Architectural geo-E-learning: geolocated teaching in urban environments with mobile devices: a case study and work in progress

Postprint (published version

Geo-elearning for urban projects: new educational strategies using mobile devices: a case study of educational research

El presente trabajo incluido en un marco de investigación más amplio, tiene como objetivo la implementación de un sistema de navegación georeferenciado y con realidad aumentada sobre plataforma Layar© para dispositivos móviles con propósitos docentes. Dicha aplicación permite la creación de canales de información mediante bases de datos con modelos virtuales y todo tipo de contenido multimedia. La metodología de trabajo es la de un caso de estudio de investigación educativa llevada a cabo con estudiantes de Arquitectura y Planificación Urbana a nivel de máster en una materia centrada en el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación en el Diseño Urbano, usando como tema central los campus universitarios. Denominamos Geo-elearning a nuestra experiencia porque además de usar estrategias propias del E-Learning, incorpora la geolocalización de contenidos, permitiendo, sobre un emplazamiento determinado, su evaluación con propósitos docentes, lo que nos ha permitido demostrar su viabilidad y eficacia educativa.El present treball inclòs en un marc d’investigació més ampli, té com objectiu la implementació d’un sistema de navegació georeferenciat i amb realitat augmentada sobre plataforma Layar© per dispositius mòbils amb propòsits docents. Aquesta aplicació permet la creació de canals d’informació mitjançant bases de dades amb models virtuals i tot tipus de contingut multimèdia. La metodologia de treball és la d’un cas d’estudi d’investigació educativa portada a terme amb estudiants d’Arquitectura i Planificació Urbana a nivell de màster en una matèria centrada en l’ús de les Tecnologies de la Informació i la Comunicació en el Disseny Urbà, utilitzant com tema central els campus universitaris. Denominem Geo-elearning a la nostra experiència perquè a més d’utilitzar estratègies pròpies de E-learning, incorpora la geolocalització de continguts permetent, sobre un determinat emplaçament, la seva avaluació amb propòsits docents, el que ens ha permès demostrat la seva visibilitat i eficàcia educativa.This paper, which is included in a larger research framework, aims to study the implementation of a mobile Geolocation-based Augmented Reality (AR) system on Layar© platform, for educational purposes. This application allows the creation of information channels using databases that store 3D models and all kinds of multimedia content. The working methodology for this educational research was the study case. It was conducted with students of Architecture degree and Urban Planning Masters, and we were focused on the use of ICT in Urban Design, using college campuses as a central theme. The experience was called Geo-learning because, besides the use of E-Learning strategies, it incorporated student’s 3d content geo-localization. This allowed its assessment on a particular site, and enabled us to demonstrate feasibility and effectiveness of this technology in educational settings.Peer Reviewe

Educating Urban Designers using Augmented Reality and Mobile Learning Technologies / Formación de Urbanistas usando Realidad Aumentada y Tecnologías de Aprendizaje Móvil

El presente artículo describe una experiencia educativa usando Realidad Aumentada (RA) en dispositivos móviles para el aprendizaje de conceptos de diseño urbano en estudiantes del Grado de Arquitectura. A tal efecto, se ha diseñado un ejercicio práctico sobre la casuística de un proyecto real, donde los estudiantes deben diseñar una escultura para una plaza pública en función de los parámetros del entorno, debiendo controlar sus parámetros, la forma, escala, localización, materiales, etc. El ejercicio se visualiza y controla mediante plataformas móviles de RA, lo que permite enfatizar un aprendizaje colaborativo mediante el estudio de las propuestas del resto de estudiantes in situ. Para la evaluación del proceso, tanto a nivel de usabilidad como de mejora del proceso educativo, hemos dividido a los estudiantes en dos grupos: uno primero de control, que cursó un sistema tradicional de la asignatura en base a ejercicios de laboratorio, y un grupo experimental, que utilizó el sistema descrito en la ubicación real del proyecto. Al final del curso, y en base a los resultados obtenidos y discutidos en el presente artículo, el grupo experimental obtuvo mejores notas finales, al mismo tiempo que se constata un incremento en el grado de satisfacción y motivación de los estudiantes que han utilizado la propuesta experimental. Este aspecto nos permite reafirmar la utilidad del método en la mejora educativa en el ámbito donde se circunscribe la experiencia.Postprint (author's final draft

Augmented reality in architecture degree: new approaches in scene illumination and user evaluation

Postprint (published version

Forward Brillouin Scattering Spectroscopy in Optical Fibers with Whispering-Gallery Modes

Opto-mechanical interactions in different photonic platforms as optical fibers and optical microresonators are raising great attention, and new exciting achievements have been reported in the last few years. Transverse acoustic mode resonances (TAMRs) in optical fibers -which can be excited optically via electrostriction and generate forward Brillouin scattering (FBS)- are being promoted as the physical mechanism for new fiber-sensing concepts. Here, the study reports a novel approach to detect and characterize opto-excited TAMRs of an optical fiber based on the interplay with optical surface wave resonances, i.e., optical whispering-gallery mode (WGM) resonances. TAMRs induce perturbations in the geometry and the dielectric permittivity of the fiber over the entire cross-section. It is shown that these perturbations couple the acoustic with the optical resonances and affect WGMs in a noticeable way. The study proposes and demonstrates the use of WGMs for probing opto-excited TAMRs in optical fibers. This probing technique provides the narrowest linewidths ever reported for the TAMRs and demonstrates an optimum efficiency for the detection of low-order TAMRs. The interplay between sensitivity, bandwidth, and Q factor of the WGM resonance is discussed

Challenges for the Adoption of Model-Driven Web Engineering Approaches in Industry

Model-driven web engineering approaches have become an attractive research and technology solution for Web application development. However, after 20 years of development, they have attracted little attention from the Industry due to the mismatch between technical versus research requirements. In this joint work between academia and industry, the authors present the current problems of using these approaches in scale and provide guidelines to convert them into viable industry solutions.Ministerio de ciencia e Innovación TIN2016-76956-C3-2-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2015-71938-RED

Strain and temperature measurement discrimination with forward Brillouin scattering in optical fibers

A novel method that enables simultaneous and discriminative measurement of strain and temperature using one single optical fiber is presented. The method is based on the properties of transverse acoustic mode resonances (TAMRs) of the optical fiber. In particular, it is based on the different sensitivity to temperature and strain that exhibit the radial modes R(0,m) and a family of torsional-radial modes denoted as TR(1)(2,m). We show that the resonance frequencies of both types of resonances shift linearly with temperature and strain, but at different rates. By the combined use of the different sensitivities of the two families of TAMRs, we experimentally demonstrate discriminative measurements of strain and temperature. A detection limit of strain and temperature better than 25 με and 0.2 °C is achieved

High accuracy measurement of Poisson's ratio of optical fibers and its temperature dependence using forward-stimulated Brillouin scattering

Transverse acoustic mode resonances enable a high accuracy determination of Poisson's ratio and elastic properties of optical fibers. An all-optical pump and probe technique is used for efficient excitation and accurate characterization of both, radial and torsional-radial acoustic resonances of optical fibers. Simple and precise algebraic expressions for the frequencies of high order acoustic resonances are derived, enabling a rigorous analysis of the experimental data using standard least squares fitting. Following this approach, the determination of Poisson's ratio does not require the measurement of any physical length, but only frequency measurements are required. An accuracy better than 1 is achieved. The dependence of the fiber Poisson's ratio with temperature is also determined experimentally

Recent advances in Forward Brillouin Scattering: Sensor applications

In-fiber opto-mechanics based on forward Brillouin scattering has received increasing attention because it enables sensing the surrounding of the optical fiber. Optical fiber transverse acoustic resonances are sensitive to both the inner properties of the optical fiber and the external medium. A particularly efficient pump and probe technique¿assisted by a fiber grating¿can be exploited for the development of point sensors of only a few centimeters in length. When measuring the acoustic resonances, this technique provides the narrowest reported linewidths and a signal-tonoise ratio better than 40 dB. The longitudinal and transverse acoustic velocities¿normalized with the fiber radius¿can be determined with a relative error lower than 10−4, exploiting the derivation of accurate asymptotic expressions for the resonant frequencies. Using this technique, the Poisson's ratio of an optical fiber and its temperature dependence have been measured, reducing the relative error by a factor of 100 with respect to previously reported values. Using a single-point sensor, discriminative measurements of strain and temperature can be performed, achieving detection limits of ±25 με and ±0.2 °C. These results show the potential of this approach for the development of point sensors, which can be easily wavelength-multiplexed

Critical pathway for deceased tissue donation: a novel adaptative European systematic approach

Vía crítica; Donantes de tejidos; Obtención de tejidoCritical pathway; Tissue donors; Tissue procurementVia crítica; Donants de teixits; Obtenció de teixitsA ‘Critical pathway for deceased tissue donation’ was developed by the European Committee on Organ Transplantation of the Council of Europe (CD-P-TO) with the aim of providing a common systematic approach to the deceased tissue donation process. Definitions of tissue donors according to the donation stage have been developed so that they can be adapted to different local scenarios. This critical pathway can be used retrospectively to evaluate the potential of tissue donation, assess performance in the tissue donation process and identify areas for improvement. It sets the basis to build indicators to compare organizations, regions and countries. The critical pathway can also be used prospectively to promote good practices in tissue donation programmes aimed at covering the tissue transplantation needs of patients