Classification and assessment of construction materials for a preliminary evaluation of environmental impacts in Lima, Peru

The environmental impacts due to the construction materials are measured through life cycle assessment programs at an additional cost for construction companies, which means that these impacts are often disregarded. A classification that does not have any additional costs to the company allows for the identification of preliminary environmental impacts by building, by group of buildings, or by construction company. Therefore, this study aims to develop a classification method for construction materials which may evidence their environmental impacts. This classification method was then applied and verified through 11 case studies involving buildings in Lima, Peru, and information on environmental impact patterns by type of building or family of materials was collected. As construction in Lima has become quite standardized, the statistics obtained provide a first approach to environmental impacts from construction materials at the local level

La búsqueda de una identidad artística La abstracción en las ideas de Luis Miró Quesada

En arquitectura, la abstracción fue empleada por la modernidad para distanciarse de los estilos arquitectónicos, como una búsqueda de simplicidad volumétrica y negación del pasado. Luis Miró Quesada desarrolló los conceptos de formas y fórmulas, para diferenciar la composición arquitectónica como una búsqueda por sintetizar las formas básicas, a diferencia de aquella que se basaba en preceptos compositivos relacionados con los estilos locales. En dicha dualidad, Luis Miró Quesada define la diferencia entre ornamento y decoración, con el objetivo de enfatizar los aspectos técnicos y constructivos del edificio, como característica compositiva de la arquitectura moderna

Criterios de sostenibilidad para la vivienda social de la costa peruana

En el Perú, en los últimos diez años, se han desarrollado algunas iniciativas sobre sostenibilidad, entre las que destaca la aprobación del Código Técnico de Construcción Sostenible en el 2015 –aunque solo se limita a fomentar la eficiencia energética e hídrica– como también la aparición del Bono MiVivienda Sostenible, un subsidio que otorga el Estado a través del programa MiVivienda a las personas que accedan a una vivienda calificada como sostenible, asumiendo el incremento del costo por resolver las variables del bono y fomentando la construcción de vivienda social sostenible. Esta investigación busca evaluar los criterios de sostenibilidad que se están utilizando en el bono, para lo cual es necesario identificar cuáles son aquellos que podrían aplicarse a la realidad de la vivienda social de la costa peruana.En el Perú, en los últimos diez años, se han desarrollado algunas iniciativas sobre sostenibilidad, entre las que destaca la aprobación del Código Técnico de Construcción Sostenible en el 2015 –aunque solo se limita a fomentar la eficiencia energética e hídrica– como también la aparición del Bono MiVivienda Sostenible, un subsidio que otorga el Estado a través del programa MiVivienda a las personas que accedan a una vivienda calificada como sostenible, asumiendo el incremento del costo por resolver las variables del bono y fomentando la construcción de vivienda social sostenible. Esta investigación busca evaluar los criterios de sostenibilidad que se están utilizando en el bono, para lo cual es necesario identificar cuáles son aquellos que podrían aplicarse a la realidad de la vivienda social de la costa peruana

Criterios de clasificación de la vivienda informal: una revisión sistemática PRISMA como herramienta para establecimiento y análisis de categorías

In the analysis of the informal city, the description of housing units is usually more relevant than the study methods. While there are precise methodologies for the metropolitan and neighbourhood scales, the approaches for the study of housing units, when confronted with reality, are insufficient for reaching the complexity of the problem. The aim of the study is to identify and synthetize the used methodologies for the study of informal housing, from the second half of the 20th century.We applied PRISMA methodology for the systematic revision of available literature, which allows the identification of relevant papers based on search terms. We filtered systematically a total of 203 indexed papers, and we obtained a final selection of 19 papers. We analysed the approach methodologies in order to identify the indicators used by the authors for the analysis of the informal house.The set of indicators was organised in six aspects and 26 variables, in a synthesis matrix of existing studies, which reveals the different possible approaches. In this study, we observe the complexity of the phenomenon through multidisciplinary aspects, and we propose a theoretical tool for future research.En el análisis de la ciudad informal, la descripción de las unidades de vivienda suele ser más relevante que la metodología de aproximación. Mientras que las escalas metropolitana y barrial poseen metodologías exhaustivas, los enfoques para la observación de la vivienda, al ser confrontados con la realidad, son insuficientes para abarcar la complejidad de la problemática. El objetivo del estudio es identificar y sintetizar las metodologías utilizadas para el estudio de la vivienda informal a partir de la segunda mitad del siglo XX.Se aplicó la metodología PRISMA para la revisión sistemática de la literatura disponible, que permite identificar artículos relevantes en base a términos de búsqueda. Se filtraron un total de 203 artículos indexados y se obtuvo una selección final de 19 artículos. Analizamos las metodologías de aproximación para identificar los indicadores utilizados por los autores para el análisis de la vivienda informal. El conjunto de indicadores se organizó en seis aspectos y 26 variables, en un cuadro de síntesis de los estudios existentes, que revela los distintos posibles enfoques. En este estudio se observa la complejidad del fenómeno a través de aspectos multidisciplinarios, y se propone una herramienta teórica para el planteamiento de futuras investigaciones.

Systematic evidence on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals: Most chemicals detected in food contact materials are not listed for use

Food packaging is important for today’s globalized food system, but food contact materials (FCMs) can also be a source of hazardous chemicals migrating into foodstuffs. Assessing the impacts of FCMs on human health requires a comprehensive identification of the chemicals they contain, the food contact chemicals (FCCs). We systematically compiled the “database on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals” (FCCmigex) using information from 1210 studies. We found that to date 2881 FCCs have been detected, in a total of six FCM groups (Plastics, Paper & Board, Metal, Multi-materials, Glass & Ceramic, and Other FCMs). 65% of these detected FCCs were previously not known to be used in FCMs. Conversely, of the more than 12’000 FCCs known to be used, only 1013 are included in the FCCmigex database. Plastic is the most studied FCM with 1975 FCCs detected. Our findings expand the universe of known FCCs to 14,153 chemicals. This knowledge contributes to developing non-hazardous FCMs that lead to safer food and support a circular economy

Future Opportunities for IoT to Support People with Parkinson’s

Recent years have seen an explosion of internet of things (IoT) technologies being released to the market. There has also been an emerging interest in the potentials of IoT devices to support people with chronic health conditions. In this paper, we describe the results of engagements to scope the future potentials of IoT for supporting people with Parkinson’s. We ran a 2-day multi-disciplinary event with professionals with expertise in Parkinson’s and IoT, to explore the opportunities, challenges and benefits. We then ran 4 workshops, engaging 13 people with Parkinson’s and caregivers, to scope out the needs, values and desires that the community has for utilizing IoT to monitor their symptoms. This work contributes a set of considerations for future IoT solutions that might support people with Parkinson’s in better understanding their condition, through the provision of objective measurements that correspond to their, currently unmeasured, subjective experiences

Mobility in a Globalised World 2013

The term mobility has different meanings in the following science disciplines. In economics, mobility is the ability of an individual or a group to improve their economic status in relation to income and wealth within their lifetime or between generations. In information systems and computer science, mobility is used for the concept of mobile computing, in which a computer is transported by a person during normal use. Logistics creates by the design of logistics networks the infrastructure for the mobility of people and goods. Electric mobility is one of today‘s solutions from engineering perspective to reduce the need of energy resources and environmental impact. Moreover, for urban planning, mobility is the crunch question about how to optimise the different needs for mobility and how to link different transportation systems. In this publication we collected the ideas of practitioners, researchers, and government officials regarding the different modes of mobility in a globalised world, focusing on both domestic and international issues. We are grateful for the academic hospitality at the Stuttgart Media University for our conference 2013 "Mobility in a globalised world" in September 2013. We would like to thank Prof. Dr Johannes Maucher and Dr. Heiko Roßnagel for their technical support during our sojourn in Stuttgart

Examining the accuracy and in-game performance effects between pre- and post-performance routines: A mixed methods study

ObjectivesResearchers have identified that pre-performance routines improve performance under pressure, yet have not investigated the effects of post-performance routines. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine whether the type of performance routine training could improve tenpin bowling accuracy and in-game performance.DesignA mixed-method design was adopted, whereby the impact of a performance routine intervention on performance accuracy and in-game performance was examined. This was followed by participants completing semi-structured interviews which explored the perceived effect of those routines.MethodThirty-six experienced tenpin bowlers completed 30 accuracy shots pre- and post-intervention training, with league scores obtained for in-game performance comparison. Four groups (i.e., pre-performance routine [PPR], post-performance routine [POST], combined pre-post routine, and a control group) practiced 12 games across four weeks while listening to the group specific routine instruction on an IPod.ResultsIt was noted that accuracy improved (albeit non-significantly) for the PPR and combined pre-post routine group, but not the other groups. Critically, all intervention groups (PPR, POST & COMBO) improved in-game performance. The qualitative data indicated that both the PPR and POST was perceived to influence positively performance, attentional and emotional control, self-awareness, self-confidence, motivation. The PPR was also considered to enhance a state of readiness, and perceived control.ConclusionsResults indicate that the PPR training enhanced accuracy and in-game performance, with the POST training acting as a supportive role for in-game performance as evidenced by the qualitative and quantitative data. Future research should continue to investigate the effects of POSTs