22 research outputs found
Digital education platforms in engineering: teaching and researching
[EN] This Digitalization has provided social transformation that opens up new chances in all living environment that also involves the education. This phenomenon arrives in teaching methodologies and how knowledge of teaching is processed. Nowadays, among the large number of digital tools the e-learning educational platforms are widely used for its versatility and for the information that it provides about the use of itself. Thus, digital technologies have deeply transformed both, the collecting data methods and the amount of data in the field of education research. In this work, we used a Web 2.0 e-learning platform with a large variety of applications (repository, content, news, forums, etc.) to encourage student satisfaction and motivation in the environmental engineering area. The platform provides a huge amount of data of its use such as number of visits, the average time of the visit, number of activities, number of tasks performed, and day of the week activity. However, a deep study of how the platform is employed by the students the strength and the weakness and the risks of this tool have not been done in this area. For that, this study is carried out in a subject named ¿Environmental Impact¿ that contributes 45h to the master degree of ¿Environmental Engineering¿ in the first year taught in the Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain). The most characteristic of this subject is the heterogeneous composition of the student since they come from different degrees, universities, ages, and knowledge. Thus, this exploratory empirical research aims to determine if there are different ways of uses of this e-learning methodology between students depending on their academic trajectory to optimize the tool. Date from the platform is collected and analyse applying the statistical methods such the analysis of variance in SPSS 16.0 to descriptive the starting point from which we began and to obtain answers to the preliminary hypotheses formulated about the use of the e-tools. The results show that the use of Web 2.0 fosters academic progress in the subjects taught due to the wide range of learning experiences. One of the most valued features by students is the freedom of the time and space dimension of the platforms. It is also found that the learning platform raises collaborative work between students increasing academic progressPaches Giner, MAV.; Romero Gil, I. (2021). Digital education platforms in engineering: teaching and researching. IATED Academy. 6457-6464. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2021.1292S6457646
Deep learning through the case method
[EN] Environmental Impact Assessment is a subject that aims to sensitize students about the need to study and adequately foresee the consequences that human actions have on the environment. Thus, this subject allows to address the syllabus in an interdisciplinary, complex and dynamic work environment. To success, it is essential that students achieve deep learning, and be able to identify patterns and connections in systems. For that, the subject must be developed as a whole. For this reason, the Case Method is chosen as the learning methodology, by facilitating the relationship with the reality of the selected cases and achieving in the students a greater capacity for analysis, interpretation and use of the concepts worked, enhancing their meaningful learning. Thus, the objective of this research was to verify whether the use of the case method, a methodology focused on learning, improved the learning strategies of students at the University level. For this, we used a pre-test/post-test experimental design using the CEVEAPEU questionnaire.
The results showed that students use more and better learning strategies. There are significant differences in the students' learning strategies, in the global score, in the two scales and four out of six subscales: Motivational strategies, Metacognitive strategies, Information search and selection strategies, and Processing and use strategies. The use of the case method as a pedagogical tool allowed students to learn better, both individually and in groups. This methodology required a proactive, constant and cooperative participation of the students, that promote the responsibility in their work development and allows to get closer to their professional future.Romero Gil, I.; Paches Giner, MAV. (2021). Deep learning through the case method. IATED Academy. 5527-5536. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2021.1118S5527553
Selection of an indicator to assess a highly modified saline ecosystem
[EN] The Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) determines that all water bodies must achieve a good eco-logical status. The solar salterns system of Mata-Torrevieja (Spain) has been designated as Heavily ModifiedWater Bodies (HMWB). This ecosystem is a transitional water body (TW) largely conditioned by socio-economic managementplan and the related human activities that takeplace. Thus, WFD establishesas obligatorythe determination of their ecological potential, and not their ecological status. In order to define the ecologicalpotential, it is necessary to determine previously the chemical and biological conditions of the water body.This paper is focused on the analysis of physical-chemical parameters of a saltern system during 2008¿2016, inorder to establish a starting point for the implementation process of the WFD in this type of ecosystem (TW-HMWB). The behavior of salinity and physical-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, nutrients) has been stud-ied. Salinity was the most relevant parameter studied to define pressures for these water bodies. However, totalphosphorus turned out to be a good potential status indicator. It would be one of the most suitable chemical pa-rameters to propose a methodology for the determination of the ecological potential in the salterns.This research was funded by Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente (IIAMA) from Universitat Politècnica de València and several regional departments (Conselleria d'Educació, Formació i Ocupació; Conselleria d'Infraestructures, Territori i Medi Ambient and Conselleria d'Agricultura, Pesca, Alimentació i Aigua) de la Generalitat Valenciana.Romero Gil, I.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Martínez-Guijarro, MR. (2019). Selection of an indicator to assess a highly modified saline ecosystem. The Science of The Total Environment. 693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133656S69
Sources, Mobility, Reactivity, and Remediation of Heavy Metal(loid) Pollution: A Review
[EN] Heavy metal(loid)s are a group of elements present commonly in the environment, including Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, and As elements, among others. While these elements could have their origins in natural sources, anthropogenic activities, such as mining, agriculture, industry, etc., are also responsible for enhancing the concentration of these elements in the ecosystems up to undesirable levels. A few of these metal(loid)s serve as necessary micronutrients for life, while the others are extremely harmful and might affect the entire trophic chain upon entering the natural ecosystems due to their mobility and toxicity characteristics. Most of these heavy metal(loid) pollutants are already recognized for their harmful effects; nevertheless, their environmental control encounters obstruction due to various factors. In this context, the present report details the key points regarding the anthropogenic sources of heavy metal(loid) pollution, which are increasing rapidly with time due to the emerging industry practices and processes, the elements causing this kind of pollution, and the physicochemical processes of these elements occurring in the environment¿air interface, soil, and water-air interface. These elements exert a severe impact on the environment, which could be mitigated through the development and application of various remediation techniques. Therefore, the present report concludes with a final discussion on the various remediation treatments currently available for reducing the heavy metal(loid) contamination level in both water and soil.Martínez-Guijarro, MR.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Romero Gil, I.; Aguado García, D. (2021). Sources, Mobility, Reactivity, and Remediation of Heavy Metal(loid) Pollution: A Review. Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research. 2(4):1-30. https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2104033S1302
Model performance of partial least squares in utilizing the visible spectroscopy data for estimation of algal biomass in a photobioreactor
[EN] Spectroscopy technology and statistical methods (Partial Least Squares) have been integrated to develop a model that allows estimating the microalgal biomass in a photobioreactor. The model employing PLS combines the absorption spectrum measurements in the visible range (400-750 nm) with a microalgae cell density in a water sample. First, a calibration model was constructed using a calibration data set, and then, the predictive capacity of the model was determined by cross validation. Finally, an external validation of the predictive performance of the model was carried out with an independent data set. To test the accuracy of the model it was applied to different culture conditions yielding a predictive capacity of 96.7 %. The results achieved are highly satisfactory due to the good lineal adjustment between observed cell densities vs. predicted ones obtained.
According to the results obtained, the application of the model is a useful tool for the management and the decision-making process when operating a photobioreactor. Moreover, this model may boost the real-time measurements and may represent a previous step for further technical development in the ¿internet of things¿ applied to the management of the photobioreactor.This research project has been supported by the Spanish Research Foundation (CICYT, projects CTM2011-28595-C02-01 and CTM2011-28595-C02-02), whose support is gratefully acknowledged.Martínez-Guijarro, MR.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Ferrer, J.; Seco Torrecillas, A. (2018). Model performance of partial least squares in utilizing the visible spectroscopy data for estimation of algal biomass in a photobioreactor. Environmental Technology & Innovation. 10:122-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2018.01.005S1221311
Enrichment and contamination level of trace metals in theMediterranean marine sediments of Spain
[EN] Coastal ecosystems are heavily polluted by human activities. These pollutants reach the aquatic environment and accumulate in the sediment. Among the chemical pollutants, metals represent a notable hazard since they are not biodegradable and have the capability to bioaccumulate, resulting in toxic effects in both the short and long term. In this study, the content of metals and As in marine sediments of the Spanish Mediterranean coast was determined. A total of four annual sampling campaigns were carried out along the Valencian Community coastline, where the presence of eight trace elements (Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu, Hg, Zn and As) was determined. In this area, the presence of the contaminants is due to both natural and anthropogenic sources. The results obtained allowed, first, to establish nearness Reference Values of the area under study, second, to use several pollution indices (Contamination Factor, Enrichment Factor, Geoaccumulation Factor, Nemerow Pollution Index, and Modified Pollution Index) to determine contamination levels in the area, and finally to select the best index to apply in this coastal zone. The best indices to use in this region are EF and MPI since both take into consideration the natural contributions of the elements studied. The results revealed that according to the index used only two studied zones are classified as Heavily and Severely polluted. The remaining zones (between 25 and 29%) were classified as Moderately or Moderately to Heavily polluted and most of the zones (63% to 100%) were classified as Unpolluted/Low Polluted and Unpolluted/Slightly Polluted. The outcomes obtained with this work indicate that in general, the Valencian coast does not present significant levels of pollution due to the studied trace elements.Martínez-Guijarro, MR.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Romero Gil, I.; Aguado García, D. (2019). Enrichment and contamination level of trace metals in theMediterranean marine sediments of Spain. The Science of The Total Environment. 693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.372S69
Active methodologies for deep learning in sustainable development goals
[EN] The general objective of this project was to improve the quality of student learning, from the point of view of a global objective, sustainable development, and therefore aligned with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). It is intended that students achieve deep learning in this area, favouring the transfer of the knowledge acquired to their future professional and social life. This deep learning promotes the integral development of the student, not only from an academic point of view, but also social and ecological.
Project Based Learning (PBL), as an active learning methodology, is being widely used as a deep learning strategy. In this project, it has been used in several subjects, from different degrees, schools, and campus. The learning strategies have been evaluated by means of a learning evaluation questionnaire (CEVEAPEU) before and after the application of the PBL. In addition, student satisfaction and generic skills (i.e. ethical, environmental and professional responsibility) have been assessed.
The project aims to find a solution a specific real case, such as an environmental or social problem. The results show that PBL has favoured the cooperative work of students and has increased their motivation. The students could select the topics that interest them the most and that they consider important in their professional future. They have worked collaboratively and actively, planning the project, making decisions, implementing it, and evaluating it. The students have ¿acted¿ and the teachers have been advisors or guides, thus promoting intrinsic motivation. This active methodology has allowed students to learn in a collaborative and cooperative way, fostering their motivation and achieving deep learning in environmental aspects.The project of innovation and educational improvement in which this communication is framed has
received financial support from the Institute of Education Sciences (ICE) of the Universitat Politècnica
de València (UPV) Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora Educativa (PIME/19-20/174 ), Objetivo Agenda
2030 y UPV 2020: Aprendizaje ambiental profundo en la UPV.Romero Gil, I.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Sebastiá-Frasquet, M.; Hernández Crespo, C. (2021). Active methodologies for deep learning in sustainable development goals. IATED Academy. 5506-5513. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2021.1115S5506551
Long-term study of seasonal changes in phytoplankton community structure in the western Mediterranean (Valencian Community)
[EN] Ecosystem-based management is one of the strategies to protect the coastal areas. One of the key elements is phytoplankton community composition since it represents a good indicator of anthropogenic pressures. This identifies the seasonal patterns of phytoplankton, and its alterations by the stress factors induced by human activities are highly valuable. This research represents the first attempt to study that 476 km of western Mediterranean coastal belongs to the Valencian Community (Spain) based on the phytoplankton composition approach. The water samples during a 5-year period (6757 water samples) were taken to determine its phytoplankton group¿s dynamics and its relationship with anthropogenic stressors by means of a series of plots and statistical analyses. Diatoms are the group that most contribute to the whole community composition with two periods of maximum abundance. The Prasinophyceae and Cryptophyceae show unimodal patterns varying
its maximum values depending on the season. The picocyanobacteria group exhibited the clearest and bestdefined pattern. Other groups have no clear seasonal pattern and become abundant in areas of higher anthropogenic pressure.Paches Giner, MAV.; Aguado García, D.; Martínez-Guijarro, MR.; Romero Gil, I. (2019). Long-term study of seasonal changes in phytoplankton community structure in the western Mediterranean (Valencian Community). Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 26(14):14266-14276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04660-xS14266142762614Alvain S, Moulin C, Dandonneau Y, Loisel H (2008) Seasonal distribution and succession of dominant phytoplankton groups in the global ocean: a satellite view. 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Microalgae population dynamics growth with AnMBR effluent: effect of light and phosphorous concentration
[EN] The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of light intensity and phosphorus concentration on biomass growth and nutrient removal in a microalgae culture and their effect on their competition. The photobioreactor was continuously fed with the effluent from an anaerobic membrane bioreactor pilot plant treating real wastewater. Four experimental periods were carried out at different light intensities (36 and 52 mu mol s(-1) m(-2)) and phosphorus concentrations (around 6 and 15 mgP L-1). Four green algae - Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Monoraphidium and Chlamydomonas-and cyanobacterium were detected and quantified along whole experimental period. Chlorella was the dominant species when light intensity was at the lower level tested, and was competitively displaced by a mixed culture of Scenedesmus and Monoraphidium when light was increased. When phosphorus concentration in the photobioreactor was raised up to 15 mgP L-1, a growth of cyanobacterium became the dominant species in the culture. The highest nutrient removal efficiency (around 58.4 +/- 15.8% and 96.1 +/- 16.5% of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively) was achieved at 52 mu mol s(-1) m(-2) of light intensity and 6.02 mgP L-1 of phosphorus concentration, reaching about 674 +/- 86 mg L-1 of volatile suspended solids. The results obtained reveal how the light intensity supplied and the phosphorus concentration available are relevant operational factors that determine the microalgae species that is able to predominate in a culture. Moreover, changes in microalgae predominance can be induced by changes in the growth medium produced by the own predominant species.Financial support from Primeros Proyectos de la Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV PAID-06-14) is gratefully acknowledged.Sanchis-Perucho, P.; Durán Pinzón, F.; Barat, R.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Aguado García, D. (2018). Microalgae population dynamics growth with AnMBR effluent: effect of light and phosphorous concentration. Water Science & Technology. 27(11):2566-2577. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2018.207S256625772711Bornare, J. B., Adhyapak, U. S., Minde, G. P., Kalyan Raman, V., Sapkal, V. S., & Sapkal, R. S. (2015). Submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment and energy generation. Water Science and Technology, 71(11), 1654-1660. doi:10.2166/wst.2015.135Chinnasamy, S., Bhatnagar, A., Hunt, R. W., & Das, K. C. (2010). Microalgae cultivation in a wastewater dominated by carpet mill effluents for biofuel applications. 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Assessment of physicochemical and bacteriological parameters in the surface water of the Juan Diaz River, Panama
[EN] Water pollution represents an obstacle to the development of countries since it affects not only the social-economic component but also biodiversity. Little is documented on the state of water quality of the rivers that flow through Panama City, so it is important to be able to determine the degree of contamination whether of natural or anthropogenic origin, in order to take actions that seek to remediate and increase the resilience of wetland ecosystems. For this study, a database of the Ministry of the Environment of Panama of water quality monitoring during the years 2002¿2018 from the Juan Díaz River in the Republic of Panama was used. With these data, a space-temporal analysis was carried out to determine significant differences between the study sites using the Kruskal¿Wallis Test and between seasons (dry and wet) by means of the Mann¿Whitney U Test, and evaluation of the water quality index (WQI). The results indicate that there are significant differences between sites for the parameters of pH, T (°C), conductivity (mS/m), turbidity (NTU), DO (mg/L), BOD5 (mg/L), TS (mg/L), SS (mg/L), DS (mg/L), NO3 (mg/L), PO4 (mg/L), fecal coliforms (CFU/100 mL), T. coliforms (CFU/100 mL) and there are no significant differences between seasons except for the PO4 parameter. Analysing the WQI values, all the stations sampled are in the ranges from 17 (highly polluted) to 88 (acceptable).This research was financed by the Scholarship of the Subprogram of Doctoral and
Postdoctoral Scholarships of the National Secretariat of Science and Technology
(SENACYT) in conjunction with the Institute for the Training and Use of Human Resources
(IFARHU). To the Ministry of the Environment of Panama that provided the data for this study. This research is part of the project Environmental Impact of Multiple Stressors in
Aquatic Ecosystems of the Metropolitan Area of Panama, financed by SENACYT.Ortega-Samaniego, QM.; Romero Gil, I.; Paches Giner, MAV.; Dominici, A.; Fraíz, A. (2021). Assessment of physicochemical and bacteriological parameters in the surface water of the Juan Diaz River, Panama. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (Online). 251:95-104. https://doi.org/10.2495/WS2101019510425