GPR clutter amplitude processing to detect shallow geological targets

The analysis of clutter in A-scans produced by energy randomly scattered in some specific geological structures, provides information about changes in the shallow sedimentary geology. The A-scans are composed by the coherent energy received from reflections on electromagnetic discontinuities and the incoherent waves from the scattering in small heterogeneities. The reflected waves are attenuated as consequence of absorption, geometrical spreading and losses due to reflections and scattering. Therefore, the amplitude of those waves diminishes and at certain two-way travel times becomes on the same magnitude as the background noise in the radargram, mainly produced by the scattering. The amplitude of the mean background noise is higher when the dispersion of the energy increases. Then, the mean amplitude measured in a properly selected time window is a measurement of the amount of the scattered energy and, therefore, a measurement of the increase of scatterers in the ground. This paper presents a simple processing that allows determining the Mean Amplitude of Incoherent Energy (MAEI) for each A-scan, which is represented in front of the position of the trace. This procedure is tested in a field study, in a city built on a sedimentary basin. The basin is crossed by a large number of hidden subterranean streams and paleochannels. The sedimentary structures due to alluvial deposits produce an amount of the random backscattering of the energy that is measured in a time window. The results are compared along the entire radar line, allowing the location of streams and paleochannels. Numerical models were also used in order to compare the synthetic traces with the field radargrams and to test the proposed processing methodology. The results underscore the amount of the MAEI over the streams and also the existence of a surrounding zone where the amplitude is increasing from the average value to the maximum obtained over the structure. Simulations show that this zone does not correspond to any particular geological change but is consequence of the path of the antenna that receives the scattered energy before arriving to the alluvial depositsPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Ground penetrating radar assessment of historical buildings: the study of the roofs, columns and ground of Santa Maria del Mar, in Barcelona / GPR assessment of the basilica Santa Maria del Mar

Santa Maria del Mar is a magnificent gothic church built between 1329 and 1383 in a neighbourhood outside the city walls, over the remains of a more ancient church. The inhabitants of this district (merchants, downloaders of the port, ship-owners artisans and craftsmen) contributed and took part in the construction of this building. Nowadays it is one of the most representative gothic buildings of Barcelona. The structure was completely studied with GPR in order to obtain useful information for a further restoration. Some of the most interesting results were obtained during the evaluation of the vaults and roofs of the building. Radar images demonstrate that the inner structure was designed in order to diminish the load on the arches and walls. Hollow elements were used to support partly the roof in some areas. Moreover, walls, floors and columns were also assessed, and also the ground outside the building. A large number of graves were located under the church floor, but also some of the radar images suggest the existence of large underground walls. The GPR study of the columns and walls was completed with a seismic survey that demonstrates the existence of zones of non-consolidated materials and defined the joints of the ashlars.Postprint (author's final draft

La polémica del velo islámico: algunas estrategias feministas en el laberinto de las identidades

El mito cuenta que Ariadna le explicó a Teseo cómo derrotar al Minotauro y para no perderse en el laberinto le dio un hilo que ella sostendría a la entrada del recinto. Foucault fue más allá y dispuso que Ariadna se colgara del hilo de la identidad, de la memoria, del reconocimiento y Teseo, rotas las amarras, no regresó.3 Mi intención es proponer una versión del mito de Ariadna donde es ella la que se introduce en el laberinto para derrotar al Minotauro y debe desarrollar una serie de estrategias para conseguir su objetivo. Los símbolos de esta versión serían que el Minotauro se corresponde con el sistema sexo/género de dominación, el laberinto y sus pasadizos son los problemas, dilemas y paradojas del discurso de la identidad, el género y el reconocimiento y Ariadna, que es una perspectiva feminista crítica, busca superar al Minotauro, sin perderse en el laberinto.Programa Consolider "El tiempo de los derechos" (HURI-AGE

Indígenas y derechos colectivos: ¿es el multiculturalismo malo para las mujeres?

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El enfoque español sobre lenguaje del odio

Esta obra ha sido financiada por la I Convocatoria de Ayudas de Acción al Desarrollo de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a través de una subvención de la Agencia Regional para la Inmigración y la Cooperación de la Comunidad de Madrid

Identidad, pluralismo y racismo. Algunos límites infranqueables para el discurso de la diferencia

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Delitos Culturalmente Motivados. Diversidad Cultural, Derecho e Inmigración.

Este artículo analiza la defensa cultural o delitos culturalmente motivados. En concreto, se estudia la relación entre Derecho y diversidad cultural desde el enfoque de la aplicación judicial del derecho. La inmigración supone que existen nuevas dimensiones asociadas a la noción de pluralismo. Se explicarán los argumentos en contra del universalismo, del Feminismo y de la seguridad jurídica e igualdad en la ley y los argumentos a favor de que la diversidad cultural es inescapable y enriquecedora, frente al localismo y la no “neutralidad cultural” del Derecho Penal y la aplicación del Derecho sensible a la diferencia cultural.This article analyses culturally motivated crimes and the use of culture as means of criminal defense. In particular, it studies the relationship between law and cultural diversity with a focus on the judicial application of law, and examines emergent dimensions to the notion of pluralism due to immigration. The article therefore explains arguments against universalism, feminism, and legal certainty and equal application of the law; and argues rather that cultural diversity is inescapable and enriching, and that criminal law must confront local specificities and take a non- “culturally-neutral” position, as well as provide for a culturally sensitive application of the law.Publicad

Simplified Hand Configuration for Object Manipulation

This work is focused on obtaining realistic human hand models that are suitable for manipulation tasks. Firstly, a 24 DOF kinematic model of the human hand is defined. This model is based on the human skeleton. Intra-finger and inter-finger constraints have been included in order to improve the movement realism. Secondly, two simplified hand descriptions (9 and 6 DOF) have been developed according to the constraints predefined. These simplified models involve some errors in reconstructing the hand posture. These errors are calculated with respect to the 24 DOF model and evaluated according to the hand gestures. Finally, some criteria are defined by which to select the hand description best suited to the features of the manipulation task

El caso de los tiradores del Muro de Berlin. A vueltas con algunos debates clásicos de la Filosofía del Derecho del siglo XX

Es artículo analiza el caso de los centinelas del muro de Berlín que disparaban y mataron a algunas personas –que querían pasar la frontera-, amparados por una interpretación del Derecho de la RDA. Algunos años después de la unificación alemana, el Tribunal Constitucional condenó aquellos soldados por asesinato con el argumento que se trataba de Derecho “extremadamente injusto”. Esta es una forma particular de aplicación de la fórmula de Radburch. El objetivo de este artículo es estudiar el caso de los centinelas del Muro de Berlín bajo la perspectiva del la Filosofía del Derecho, particularmente en la controversia entre positivismo y iusnaturalismo. En este sentido, se comparan los enfoques de Kelsen y Radburch sobre el Derecho nazi. Y también se estudia la polémica Hart Fuller sobre el caso de “delator rencoroso”.This article analyzes the case of the border guards of the Berlin Wall that have shot and killed some people -who wanted pass the frontier- and those soldiers were protected by some legal interpretation under the German Democratic Republic Law. Some years after the German unification, the Constitutional Court condemned those soldiers for murder with the argument that that was an “extremely unjust” Law. This was a particular form of application of the Radburch’s formula. The objective of this article is studying the case of the Berlin Wall border guards under the perspective of the Philosophy of Law, particularly the controversy between positivism and iusnaturalism. In this sense, they are compared Kelsen and Radbruch approaches on Nazi law. And also it’s studied the Hart-Fuller polemics on the ‘grudge infomer’ casePublicad