Impact assessment of a new parking pricing écheme in Madrid city centre.

Ponencia en Congres

Metodología para la evaluación de planes de infraestructura de transportes: un enfoque integral.

En las ultimas decadas se viene produciendo un cambio en los objetivos que dirigen las labores de planificacion de infraestructuras de transporte. Este cambio ha provocado que, junto a criterios como la eficiencia economica, se incluyan objetivos de caracter mas estrategico, como la cohesion o los aspectos medioambientales. Sin embargo, no existe un consenso sobre la forma en que se deben incluir estos aspectos estrategicos en las metodologias de evaluacion oficiales, sobre todo en las que se refieren a inversiones a gran escala, como es el caso de los Planes de infraestructura de transporte. Esta ponencia recoge los resultados de una tesis doctoral que avanza en esta linea de investigation, mediante la propuesta de una metodologia para la evaluacion de Planes de infraestructura de transporte. La metodologia sigue un enfoque estrategico, basado en la utilization de herramientas de analisis territorial aplicadas sobre un soporte SIG (Sistema de Information Geografica). Los objetivos de evaluacion, basados en el paradigma del 'transporte sostenible', se han estructurado en torno a criterios de eficiencia, cohesion y medioambientales. Para su integracion se ha seleccionado un metodo de evaluacion multicriterio. La metodologia propuesta define un procedimiento de evaluacion que constituye una herramienta util en las labores de planificacion de infraestructuras, peraiitiendo la interaccion entre planificadores y decisores, asi como un instrumento de apoyo para la comunicacion de resultados a la opinion publica, gracias a la cuidada representation grafica de resultados. La validez de la metodologia ha sido comprobada mediante su aplicacion a un caso de estudio: el Plan Estrategico de Infraestructuras y Transporte 2005-2020 (PEIT) espafiol

La «techné» y la técnica moderna: una aproximación teórica.

Sin resume

Strategic assessment of transport infrastructure Plans on European integration. Application for the Spanish Strategic Transport and Infrastructure Plan 2005-2020

Traditional transport infrastructure assessment methodologies rarely include the full range of strategic benefits for the transportation system. One of these benefits is the contribution to cross-border integration. However, this is a key issue in strategic planning and decision-making processes, as its inclusion may increase the probability of large-scale transport infrastructure projects being funded. This paper presents a methodology for the measurement of the contribution of Transport Infrastructure Plans to cross-border integration. The methodology is based on the measurement of the improvement in network efficiency in cross-border regions of neighboring countries, via accessibility calculations in a Geographical Information System (GIS) support. The methodology was tested by applying it to the ambitious road and rail network extensions included in the Spanish Strategic Transport and Infrastructure Plan (PEIT) 2005-2020. The results show significant and important network efficiency improvements of the PEIT outside the Spanish border. For the road mode, while the Spanish average accessibility improvement accounts for 2.6%, average improvements in cross-border regions of France and Portugal are of 1.8%. And for the rail mode, the corresponding Spanish value is 34.5%, whereas in neighboring regions it accounts for 20.2%. These results stress the significant importance of this strategic benefit and the consequent need for its inclusion in strategic planning processes. Finally, the paper identifies the potential of the methodology when applied at different administrative levels, such as the local or state levels

Toward NS5 Branes on the Resolved Cone over Y^{p,q}

Motivated by recent developments in the understanding of the connection between five branes on resolved geometries and the corresponding generalizations of complex deformations in the context of the warped resolved deformed conifold, we consider the construction of five branes solutions on the resolved cone over Y^{p,q} spaces. We establish the existence of supersymmetric five branes solutions wrapped on two-cycles of the resolved cone over Y^{p,q} in the probe limit. We then use calibration techniques to begin the construction of fully back-reacted five branes; we present an Ansatz and the corresponding equations of motion. Our results establish a detailed framework to study back-reacted five branes wrapped on the resolved cone over Y^{p,q} and as a first step we find explicit solutions and construct an asymptotic expansion with the expected properties.Comment: 23+17pp, no figures; v2: references added, various clarification

Transition to a cyclable city: policies and variables affecting cycling commuting

The growing interest in achieving the objectives of cycling policies has increased the need to know the key variables that influence the use of the bicycle for daily mobility. This paper makes a contribution in this research line by examining a varying nature of variables – objective and psychological - and their influence on cycling commuting in the context of a “climber cycling city”: Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain). Statistical differences of the variables were determined between cycling commuters and commuters by other modes. The objective variables analyzed allowed us to identify the cycling commuting profile in Vitoria-Gasteiz, but showed a small effect on cycling commuting. However, analyses on seven cycling psychological variables identified and defined, showed a higher influence, especially “Individual capacities” and “Non-commuting cycling habit”. Their results allowed recommending a wide et of policy initiatives. These policy recommendations were made considering that Vitoria-Gasteiz is a “city in transition” towards cycling: a high level of cycling share for the Spanish contex t and the safety issue not being the main barrier for cycling. However the psychological latent variable “Non-commuting cycling habit” indicates that normalization of the bicycle as a mode of transport needs more progress

Efficiency and spatial equity impacts of high-speed rail extensions in urban areas

Urban areas benefit from significant improvements in accessibility when a new high speed rail (HSR) project is built. These improvements, which are due mainly to a rise in efficiency, produce locational advantagesand increase the attractiveness of these cities, thereby possibly enhancing their competitivenessand economic growth. However, there may be equity issues at stake, as the main accessibility benefits are primarily concentrated in urban areas with a HSR station, whereas other locations obtain only limited benefits. HSR extensions may contribute to an increase in spatial imbalance and lead to more polarized patterns of spatial development. Procedures for assessing the spatial impacts of HSR must therefore follow a twofold approach which addresses issues of both efficiency and equity. This analysis can be made by jointly assessing both the magnitude and distribution of the accessibility improvements deriving from a HSR project. This paper describes an assessment methodology for HSR projects which follows this twofold approach. The procedure uses spatial impact analysis techniques and is based on the computation of accessibility indicators, supported by a Geographical Information System (GIS). Efficiency impacts are assessed in terms of the improvements in accessibility resulting from the HSR project, with a focus on major urban areas; and spatial equity implications are derived from changes in the distribution of accessibility values among these urban agglomerations

Social impacts of high speed rail projects: addressing spatial equity effects.

Equity issues are increasingly included among social impacts of transportation investments. Equity implications take into account the distribution of effects among different societal groups (social equity) or regions (spatial equity). The analysis of the spatial distribution of effects is crucial, as certain transportation investments may contribute to increase imbalances between regions, i.e. negative spatial equity impacts. The planning process of a new high speed rail (HSR) corridor should take into account these equity considerations. HSR specific features make it a serious candidate to result in negative equity impacts. These are mainly the significant differences in commercial speeds between HSR and conventional rail, and the spatial separation between HSR stations. In this context, this paper describes and validates a methodology to assess spatial equity impacts of HSR based in the calculation of accessibility indicators. Accessibility analysis is a special type of spatial analysis technique which is increasingly used to assess spatial equity impacts of transportation investments. The proposed methodology is intended to support transport planners when confronted with the task to optimize efficiency and equity objectives. The validity of the methodology is tested with its application to alternative corridor developments of the Spanish HSR network based on the 2020 scenario included in the Spanish Strategic Transport and Infrastructure Plan 2005-2020 (PEIT). The case study application shows that the results are heavily influenced by the selection of the accessibility indicator, each one providing a complementary perspective on equity measurement. In addition, results highlight the important role played by the selection of the commercial speed. In particular, increasing commercial speeds from 220 km/h to 300 km/h in a given corridor results in significant negative impacts on spatial equity, as differences between locations with and without a HSR station are highlighted

Glueball Masses for the Deformed Conifold Theory

We obtain the spectrum of glueball masses for the N=1 non-conformal cascade theory whose supergravity dual was recently constructed by Klebanov and Strassler. The glueball masses are calculated by solving the supergravity equations of motion for the dilaton and the two-form in the deformed conifold background.Comment: 15 pages. Latex fil

Alimentarnos o desalimentarnos”: representaciones sociales sobre toxicidad y nuevas tecnologías alimentarias

Actualmente, las nuevas tecnologías aplicadas en la alimentación abarcan un número muy amplio de innovaciones, como los alimentos modificados genéticamente, las nuevas tecnologías de conservación (por irradiación, por altas presiones, o por campo eléctrico pulsado), los “alimentos funcionales” (productos alimentarios elaborados para cumplir una función específica, como mejorar la salud o reducir el riesgo de contraer enfermedades) o incluso las aplicaciones tecnológicas de la nanotecnología y la clonación. Se trata de aplicaciones respecto a las cuales una gran parte de los consumidores, aunque no dispongan más que de una vaga idea de sus características, pueden posicionarse adoptando conductas de rechazo. En este trabajo vamos a revisar en qué medida la formación de representaciones respecto a la utilización de las tecnologías alimentarias se relaciona con representaciones sobre toxicidad alimentaria y sobre riesgo alimentario, en el contexto de la producción alimentaria actual. Palabras clave: cultura, salud, comportamientos alimentarios, tecnología Abstract At present the use of new technologies in the food industry encompasses a wide range of innovations that include genetically modified foods, new techniques of food preservation (irradiation, high pressure, and pulsed electric field sterilization), “functional foods” (food products with enriched or modified nutritional content to enhance health or reduce health risks), and nanotechnology and cloning. Although most consumers have only a vague idea of what is involved in these new technologies, they may take a negative view of them and even reject them. In this paper we explore to what extent the formation of social representations concerning new food technologies is related to perceptions of food toxicity and health risks in food production. Key words: culture, health, eating behavior, tecnolog