Smarter grid through collective intelligence: user awareness for enhanced performance

This paper examines the scenario of a university campus, and the impact on energy consumption of the awareness of building managers and users (lecturers, students and administrative staff).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Modelling indoor air carbon dioxide concentration using grey-box models

Predictive control is the strategy that has the greatest reported benefits when it is implemented in a building energy management system. Predictive control requires low-order models to assess different scenarios and determine which strategy should be implemented to achieve a good compromise between comfort, energy consumption and energy cost. Usually, a deterministic approach is used to create low-order models to estimate the indoor CO2 concentration using the differential equation of the tracer-gas mass balance. However, the use of stochastic differential equations based on the tracer-gas mass balance is not common. The objective of this paper is to assess the potential of creating predictive models for a specific room using for the first time a stochastic grey-box modelling approach to estimate future CO2 concentrations. First of all, a set of stochastic differential equations are defined. Then, the model parameters are estimated using a maximum likelihood method. Different models are defined, and tested using a set of statistical methods. The approach used combines physical knowledge and information embedded in the monitored data to identify a suitable parametrization for a simple model that is more accurate than commonly used deterministic approaches. As a consequence, predictive control can be easily implemented in energy management systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

El monumento turriforme como forma de autorrepresentación de las élites locales

Para el hombre romano el concepto de la muerte se entendía desde una óptica particular.Tras la muerte y celebración del ritual funerario, se enterraba al difunto en una sepultura que podía adoptar gran variedad de formas, encaminadas a mostrar el poder y el prestigio del difunto y de su familia. De ahí la importancia de la elección del lugar -en las vías de entrada a la ciudad o en los cruces de caminos-para asegurarse la visibilidad de la tumba y con ello mantener la memoria del difunto. El monumento del tipo “aedicula” fue uno de los tipos mas utilizados por las élites locales como símbolo de su riqueza y poder.For Roman the concept of death was known from a particular perspective. After the death and the celebration of the funeral ceremony, the diseased was buried in a grave which can adopt a big variety of forms, aimed to show the power and prestige of the diseased and his family. From that point on the importance of the election of the place -in the entrance roads to the cities or in roads intersections-to be sure that the tomb is visible and, with it, to keep the memory of the diseased. “Aedicula” type of monument is one of the mostly used between the local elites as symbol of their wealth and strength.Departamento de Prehistoria, Arqueología, Antropología Social y Ciencias y Técnicas HistoriográficasGrado en Histori

Material multimèdia per a l'aprenentatge autònom en l'àmbit de la construcció

Peer Reviewe

Factors affecting rework costs in construction

Rework adversely impacts the performance of building projects. In this study, data were analyzed from 788 construction incidents in 40 Spanish building projects to determine the influence of project and managerial characteristics on rework costs. Finally, regression analysis was used to understand the relationship between the contributing factors, and to determine a model for rework prediction.Interestingly, the rework prediction model showed that only the original contract value (OCV) and the project location in relation to the company’s headquarters contribute to the regression model. The Project type, the Type of organization, the Type of contract and the original contract duration (OCD) which represents the magnitude and complexity of a project, were represented by the OCV. This model for rework prediction based on original project conditions enables strategies to be put in place prior to the start of construction, to minimize uncertainties and reduce the impact on project cost and schedule, and thus improve productivity.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

The creation of a competencial tool to analyze mlearning activities in Primary Education

En este texto se expone el proceso de construcción de una herramienta de análisis de actividades con el uso de dispositivos móviles en Educación Primaria. El principal objetivo es seleccionar, definir y clasificar indicadores competenciales que permitan el estudio de las actividades con aplicaciones. La metodología seguida es mixta, combinando procesos cualitativos y cuantitativos. La búsqueda de referentes teóricos sobre tecnología educativa y competencias, la observación participante en un contexto con alumnos y la aportación del juicio de expertos permiten la creación de una herramienta para analizar el diseño de la actividad, la actuación de los alumnos y sus producciones.The research is based on the creation of a tool for competence analysis of activities which use mobile devices in Primary Education. The main objective is selecting, defining and classifying competence indicators for the activity analysis. The methodology to get this aim is based on qualitative and quantitative methods. The search for theoretical framework on educational technology and skills, combined with participant observation in a context with students and the contributions of expert's opinion, allows the creation of a tool to analyze the design of the activity, the performance of students and their productions

Effective Building Modelling for Energy Performance Contracting

Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) are contractual agreements between beneficiaries and energy service providers, where budgets are established in relation to a determined level of energy performance. Hence, the problem of forecasting the energy performance of buildings in the EPC tendering phase becomes relevant for the reliability of the overall contract. Unfortunately, fuzziness and incompleteness often characterize the technical information supporting EPC call for tenders. Furthermore, buildings that are the subjects of EPCs are normally quite complex public buildings (hospitals, schools, etc.) usually relatively old and not technically well known. Gathering information about such buildings is a time consuming and expensive process within the usually short time frame of EPC call for tenders. This paper investigates the application of Grey-Box modelling to the energy performance forecast of complex buildings, in perfectly and poorly informed operational cases. The proposed methodology offers a potential solution to the EPC operational requirements since it requires a substantially reduced parameter set. Results show that the proposed Grey-Box modelling can be used to arrange a calibration set-up with good forecasting performance. Furthermore, Grey-Box modelling allows an effective management of the information uncertainty usually present in the EPC context

Implementation of predictive control in a commercial building energy management system using neural networks

Most existing commercial building energy management systems (BEMS) are reactive rule-based. This means that an action is produced when an event occurs. In consequence, these systems cannot predict future scenarios and anticipate events to optimize building operation. This paper presents the procedure of implementing a predictive control strategy in a commercial BEMS for boilers in buildings, and describes the results achieved. The proposed control is based on a neural network that turns on the boiler each day at the optimum time, according to the surrounding environment, to achieve thermal comfort levels at the beginning of the working day. The control strategy presented in this paper is compared with the current control strategy implemented in BEMS that is based on scheduled on/off control. The control strategy was tested during one heating season and a set of key performance indicators were used to assess the benefits of the proposed control strategy. The results showed that the implementation of predictive control in a BEMS for building boilers can reduce the energy required to heat the building by around 20% without compromising the user’s comfort.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Post-handover housing defects: sources and origins

In Spain, the high levels of inexperienced workers and the long chains of subcontracting contribute to the poor quality of dwellings. Althoughthe Ley reguladora de la subcontratación en el Sector de la Construcción (subcontracting law) has established quality measures, the number of customer complaints is still increasing. In this paper, a total of 2,351 posthandover defects derived from four Spanish builders and seven residential developments are classi fi ed according to their source and origin. The research reveals that the most common defects identi fi ed by customers at posthandover were derived from bad workmanship and were related to construction errors and omissions. Typical defects were foundtoincludeincorrectinstallation,appearancedefects,andmissinganitemortaskmainlyrelatedto fi nishingandconsideredtobeminor.No defects were caused by poor design because they are mainly detected and resolved during construction or become apparent after some years of use. This study demonstrates the negative impact of redoing defective work during the fi nal stages of construction and provides knowledge to de fi ne measures to improve the quality of the fi nished buildings, such as understanding customer expectations and preferences, training programs for workers, specialization of subcontractors, and tightening external controls prior to handover.Postprint (author's final draft

Learning to research from multiple triangulation

El objetivo de este artículo es mostrar la triangulación múltiple (datos, investigadoras, métodos, resultados y conclusiones) seguida en un proceso de investigación cualitativa enmarcada en el plan de estudios superiores de un máster en educación inclusiva. El trabajo se basó en una triangulación múltiple con el propósito de identificar los elementos que han permitido desarrollarla. Se pretende dar estrategias para que otras investigaciones incorporen la triangulación múltiple en su proceso de investigación. Este proceso de investigación no se ha limitado únicamente en modelos teóricos, sino que éstos se han complementado con la interacción de las voces. El estudio permitió triangular horizontalmente nuestras voces como investigadoras con las de las profesoras tutoras del máster y la voz del alumnado participante mediante la complementación de instrumentos de corte cualitativo. Escuchar y triangular estas voces ha permitido un avance metodológico en la investigación y dar más validez a los resultados y conclusiones obtenidas.The aim of this paper is to show multiple triangulation (data, research, methods, results and conclusions) followed a qualitative research process framed in the curriculum of a master's degree in higher education inclusive. The work was based on a multiple triangulation in order to identify the elements that have allowed develop and the results achieved. It aims to give other research strategies to incorporate multiple triangulation in the research process. This research process has not been limited only in theoretical models, but these have been supplemented by the interaction of the voices. The study allowed our voices triangulate horizontally as researchers with the master teachers and mentors of student voice participant through complementing qualitative cutting tools. Listen and triangulate these voices have resulted in advances in methodological research and give more validity to the results and conclusions.El trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la financiación del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación a través del proyecto número EDU2009-08669EDU