Training development for pavement preservation: chip sealing and fog sealing

The benefits of pavement preservation are only achieved if properly selected, designed, and applied. In some cases there is a lack of training when conducting one of these steps and the objective of applying pavement preservation techniques gets hampered. Literature on pavement preservation is extensive, but from a training point of view there is no structured approach on how to train people for selecting, designing, and applying pavement preservation techniques. The objective of the research is to develop a training learning management system that addresses pavement preservation treatments (chip seals, fog seals, slurry systems, and crack seals and fills) as they are dealt with during the phases of selection, design, and construction. This thesis will focus on training for chip seals and fog seals. Although Iowa was used as a case study, the findings can be applied in other locations. To begin the study, it was critical to identify the staff divisions to be trained and the treatments to be included. Through several meetings with the agency three staff divisions were identified. The staff divisions are: the maintenance staff (in charge of selection), design staff, and construction staff. Also, the treatments mentioned before were identified as the focus of the study due to their common use. Through means of needs analysis questionnaires and meetings the knowledge gap and needs of the agency were identified. The training presentations developed targets such gap and needs as the primary focus. The concepting (selection) training focuses on providing the tools necessary, such as life cycle cost analysis and asset management, to help make proper selections. The design trainings focus on providing the information necessary on the properties of the materials (mostly binders and aggregates) and how to make proper material selection. Finally, the construction trainings focus on providing equipment calibration procedure, inspection responsibilities, and visual images of poor and best practices. The research showed that it is important to train each division staff (maintenance, design, and construction) separately as each staff division has its own needs and interests. Also, it is preferred if each pavement preservation treatment is approached on its own. The research also determined that it is critical to create a structured plan aimed to develop a structured learning management system. It was also found that the results of this research are applicable in many locations across the nation, not just Iowa. Finally, it is recommended to research for the performance of pavement preservation treatments pre and post-training to compare their results and verify the effectiveness of the learning management system

Rapid bridge deck joint repair investigation - Phase III

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) technologies are changing the ways State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) do business. Subsequently, a three-phase project on the Rapid Bridge Deck Joint Repair Investigation is originated with the Iowa DOT. Phase I of this project focused on documenting the current means and methods of bridge expansion joint maintenance and replacement, and then identifying improvements. Based on the findings from Phase I, Phase II focused on the concept development. It was decided that a desirable approach would be to develop a design to move the joint away from the bridge deck at the face of the abutment to the approach slab that acts as a transition between roadway pavement and the previously mentioned bridge deck. By using this concept, a more effective joint can be created, where possible deicing chemical laden water leakage on the substructure components is no longer a concern for deterioration and its construction time can be comparable to that required for traditional joint replacements. Phase III is tasked with the further development of this concept, the deck over backwall concept. The research team proposed various joint detailing options taking numerous factors into account. With this information, the Iowa DOT developed a more detailed joint considering their construction practices, experiences, and preferences. Full-scale finite element (FE) models of two different bridges were realized. These models were analyzed with various loading conditions from dead loads, temperature loading, and live loads which corresponds to various truck loading conditions. Both models were validated using the original drawing plans and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Specifications providing deflection limits for vehicular bridges in the absence of other criteria. The impact of the deck over backwall concept on the existing bridge elements was studied with the FE models alongside a parametric study of various bridge skew angles. The concept along with the approach slab were modeled in the FE models. Results show an increment in bearing loads due to the dead loads and live loads alongside relevant deflection values and stress levels at certain points of interest across the new joint and approach slab. A cost estimate of different types of joints including the deck over backwall concept was developed. An initial estimate of the construction cost of the concept was realized to be used in the overall cost estimate. Results show that the deck over backwall concept over a bridge service life of 25 years constantly ranked 3th or 4th out of the nine types of joints that were considered. Over a bridge service life of 50 years, the concept produced the lowest cost in all possible combinations of inflation rates and fluctuations in installation cost and joint service life. In average, a break-even point (BEP) of 44 years was determined with a 2% interest rate and lowers as the interest rate is increased. An experimental investigation plan was realized with the Iowa DOT joint. Test results will be compared and correlated with the FE models. A plan for construction observation and post-construction testing was developed with an instrumentation plan and various real-life truck loading cases to be correlated with the FE models. Implementation of the deck over backwall concept and the post-construction plan is expected to be conducted in a future Iowa DOT construction season. With the results obtained from the FE models and, in the future, with the experimental investigation and the post-construction testing, the Iowa DOT can confidently design and further develop the deck over backwall concept

Business Management Teaching-Learning Processes in Times of Pandemic: Flipped Classroom at A Distance

The main objective of this study is to present a teaching-learning experience carried out before the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze its usefulness in times of social and academic restrictions, as well as its fit into an online teaching format. In recent years, much research has been done on the development and application of new teaching methodologies, but the current health emergency situation means that it is necessary to assess how these methodologies are useful in a context of social distancing. Managing teaching-learning processes following the closure of educational centers due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19 presents a significant challenge, not just in Business Management, but across all subjects. In the context of a pandemic, active methodologies take on greater importance as a way of adapting to new, socially distanced educational needs. This article presents a study carried out among students of Business Management at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). The study focuses on the context of the flipped classroom methodology, with students being asked to rate the effectiveness of this methodology, before and after the pandemic. Following the appearance of the pandemic, opinions have been strengthened in favor of the inverted classroom methodology, which is shown to be a powerful methodological alternative compatible with online teaching. Educational authorities must strengthen the technological tools as well as the teacher skills needed to develop capacities related to the rapid response to current and future teaching challenges.This research was funded by Basque Government, grant number IT-1327 and by University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), grant number PIE-HBP-111

La economía social ante la actual crisis económica en la comunidad autónoma del País Vasco

El presente artículo analiza la evolución socio-económica del conjunto de entidades que configuran el sector de la economía social en el País Vasco durante el periodo de crisis comprendido entre 2008 y 2014. Los datos empleados se han obtenido en un marco de colaboración entre universidad, administración pública y sector privado de la economía social. Los resultados sugieren que este tipo de organizaciones han evolucionado mejor, tanto a nivel del número de empresas como de empleo, que la economía general del País Vasco, a pesar de que el contexto de las políticas públicas dirigidas a la economía social se ha visto reducido durante estos años. Sin embargo, en términos económicos (medido a través del Valor Añadido Bruto generado), no han sido capaces de hacer frente a la crisis en iguales condiciones que el conjunto de la economía general. La principal contribución de la investigación presentada reside en que, a diferencia de estudios similares, se analiza la evolución de todas las entidades enmarcadas en la economía social tomando como referencia un amplio periodo temporal de la crisis actual

La economía social ante la actual crisis económica en la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco

This article examines the socio-economic evolution of the social economy sector in the Basque Country during the 2008-2014 period of economic crisis. Data have been obtained within a framework of collaboration between university, Basque Government and private sector of the social economy. The results suggest that such entities have evolved better, both in terms of number of enterprises and employment, than the general economy of the Basque Country, while the context of public policies aimed at social economy has worsened over the years. However, in economic terms (measured through the Gross Value Added generated), they have not been able to cope with the crisis in equal conditions to the general economy. The main contribution of this research lies in that, unlike similar studies, it discusses the evolution of the whole sector of the social economy, taking as reference a broad period of the current economic crisis.El presente artículo analiza la evolución socio-económica del conjunto de entidades que configuran el sector de la economía social en el País Vasco durante el periodo de crisis comprendido entre 2008 y 2014. Los datos empleados se han obtenido en un marco de colaboración entre universidad, administración pública y sector privado de la economía social. Los resultados sugieren que este tipo de organizaciones han evolucionado mejor, tanto a nivel del número de empresas como de empleo, que la economía general del País Vasco, a pesar de que el contexto de las políticas públicas dirigidas a la economía social se ha visto reducido durante estos años. Sin embargo, en términos económicos (medido a través del Valor Añadido Bruto generado), no han sido capaces de hacer frente a la crisis en iguales condiciones que el conjunto de la economía general. La principal contribución de la investigación presentada reside en que, a diferencia de estudios similares, se analiza la evolución de todas las entidades enmarcadas en la economía social tomando como referencia un amplio periodo temporal de la crisis actual

Marcial del Adalid (1826-1881): biografía, catalogación de su obra musical y su vinculación con la creatividad cultural socio identitaria

"Marcial del Adalid (1826-1881): biografía, catalogación de su obra musical y su vinculación con la creatividad cultural socio-identitaria" es un estudio monográfico sobre este ilustre compositor decimonónico gallego. Esta tesis se enmarca, desde el punto de vista metodológico, en la Musicología Histórica y en el género de la Biografía Histórica, en la Musicología Digital, como ámbito específico de las Humanidades Digitales, y en postulados de la Antropología Cultural simbólica para el análisis del valor socio-identitario en la obra de Marcial del Adalid. Esto permite estudiar a este compositor de forma holística: reconstrucción biográfica y genealógica; estudio y catalogación de su producción musical; estudio de su repertorio basado en folklore autóctono, que da lugar a su música de salón gallega, y su vinculación con la creatividad cultural socio-identitaria; y el devenir de su legado patrimonial, con interés especial en su biblioteca de música, que también se cataloga. Todo ello permite ahondar en el valor de Marcial del Adalid como personaje histórico y su aportación al patrimonio musical decimonónico.2022-11-2

Application of aqueous biphasic systems for emerging contaminant separation

Traballo fin de mestrado (UDC.CIE). Biotecnoloxía avanzada. Curso 2016/201

Euskal gizarte ekonomiaren bilakaera krisi garaian

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of Basque Social Economy in times of economic crisis, using the Basque Observatory of Social Economy's (OVES/GEEB) data and reports. The paper begins defining the concept of Social Economy that is assumed by the Observatory. After that, it carries out a descriptive analysis of the reality of the Social Economy based on three factors (employment, entities, and economic data). Finally, as a conclusion, the main trends in the evolution of the Social Economy and the main difficulties in the analysis are highlighted.; Valiéndonos de los datos e informes del OBSERVATORIO VASCO DE ECONOMÍA SOCIAL (OVES/GEEB), se quiere analizar la evolución de la Economía Social vasca en época de crisis. El trabajo comienza delimitando el concepto de Economía Social que asume el Observatorio, para posteriormente llevar a cabo un análisis descriptivo de la realidad de la Economía Social en base a los tres factores utilizados para ello (empleo, entidades y datos económicos). Por último, a modo de conclusión, se subrayan las principales tendencias de la evolución de la Economía Social, así como las principales dificultades para el análisis del sector.; Gizarte Ekonomiako Euskal Behatokiaren (OVES/GEEB) datuak eta txostenak baliatuz, Euskal Gizarte Ekonomiak krisi garaian izandako bilakera aztertu nahi da lan honetan. Lana Behatokiak aintzat hartzen duen Gizarte Ekonomiaren definzioa zehazten hasten da. Ondoren, Euskal Gizarte Ekonomiaren errealitatea islatzen duen azterketa deskriptiboa egiten da, hau da, bilakera aztertzeko erabili diren hiru faktoreen (enplegua, entitateak eta datu ekonomikoak) analisia burutzen da. Eta azkenik, ondorio modura, Gizarte Ekonomiaren eboluzioaren ildo nagusienak azpimarratzearekin batera, sektorearen bilakaeraren azterketa egin ahal izateko egun dauden zailtasunak aipatzen dira