Geometrías geodésicas y sistemas constructivos: diseño e implementación de sistemas low-tech.

En la primera parte del siglo XX Walther Bauersfeld y Richard Buckminster Fuller presentaron al mundo la tecnología geodésica para la construcción de cúpulas. Las estructuras geodésicas permiten cubrir grandes luces sin soportes intermedios y con una elevada robustez en comparación con el peso y las características de los materiales constituyentes. A finales de los años '60, el movimiento de contracultura estadounidense se apropió de ellas como símbolo de libertad e independencia. Sin embargo la historia de la aplicación low-tech de esta tecnología está plagada de patologías recurrentes, debidas en muchos casos a la difusión de conocimientos obtenidos de forma poco científica y organizada, más bien folclórica, que hoy en día sigue produciendo errores y problemas constructivos. El estado del conocimiento analizado presenta una información parcial y fragmentada, en la que las estructuras geodésicas se consideran regidas por una única geometría y como un único sistema constructivo. A lo largo del estudio, sin embargo, se demuestra que en realidad no es así. El objetivo principal de la presente tesis doctoral ha sido estructurar y completar la información disponible sobre sistemas tecnológicos y métodos constructivos aplicables a la construcción de estructuras geodésicas, para reducir la fragmentación de la información detectada en la bibliografía existente y establecer las correctas relaciones entre las diferentes áreas de estudio aplicables a la construcción de estructuras geodésicas, para contribuir a favorecer su accesibilidad en comunidades y entornos low-tech en los que pueden tener grandes oportunidades de implementación en autoconstrucción. Para alcanzar este objetivo se han alternado fases teóricas y de estudio, con veinticinco experiencias de trabajo de campo que han permitido la continua verificación y revisión de los resultados teóricos obtenidos en todos los campos del conocimiento involucrados, incluida la mejora de la adaptabilidad de las propuestas a entornos específicos y la mejora de los protocolos de transferencia tecnológica a las comunidades locales. El desarrollo de la investigación ha evidenciado la necesidad de considerar y definir un amplio abanico de matices y especificidades tanto para el análisis de los métodos constructivos como para las diferentes geometrías. La correcta comprensión y consideración de las peculiaridades propias de cada método constructivo ha sido fundamental para poder dejar de considerar las estructuras geodésicas como un sistema constructivo high-tech y empezar a trabajar sobre esquemas de construcción de baja tecnología y sobre la compilación de protocolos de empoderamiento de simple y rápida implementación. Este proceso al principio algo difuso por la cantidad y variedad de datos a considerar, se ha ido concretando y consolidando a lo largo de la investigación gracias a la compilación de la “Tabla de caracterización tecnológica de métodos constructivos para estructuras geodésicas” [TCT] que, en sus diferentes fases de desarrollo, ha demostrado ser una herramienta útil para estructurar y comprender los resultados obtenidos y plantear los siguientes retos. Contemporáneamente se ha desarrollado en esta tesis el Sistema de Conjunto de Tetraedro [SST] una herramienta creada a medida para trabajar en la definición de la geometría geodésica específica de cada método constructivo. Paralelamente a estas herramientas el doctorando ha desarrollado métodos constructivos propios con el objetivo de que su realización se pudiera llevar a cabo adaptándose a las realidades locales que iba conociendo en su actividad profesional. Es el caso del Método de Barra Flexible [FSM], del sistema Unión Radial, el único método constructivo para estructuras geodésicas que se puede construir sin considerar ángulos, o del Método Brujodésico [BJM], del sistema Unión Tangencial, el único método constructivo de este sistema que utiliza exclusivamente ángulos planos trasversales. Las experiencias de campo, a través de cinco prototipos, trece proyectos a escala real y siete actividades de formación, reflejan en su conjunto cómo, a lo largo de los últimos diez años, se ha ido avanzando en la configuración de modelos que a través de la transferencia de conocimientos permitan y promuevan el empoderamiento de las comunidades, la generación de auto-empleo y la posibilidad para los ciudadanos, involucrados en los procesos propuestos, de jugar un papel activo en intervenciones de mejora o reconstrucción de sus entornos vitales, partiendo de los comunitarios, para luego aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos a los personales, como los habitacionales o laborales. La aplicación de los planteamientos propuestos demuestra su capacidad de implementar en comunidades reales procesos constructivos rápidos, inclusivos y que no necesiten de medios auxiliares especiales, a través de operaciones muy básicas de preparación y puesta en obra. La metodología empleada se ha demostrado apropiada para cumplir los objetivos de la investigación. Cada ciclo, cada fase de estudio y cada realización han supuesto un avance real y sustancial para la misma. A lo largo de la investigación se ha podido comprobar, a través de las experiencias prácticas, el descenso del nivel tecnológico involucrado y el aumento de la inclusividad de los modelos propuestos, sin que éstos hayan visto mermar la calidad de su diseño o sus dimensiones, que por el contrario han ido aumentando. Las últimas actividades realizadas con niños han demostrado cómo a lo largo de la investigación se han conseguido reducir de forma radical las exigencias tecnológicas y de formación previa requeridas, lo que supone una aportación de gran interés.In the early part of the 20th century, Walther Bauersfeld and Richard Buckminster Fuller presented the technology for the geodesic dome construction to the world. Such structures allow a to cover large spans without intermediate supports and with a high robustness compared to the weight and characteristics of the constituent materials. At the end of the 1960s, the American counter-culture movement took geodesic designs as a symbol for freedom and independence. However, the history of low-tech application of this technology is plagued by recurrent pathologies, due in many cases to the diffusion of knowledge obtained in an unscientific, unorganized and rather folkloric way, which today continues to produce constructive errors and problems. The analyzed state of knowledge presents a partial and fragmented information, in which geodesic structures are considered to be ruled by a single geometry and as a unique construction system. Throughout the study, however, it is demonstrated that this is not the case. The main objective of this doctoral thesis has been to structure and complete the available information on technological systems and construction methods for the construction of geodesic structures, to reduce the fragmentation detected in the existing bibliography and to establish the correct relations between the different areas of study applicable to the construction of geodesic structures, in order to contribute to favour their accessibility in low-tech communities and environments in which they may have great opportunities for self-construction implementation. In order to achieve this objective, theoretical and study phases have been alternated with twenty-five field work experiences that allowed the continuous verification and revision of the theoretical results obtained in all the involved areas of knowledge, including the improvement of the adaptability of the proposals to specific environments and the improvement of the protocols for technology transfer to local communities. The development of the research has highlighted the need to consider and define a wide range of nuances and specificities both for the analysis of construction methods and for the different geometries. The correct understanding and consideration of the peculiarities of each construction method has been fundamental to be able to stop considering geodesic structures as a high-tech construction system and start working on low-tech construction schemes and on the compilation of empowerment protocols of simple and quick implementation. This process, initially rather diffuse due to the quantity and variety of data to be considered, has been concretized and consolidated throughout the research thanks to the compilation of the "Technological Characterization Table of construction methods for geodesic structures" [TCT] which, in its different phases of development, has proved to be a useful tool to structure and understand the results obtained and to pose the following challenges. At the same time this thesis, developed the Tetrahedron Set System [SST] a custom-made tool to work on the definition of the specific geodesic geometry of each construction method. Parallel to these tools, the doctoral student has developed his own construction methods with the aim of making them adaptable to the local realities that he was getting to know in his professional activity. This is the case of the Flexible Bar Method [FSM], that belongs to the Radial Union system, the only construction method for geodesic structures that can be built without considering angles, or the Brujodesic Method [BJM], that belongs to the Tangential Union system, the only construction method of this system that uses exclusively transverse plane angles. The field experiences, through five prototypes, thirteen real scale projects and seven training activities, reflect how, over the last ten years, progress has been made in the configuration of models that through the transfer of knowledge allow and promote the empowerment of communities, the generation of self-employment and the possibility for citizens, involved in the proposed processes, to play an active role in interventions to improve or rebuild their living environments, starting from community spaces, to then apply the acquired knowledge to personal ones, such as housing or work spaces. The application of the proposed approaches demonstrates their capacity to implement rapid and inclusive constructive processes, that do not need special auxiliary means, through very basic operations of preparation and implementation, in real communities. The methodology used has proven to be appropriate to meet the objectives of the research. Each cycle, each phase of study and each accomplishment have meant a real and substantial advance for it. Throughout the research it has been possible to verify, through practical experiences, the decrease of the technological level involved and the increase of the inclusiveness of the proposed models, without these having seen the quality of their design or their dimensions diminished, which on the contrary have been increasing. The latest activities carried out with children have shown how, throughout the research, the technological and prior training requirements have been radically reduced, which is a very interesting contribution

Drivers of Eco-Innovation in the Italian Wine Industry

The importance of eco-innovations for industry has been rising exponentially in recent years. However, even if recent trends show that firms are increasingly committed to eco-innovations, there is little knowledge on why and how companies integrate environmental sustainability into new product development. In this paper we offer a comprehensive analysis of the drivers of eco-innovation in the Italian wine industry on the basis of a large survey on Italian wine producers. We analyse the impact of firms’ characteristics and their technological and organizational capabilities on the introduction of eco-innovations. The relevance of the drivers in influencing the probability of introducing eco-innovations is measured with a latent class econometric model. Our evidence shows that business characteristics and firms’ scientific search processes and their general innovative behaviour are key drivers of eco-innovation. Therefore, according to our results, firms’ commitment to eco-innovate does not differ substantially from other types of innovation activities

Perceived Technological Regimes: An Empirical Analysis of the Apulian Wine Industry

Technological regimes define the technological environment in which innovative and learning activities take place within each sector of the economy. However, in our view technological regimes must be interpreted and elaborated by each organisation operating in a specific sector in order to be rationally implemented, thus turning into perceived technological regimes. We test this argument on a sample of wine companies in the Apulia region (Italy). We find empirical evidence that the perceived technological regimes exist and that firms’ perceptions tend to vary uniformly across different wine technologies. In addition, we find evidence that different firms’ characteristics have a strong impact on firms’ perceptions both at the aggregate level and when distinct perception groups are identified

Analysis of Italian Market of Syrah Wine

In order to fully understand Syrah wine market in Italy both supply and demand need to be studied. While supply is analyzed with the simple (benchmarking) comparison of the descriptive statistics between Syrah Italian wines and other high quality red Italian wines, the demand is studied econometrically. A double logarithmic approach has been chosen for its simplicity as well as its mathematical tractability, allowing for direct applicability and replicability at industry level. The information retrieved in these analysis results fundamental for the application of appropriate marketing strategies, in order to set the market efficiency at the margin. Findings show exact relationships allowing for price and marketing targets adjustments. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, describing the competitive context and the Syrah wine sub-sector, would have been also important for the focus of this study for completeness purposes. Nonetheless, the aim of this analysis is to furnish valuable information about supply and demand in order to improve marketing efficiency for the Syrah wine. The contribution of this study to the existing knowledge about Syrah wine market is twofold: methodological because it identifies ad hoc methodologies that are easily applicable by the industry to understand such a “thin” market, and informational because results are directly applicable for marketing strategies.Syrah, Demand, Supply, Benchmark

Italian wine demand and differentiation effect of geographical indications

Purpose – Geographical indications (GIs) provide a strong differentiation tool for firms. Whether this statement is confirmed at aggregate level in terms of market independence of different GIs is not tested yet. The purpose of this paper is to provide demand estimates and elasticities (own‐price and substitution) in order to test this hypothesis and verify the differentiation effect of GIs at aggregate level.Design/methodology/approach – The analysis consists of the application of a quadratic almost ideal demand on a four equation system. Estimates are obtained through an iterated version of a generalized method of moments, which corrects for endogeneity determined by expenditure and prices in case of promotional activities.Findings – Estimates prove the existence of a differentiation effect of GIs in terms of magnitude of elasticities and substitution effects. GIs corresponding to higher quality generate lower price sensitiveness and product substitution, contrarily to wine without GI. Controlled origin denomination (DOC) wine demand results are price sensitive and they substitute for wines of different GI. Controlled and guaranteed origin denomination (DOCG) is the most profitable GI. In fact, because of its inelastic demand, DOCG price could be potentially increased, to a certain extent, without having significant effects on volumes consumed.Research limitations/implications – Foreign wine should also be included in the demand system in order to understand the whole Italian wine market. Data concern retail level demand. The whole market, including hotels, restaurants and catering, should be included to offer a wider set of implications.Practical implications – Marketers and producers could use the information provided by the estimates in order to forecast Italian wine demand. Elasticities and substitution effect provide them with a precise measure of consumers' price sensitiveness, which would be beneficial for their pricing strategies.Originality/value – The paper provides, for the first time, estimates of a demand system relative to GI differentiated Italian wine

New Technologies and Sustainability in The Italian Wine Industry

Abstract The new shape of competition is pushing wine firms to invest into new technologies. Given the growing interests in this area, we provide evidence on the determinants of the adoption of the new technologies industry. On the basis of a survey on Italian companies, the main investments in innovations and their key drivers are investigated. We tested whether firm characteristics impact the adoption as well as absorptive capacity, networking and shared knowledge among firms and research institutions and demand factors. Drivers are explored throughout an econometric model. Results lead to policy implications that could be useful to develop supportive actions to innovation

Operating Conditions Affecting the Behavior of Wheat Straw Pellets During Slow Pyrolysis Process: a Full Insight

A deep study on the effects of absolute pressure, peak temperature, gas residence time and gas atmosphere on the pyrolysis behaviour of wheat straw pellets in a bench-scale fixed-bed reactor has been carried out

Analisi del mercato Italiano del vino Syrah

In order to fully understand Syrah wine market in Italy both supply and demand need to be studied. While supply is analyzed with the simple (benchmarking) comparison of the descriptive statistics between Syrah Italian wines and other high quality red Italian wines, the demand is studied econometrically. A double logarithmic approach has been chosen for its simplicity as well as its mathematical tractability, allowing for direct applicability and replicability at industry level. The information retrieved in these analysis results fundamental for the application of appropriate marketing strategies, in order to set the market efficiency at the margin. Findings show exact relationships allowing for price and marketing targets adjustments. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, describing the competitive context and the Syrah wine sub-sector, would have been also important for the focus of this study for completeness purposes. Nonetheless, the aim of this analysis is to furnish valuable information about supply and demand in order to improve marketing efficiency for the Syrah wine. The contribution of this study to the existing knowledge about Syrah wine market is twofold: methodological because it identifies ad hoc methodologies that are easily applicable by the industry to understand such a “thin” market, and informational because results are directly applicable for marketing strategies

Analisi del mercato Italiano del vino Syrah

In order to fully understand Syrah wine market in Italy both supply and demand need to be studied. While supply is analyzed with the simple (benchmarking) comparison of the descriptive statistics between Syrah Italian wines and other high quality red Italian wines, the demand is studied econometrically. A double logarithmic approach has been chosen for its simplicity as well as its mathematical tractability, allowing for direct applicability and replicability at industry level. The information retrieved in these analysis results fundamental for the application of appropriate marketing strategies, in order to set the market efficiency at the margin. Findings show exact relationships allowing for price and marketing targets adjustments. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, describing the competitive context and the Syrah wine sub-sector, would have been also important for the focus of this study for completeness purposes. Nonetheless, the aim of this analysis is to furnish valuable information about supply and demand in order to improve marketing efficiency for the Syrah wine. The contribution of this study to the existing knowledge about Syrah wine market is twofold: methodological because it identifies ad hoc methodologies that are easily applicable by the industry to understand such a “thin” market, and informational because results are directly applicable for marketing strategies

Preliminary study on the influence of pyrolysis process conditions on the textural properties of activated carbons from wheat straw-derived biochars

It is widely known that biochar can be used in a wide range of applications including —but not limited to— soil amendment, energy production, adsorption and catalysis [1]. For the last two final uses, however, the pristine biochar produced through pyrolysis processes does not have an appropriate porosity development. In fact, the porosity of biochar is mainly due to narrow micropores[2]. Therefore, an activation process is needed to develop a more hierarchical porous structure in order to facilitate the diffusion path of the corresponding adsorbates and/or reactants. To date, there is almost no research on how the pyrolysis process conditions, at which the biochar precursors are produced, can affect the porosity of the subsequent activated biochars. The aim of this work is to evaluate how the slow pyrolysis process conditions adopted for the production of biochars from wheat straw pellets can affect the textural properties of the final activated carbons, which are obtained via physical activation with CO2 at 800 °C of the raw biochars. For this purpose, the following operating parameters were selected: the absolute pressure (from 0.2 to 0.9 MPa), the pyrolysis peak temperature (from 400 to 550 °C), and the type of gas atmosphere during pyrolysis (pure N2 or a binary mixture of CO2 and N2 60:40 v/v). Not only the main effect of these parameters individually but also the possible effects derived from the interactions between them have been considered. To this aim, an unreplicated 2-level factorial design has been adopted to objectively analyze the influence of these parameters on the response variables (i.e., the BET specific surface area, pore volumes, and pore size distribution of the physically activated biochars). The wheat straw-derived biochars were produced through slow pyrolysis in a bench-scale fixed-bed reactor, made of stainless steel and electrically heated. More details regarding the reactor configuration are available in a previous publication [3]. Then, the produced raw pellet-shaped biochars were crushed and sieved to obtain particle sizes within the range of 0.212–1.41 mm. For the subsequent physical activation, around 20 g of pristine biochar was heated up to 800 °C in a fixed-bed reactor placed within a tubular furnace (model EVA 12/300 from Carbolite Gero, UK) under pure N2 atmosphere and at atmospheric pressure. Once this temperature was reached, the inlet gas stream was switched from N2 to pure CO2. During the reaction step, both the soaking time and gas-hourly space velocity were kept constant at 1 h and 7000 h–1, respectively. Under these conditions, the degree of burn-off of the produced activated biochar could be dependent on the intrinsic reactivity and porous structure of the precursor. The textural properties of both raw and activated biochars have been determined from the adsorption isotherms of N2 at –196 °C and CO2 at 0° C. The activation tests are almost finished and the results obtained will be presented during the course of the conference. References [1] Liu, W.-J., Jiang, H.; Yu, H.-Q. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 12251–12285. [2] Manyà, J. J., González, B., Azuara, M.; Arner, G. Chem. Eng. J. 2018, 345, 631–639. [3] Greco, G., Videgain, M., Di Stasi, C., González, B.; Manyà, J. J. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 2018, 136, 18–26