Assessing the Ability to Act without Moving - The Movirtuality Index

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are becoming more relevant in finding solutions to the problems of mobility. However, better transportation systems attract more trips, congestion and pollution. One reason for this paradox is that most of the intervention of information systems in transportation systems aims to improve the current means of transportation by making them faster, safer, bigger and more affordable. This approach has neglected the direct way to solve the problem of mobility: reducing or eliminating the need of mobilization. This paper addresses this alternative solution by revealing the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) as facilitators of mobility in the virtual world in contrast to mobility in the physical world. It introduces the concept of Movirtuality, proposes and index for its measurement and a model of its associated factors

Improvement of the logistics service level related to compliance with deliveries to customers in a colombian company leather goods

A través de la revisión bibliográfica con teorías de varios autores se llega a un número adecuado de propuestas, técnicas, modelos y estrategias que permiten mejorar el servicio logístico enfocado principalmente con el cumplimiento de entregas a clientes que consumen productos marroquineros en Colombia.Through the literature review with theories of several authors is reached an adequate number of proposals, techniques, models and strategies to improve logistics service focused mainly compliance with deliveries to customers consuming leather goods products in Colombia

Life cycle analysis of electric and hydrogen buses to improve decision making

Els problemes de contaminació i canvi climàtic estan impulsant un impacte sense precedents en el medi ambient. No obstant això, també està produint un augment de les solucions tecnològiques disruptives. Quant al transport públic, les tendències es dirigeixen a la necessitat de limitar les externalitats negatives generades pel servei. En conseqüència, la introducció d'autobusos elèctrics i d'hidrogen dins de les flotes regulars de les agències de transport ha tingut un impacte rellevant. No obstant això, aquest tipus de vehicles té altres impactes rellevants a tenir en compte, i per a determinar adequadament l'impacte es requereix una perspectiva a llarg termini (no sols la perspectiva de la fase d'ús) i no sols es considera la perspectiva econòmica. Per això, en el present estudi es procedeix a l'avaluació del cicle de vida de dos models d'autobús, un elèctric i un altre d'hidrogen. Els models són el Volvo Sèrie 7900, per a l'opció elèctrica, i el CaetanoBus H2 City Gold, per a l'autobús d'hidrogen. Per tant, es busca una perspectiva holística de tots els impactes ambientals potencials relacionats amb la fabricació, la fase d'ús (que inclou el cicle del combustible i el cicle del vehicle) i les fases de fi de vida. La metodologia ReCiPe 2008 s'utilitza per a classificar i mesurar els possibles impactes ambientals. A més, també es realitza una anàlisi de la competència per a determinar els aspectes rellevants que han de canviar-se per a millorar l'opció del model d'autobús més desfavorable.Los problemas de contaminación y cambio climático están impulsando un impacto sin precedentes en el medio ambiente. Sin embargo, también está produciendo un aumento de las soluciones tecnológicas disruptivas. En cuanto al transporte público, las tendencias se dirigen a la necesidad de limitar las externalidades negativas generadas por el servicio. En consecuencia, la introducción de autobuses eléctricos y de hidrógeno dentro de las flotas regulares de las agencias de transporte ha tenido un impacto relevante. Sin embargo, este tipo de vehículos tiene otros impactos relevantes a tener en cuenta, y para determinar adecuadamente el impacto se requiere una perspectiva a largo plazo (no sólo la perspectiva de la fase de uso) y no sólo se considera la perspectiva económica. Por ello, en el presente estudio se procede a la evaluación del ciclo de vida de dos modelos de autobús, uno eléctrico y otro de hidrógeno. Los modelos son el Volvo Serie 7900, para la opción eléctrica, y el CaetanoBus H2 City Gold, para el autobús de hidrógeno. Por lo tanto, se busca una perspectiva holística de todos los impactos ambientales potenciales relacionados con la fabricación, la fase de uso (que incluye el ciclo del combustible y el ciclo del vehículo) y las fases de fin de vida. La metodología ReCiPe 2008 se utiliza para clasificar y medir los posibles impactos ambientales. Además, también se realiza un análisis de la competencia para determinar los aspectos relevantes que deben cambiarse para mejorar la opción del modelo de autobús más desfavorable.Pollution and climate change issues are boosting unprecedented impacts on the environment. However, it is also producing an increase of disruptive technological solutions. Regarding public transportation, the trends are heading to the need to limit the negative externalities generated by the service. Consequently, the introduction of electric and hydrogen buses within the regular fleets of transit agencies has had a relevant impact. However, this type of vehicles has other relevant impact to take into account, and to determine properly the impact a long-term perspective is required (not only the use-phase perspective) and the economical perspective is not only considered. For that reason, the present study proceeds a Life Cycle Assessment of two bus models, an electrical and hydrogen buses. The models are the Volvo 7900 Series, for the electrical option, and the CaetanoBus H2 City Gold, for the hydrogen bus. Therefore, it is seeking a holistically perspective of all the potential environmental impacts related to the manufacture, use-phase (which includes the fuel cycle and the vehicle cycle) and the end-of-life phases. The ReCiPe 2008 methodology is used to categorise and measures the potential environmental impacts. Furthermore, a competitive analysis is also conducted in order to determine the relevant aspects to be changed to enhance the most unfavourable bus model option

Are You Ready? A Proposed Framework For The Assessment Of Digital Forensic Readiness

This dissertation develops a framework to assess Digital Forensic Readiness (DFR) in organizations. DFR is the state of preparedness to obtain, understand, and present digital evidence when needed. This research collects indicators of digital forensic readiness from a systematic literature review. More than one thousand indicators were found and semantically analyzed to identify the dimensions to where they belong. These dimensions were subjected to a q-sort test and validated using association rules, producing a preliminary framework of DFR for practitioners. By classifying these indicators into dimensions, it was possible to distill them into 71 variables further classified into either extant or perceptual variables. Factor analysis was used to identify latent factors within the two groups of variables. A statistically-based framework to assess DFR is presented, wherein the extant indicators are used as a proxy of the real DFR status and the perceptual factors as the perception of this status

A wearable passive force sensor/active interrogator intended for intra-splint use for the detection and recording of bruxism

A wearable bite force sensing system proto type made up of a passive force sensor and an active interrogator/reader is described. The system is aimed a* bite sensing using a wireless link between the passive sensor to be located in (lie moutb and the external interrogator that can record the evolution of detected force. The interrogator generates a magnetic field that energizes the passive sensor which is also used as the information transmission earlier. The passive farce sensor does not need a battery to operate it because it can extract the energy it needs to operate fmin the carrier field generated by the interrogator. Occlusal force quantification can be used for the detection of bruxing episodes and registration. The small size of the components used (sind) and its further size reduction if they are integrated would allow an implant the size of a tooth

Rapid prototyping of multi-scale biomedical microdevices by combining additive manufacturing technologies

The possibility of designing and manufacturing biomedical microdevices with multiple length-scale geometries can help to promote special interactions both with their environment and with surrounding biological systems. These interactions aim to enhance biocompatibility and overall performance by using biomimetic approaches. In this paper, we present a design and manufacturing procedure for obtaining multi-scale biomedical microsystems based on the combination of two additive manufacturing processes: a conventional laser writer to manufacture the overall device structure, and a direct-laser writer based on two-photon polymerization to yield finer details. The process excels for its versatility, accuracy and manufacturing speed and allows for the manufacture of microsystems and implants with overall sizes up to several millimeters and with details down to sub-micrometric structures. As an application example we have focused on manufacturing a biomedical microsystem to analyze the impact of microtextured surfaces on cell motility. This process yielded a relevant increase in precision and manufacturing speed when compared with more conventional rapid prototyping procedures