully acknowledged

Predicting rail corrugation in a real line by means of a fast non-linear vertical and lateral model

This work is the result of a problem of premature development of rail corrugation found on a new metro line. As urgent solutions, a rail grinding was carried out and friction modifier started to be applied. Experimental corrugation measurements have been taken periodically in this line at 60 control points since 2018, and an extensive database has been collected since then. As a second stage, a computationally efficient new model has been developed to predict corrugation growth under different running conditions. The aim of this work has been to obtain feasible solutions to delay corrugation growth in metro type lines.The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the European Horizon 2020 Joint Technology Initiative Shift2Rail (IN2TRACK3) [101012456], from the Spanish Research Ministry MICINN/Economy and Competitiveness Ministry MINECO and MCI/AEI [PID2019-109483RB-I00], including funding by the FEDER-ERDF European Regional Development Fund, and from the Basque Government [IT1764-22, PRE_2021_2_0047, KK-2023/00029]

An assessment of web application with public participation in spatial planning and decision-making for rural building integrations

Se presenta una aplicación web que facilita la integración de construcciones turísticas rurales en su entorno mediante la participación ciudadana. El objetivo general ha sido examinar cómo la investigación puede contribuir a apoyar la toma de decisiones de los usuarios, así como su aplicación a un caso de estudio empírico en Hervás, España. A partir de los datos obtenidos de los participantes, agrupados en cuatro grupos diferentes, este estudio examinó la identificación de modelos espaciales para las distintas percepciones y el intercambio de conocimientos de los procesos de integración de construcciones en el entorno rural, la certificación del posible impacto en el turismo y la definición de una interfaz de usabilidad. Los resultados demostraron que esta web puede facilitar un consenso sobre las recomendaciones para la ordenación del territorio con la implementación de alternativas de decisión.This paper presents the final web implementation and statistical survey results from a continuing broad research project. In this work, a web spatial planning application with public participation was developed to support suitable rural tourism building integrations into a landscape. The general goal of this paper is to examine how research can contribute to support users’ decision-making, together with its application to an empirical case study in Hervás, Spain. With the participants’ data set grouped by four different clusters, this study examined the identification of spatial models for the different perceptions and knowledge sharing of building integrations into a rural landscape, the certification of the possible impact on tourism and the definition of interface usability. The results demonstrated the web could achieve consensus on recommendations for the spatial planning with the implementation of decision alternatives.Trabajo patrocinado por: Universidad de Extremadura. Contrato puente para becarios predoctorales para Jin Su JeongpeerReviewe

Rural Landscape Architecture: Traditional versus Modern Façade Designs in Western Spain

In any rural area, ensuring both architectural quality and preservation of rural characteristics must be a goal of building design for sustainable environments. Imitation of traditional building techniques and use of natural materials are trendy again in landscape architecture of rural areas in Spain. This is especially visible in architectural design of façades of new building. However, there are few researches that focus on analyzing the visual effect of this new architecture in landscape integration. In regards, this chapter explores visual quality impact of a façade based on their complexity degree. The aim was in particular to identify visual preference patterns in ornamentations with stone or wood of novel rural buildings. New architectural styles from an experimental rural area of Mediterranean basin are chosen for this purpose. Here, 15 secondary housing images were used to evaluate the visual preference of different façades: traditional vs. new archetypes. During the measuring process, scientific design theories of façade complexity were considered. Seventy-five observers scored images selected using a five-point Likert scale, and results were analyzed by appropriate statistical tests (Cohen’s “d”). Surprisingly, as a main result, the simple use of natural materials is not enough to guarantee the design quality of a façade

Approximating the influence coefficients of non-planar elastic solids for conformal contact analysis

The exact contact theory is an efficient alternative to the more general yet computationally expensive Finite Element Method for the detailed study of elastostatic contact problems. For its application in conformal contact problems, the exact contact theory needs to be fed with influence coefficients (ICs) appropriate for non-planar solids. An analytical approximation of the ICs for non-planar solids was proposed in a previous work, avoiding the involved process generally necessary to obtain ICs accurately. This work presents further developments of this approximation, further comparison with numerically obtained ICs, and evaluates the errors incurred when using approximated ICs in conformal contact.This work has been partly financed within the European Horizon 2020 Joint Technology Initiative Shift2Rail, through contract no. 826255 (IN2TRACK2). The authors wish to thank as well the Spanish Research Ministry MICINN/Economy and Competitiveness Ministry MINECO and MCI/AEI for their funding through contracts TRA2014-59599-R and PID2019-109483RB-I00, including funding by the FEDER-ERDF European Regional Development Fund, and also the Basque Government for financial assistance through IT919-1

Frictional contact analysis in a spherical roller bearing

Numerical analyses of the roller–raceway contact have been carried out in a spherical roller bearing using frictional contact models of different complexity. The models used in the study include an implementation of Kalker’s exact contact theory named CECT (Conformal Exact Contact Theory) and detailed Finite Element models. The adequacy of the more simplified contact solutions is assessed by contrasting them with the solutions obtained with the more comprehensive models. Additionally, the use of the exact contact theory, well known in the wheel–rail application, is demonstrated in contact mechanics analyses in rolling bearings, describing relevant details of its implementation for this application. Situations with different normal loads and friction levels have been analysed, and two distinct steady equilibrium configurations of the roller have been identified.J.B.-L., J.S., and E.G.V. gratefully acknowledge financial support from the European Horizon 2020 Joint Technology Initiative Shift2Rail through contracts 826255 and 101012456 (IN2TRACK2 and IN2TRACK3), from the Spanish Research Ministry MICINN/Economy and Competitiveness Ministry MINECO and MCI/AEI through contract PID2019-109483RB-I00, including funding by the FEDER-ERDF European Regional Development Fund, and from the Basque Government through IT1764-22

Use of video and 3D scenario visualisation to rate vegetation screens for integrating buildings into the landscape

Las acciones humanas en el medio natural crean un impacto visual. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue examinar la aceptación de pantallas de vegetación para integrar edificios en el paisaje utilizando nuevas técnicas de visualización en tres dimensiones (3D), videos y participación pública. El status quo de dos áreas de estudio representativas del clima mediterráneo en España (una tierra adentro y otra costera) se modeló, colocando pantallas de vegetación alrededor de un edificio típico de la zona y variando la densidad, las especies y el diseño de las plantas. Después de establecer una serie de escenarios, se crearon videos que muestran una simulación de actividades de turismo al aire libre realizadas a diferentes velocidades para analizar cómo el movimiento afecta la percepción de la combinación de un edificio y una pantalla de vegetación en las versiones creadas. Los modelos 3D generados fueron sometidos a una encuesta para la participación del público y para permitir que los encuestados califiquen sus preferencias de los videos creados. Los resultados muestran que agregar vegetación siempre mejora la integración de los edificios en el paisaje. La pantalla de vegetación con la calificación más alta colocada alrededor de los edificios en los dos escenarios fue la vegetación de alta densidad, independientemente de la distribución o la especie.Human actions in the natural environment create a visual impact. The main objective of this study was to examine the acceptance of vegetation screens for integrating buildings into the landscape using new techniques of visualization in three dimensions (3D), videos and public participation. The status quo of two study areas representative of the Mediterranean climate in Spain (one inland and one coastal) was modelled, placing vegetation screens around a building typical of the area and varying the density, species, and layout of plants. After establishing a series of scenarios, videos showing a simulation of outdoor tourism activities performed at varying speeds were created to analyse how movement affects the perception of the combination of a building and vegetation screen in the versions created. The 3D models generated were subjected to a survey for public participation and to allow respondents to rate their preferences of the videos created. The results show that adding vegetation always improves the integration of buildings into the landscape. The most highly rated vegetation screen placed around the buildings in the two scenarios was high density vegetation, irrespective of the layout or species.• Gobierno de Extremadura y Fondo Europeo Regional de Desarrollo. Ayuda GR15179peerReviewe