Virtual acoustics of the Cathedral of Malaga (Spain)

The Catholic Cathedral of Malaga (southern Spain), located in the historical centre, is the most emblematic building of the city. Its construction began in 1528 and was completed in 1782, suffering several interruptions and modifications at the hands of various architects, and hence various architectural styles are superimposed: the interior is Renaissance and the façade is predominantly Baroque. Rectangular in shape, it has three naves of the same height, with the central nave being the widest. In this work, a 3D model of this ecclesiastical space is created in order to carry out an acoustic simulation of its sound field by using the simulation algorithms of CATT Acoustic software implemented in the new TUCT calculation motor (The Universal Cone Tracer). The virtual model created is calibrated through an iterative process of adjustment of reverberation times simulated in such a way that they differ by no more than 5% from those measured. These measured values were obtained from the impulse responses monitored in situ. Likewise, a comparison of the experimental and simulated results of other acoustic parameters in terms of their just noticeable differences (JND) was also carried out, which supports the reliability of the computational acoustic model implemented. This work is the starting point of a multidisciplinary project which aims to incorporate the acoustic aspects within the heritage value of Andalusian cathedral

Limitations and usefulness of maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and trunk growth rate (TGR) indicators in the irrigation scheduling of table olive trees

8 páginas.-- 7 figuras.-- 2 tablas.-- 32 referenciasMaximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) is the most popular indicator derived from trunk diameter fluctuations in most fruit trees and has been reported to be one of the earliest signs in the detection of water stress. However, in some species such as olive trees (. Olea europaea L.), MDS does not usually change in water stress conditions and trunk growth rate (TGR) has been suggested as better indicator. Most of this lack of sensitivity to drought conditions has been related to the relationship between the MDS and the water potential. This curvilinear relationship produces an uncertain zone were great variations of water potential do not imply any changes of MDS. The MDS signal, the ratio between measured MDS and estimated MDS with full irrigation, has been thought to be a better indicator than MDS, as it reduces the effect of the environment. On the other hand, though literature results suggest an effect of environment in TGR values, there are not clear relationship between this indicator and meteorological data. The aims of this work are, on one hand, to study the improvements of the baseline approach in the MDS signal and, on the other, study the influence of several meteorological variables in TGR. Three years' data from an irrigation experiment were used in to carry out the MDS analysis and six years' data for full irrigated trees during pit hardening period were used for TGR study. The comparison between MDS vs. water potential and MDS signal vs. water potential presented a great scattering in both relationships. Values of MDS signal between 1.1 and 1.4 were always identified with moderate water stress conditions (-1.4 to -2. MPa of water potential). However, since this MDS signal values are around the maximum in the curvilineal relationship with water potential, greater values of MDS signal (in the range of 1.1-1.4) were not necessary lower values of water potential. In addition, during low fruit load seasons MDS signal was not an accurate indicator. On the other hand, absolute values of several climatological measurements were not significantly related with TGR. Only daily increments explain part of the variations of TGR in full irrigated trees. In all the data analysed, the daily increment of average vapour pressure deficit was the best indicator related with TGR. The increase of this indicator decreased TGR values. In addition, the agreement between this indicator and TGR was affected for fruit load. Great yield seasons decrease the influence of VPD increment in TGR.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), (AGL2010-19201-CO4-03). Thanks are due to J. Rodriguez and A. Montero for help with field measurements.Peer reviewe

Comportamiento mecánico de restos de pirámides y templos americanos y los edificios históricos construidos sobre ellos

Una característica bastante habitual de monumentos y edificios históricos suele ser el estar construidos sobre otros edificios que bien fueron demolidos para levantar los actuales o bien fueron olvidados. Las nuevas construcciones suelen estar edificadas en parte sobre rellenos artificiales relativamente blandos y sobre zonas rígidas, restos de los muros anteriores. Esta disposición llega a provocar una serie de patologías características. Un caso singular de este tipo de levantamientos es la construcción de iglesias y palacios en Hispanoamérica sobre los restos de las antiguas pirámides. Además de los casos en México D.F., existen bastantes poblaciones en Guatemala y en el resto de México con pirámides parcialmente destruidas que están siendo o fueron utilizadas como base para cimentaciones de “nuevos” edificios históricos. Existen también otros casos en los que, al no disponer de cubrición en su parte superior, permiten el paso del agua de lluvia. En este artículo se muestra como el comportamiento de estas pirámides y construcciones antiguas incluidas en el terreno es más parecido al de estructuras de contención (muros) que al de plataformas horizontales debido a que el agua de lluvia aumenta los empujes sobre las capas exteriores y estos edificios, como sucede con pirámides de Guatemala y México, sufren una degradación importante. Además, se demuestra el efecto de rigidización lateral del terreno y reducción de asientos en las construcciones cimentadas sobre suelos que contienen estos restos, los cuales suponen una mejora importante de la capacidad portante.Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran CanariaColegio Oficial de Ingenieros Industriales de CanariasAgencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Informació

Regulated deficit irrigation in table olive trees during a sensitive period

Olive tree is one of the most important irrigated fruit at Spain (around 400.000 ha). The water needs in olive orchard are greater than the water availability. Therefore, deficit conditions are common at the field. The aim of this work is to study a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) scheduling based on midday stem water potential (Y) that limits irrigation before harvest. The experiment was performed at La Hampa experimental farm (Coria del río, Seville, Spain) in 45 years-old olive (cv Manzanillo). Three irrigation treatments in a complete randomized block design were performed during 2014.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), (AGL2013-45922-C2-1-R).Peer Reviewe

Deficit irrigation and emerging fruit crops as a strategy to save water in Mediterranean semiarid agrosystems

Water scarcity in Mediterranean climate areas will be progressively aggravated by climate change, population increase and urban, tourism and industrial activities. To protect water resources and their integrity for future use and to improve biodiversity, besides following advanced deficit irrigation strategies in fruit cultivation, attention could well be directed towards what are at present underused plant materials able to withstand deficit irrigation with minimum impact on yield and fruit quality. To this end, the state of the art as regards deficit irrigation strategies and the response of some very interesting emerging fruit crops [jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.), loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)] are reviewed. The strengths and weaknesses of deficit irrigation strategies and the mechanisms developed by these emerging fruit crops in the face of water stress are discussed. The response of these crops to deficit irrigation, with special attention paid to the effect on yield but also on fruit quality and health-related chemical compounds, was analysed in order to assess their suitability for saving water in Mediterranean semiarid agrosystems and to analyze their potential role as alternatives to currently cultivated fruit crops with higher water requirements. Finally, the factors involved in establishing an identity brand (hydroSOS) to protect fruits obtained under specific DI conditions are discussed

A more sustainable and efficient definition of Regulated Deficit Irrigation phases in olive (Olea europaea L.)

Resumen del trabajo presentado en 20th EGU General Assembly, clelebrada en Viena (Austria) del 04 al 13 de abril de 2018.Water is a limited but highly essential resource, with large quantities required for agriculture. Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) is an agricultural technique with great relevance for water savings worldwide, in which water stress is imposed by irrigation withholding based on fruit growth phases. The objective of this method is to identify phases where water stress has little or no effect on yield. RDI in olive has been demonstrated as an efficient tool to save water without negatively affecting yield. In olive trees, the mid-summer “pit hardening” is recognized as the most drought-resistant phenological stage, and has been used successfully for RDI water savings even though neither the description, boundaries, nor length of the period have been cleared reported. Many studies merely utilize a constant reference date for pit hardening, providing no explanation regarding how it was estimated or measured, while a few cases report the resistant to a knife-cut as the proper method to identify hardening, but leave unclear whether it represents its onset or completion. Recent studies have addressed these uncertainties, better showing the nature and duration of olive pit hardening, to which RDI can now be fitted. The objective of this current work was to determine if a RDI strategy more precisely fitted to pit hardening influences yield. In Ciudad Real (Spain) in 2016 and 2017, four irrigation treatments were applied in an ‘Arbequina’ olive orchard planted at 7 x 4.75 m in 1999. Treatment T1 consisted in water stress during pit hardening, aiming to maintain stem water potential (SWP) of -2 MPa during this phase. Treatment T2 was severely water stressed, aimed at maintaining -3 MPa during the same phase. In the rest of the season, before and after pit hardening, both treatments were irrigated to prevent water stress. Additionally, a highly deficit treatment was established (T3), irrigated only after pit hardening was completed. A control treatment (T0), irrigated following FAO methodology, was established to determine potential yield. Irrigation water savings with respect to T0 were approximately 45%, 57%, and 77% for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. There were no significant yield differences among treatments, although 2017 was nearly significant (P = 0.06), as when both years were considered together, due to the low yield of T3. Average yields from the two years were 25, 24, 23 and 21 kg tree-1 in T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. In conclusion, basing RDI on a new, more precise definition of the pit hardening phase produces similar yields with higher water savings, with the consequent environmental, economic and energetic benefits.Peer reviewe

Respuestas de oyentes y expertos musicales a una encuesta para valorar la percepción musical en salas de conciertos, auditorios y teatros

Para valorar la percepción musical en salas de concierto se diseñó una encuesta de 58 preguntas en la que cada una se valoraba de 0 a 5 puntos. A esta encuesta han respondido 1057 personas entre público en general y expertos musicales, sin formación especializada en acústica, tras la audición de un concierto en alguno de los 14 auditorios, salas de conciertos y teatros ubicados en diferentes comunidades de nuestro país (8 en el sur y 6 en levante). El análisis de las respuestas obtenidas ha mostrado que la fluctuación de la valoración media de cada una de las preguntas de la encuesta en una sala es un patrón que se repite aproximadamente en todas las salas estudiadas, formando una banda de aproximadamente 1 punto de variación en cada respuesta que contiene a todas las salas. Los límites de esta banda indicarían los extremos de respuesta subjetiva asociada a las salas de conciertos.Ponencia presentada en el Encuentro Ibérico de Acústica. EAA Symposium. Gandía(España). 2006.In order to evaluate the quality of the musical perception in concert halls, a survey with 58 items was designed in which each question was valued from 0 to 5 points. This survey has been replied by 1057 people between general public and musical experts without any specialized formation in acoustics, after the audition of a concert in any of the 14 auditoriums, concert hall or theatres, located in different regions of our country (8 in the south and 6 in the east). The analysis has shown that the fluctuation of the mean valuation of each question of the survey in a determined room is a pattern that is repeated approximately in all of the studied spaces, forming a band of approximately 1 variation point in each answer and that contains to all rooms. The limits of this band would indicate the ends of the subjective response associated to concert halls