A methodology for software performance modeling and its application to a border inspection system

It is essential that software systems meet their performance objectives. Many factors affect software performance and it is fundamental to identify those factors and the magnitude of their effects early in the software lifecycle to avoid costly and extensive changes to software design, implementation, or requirements. In the last decade the development of techniques and methodologies to carry out performance analysis in the early stages of the software lifecycle has gained a lot of attention within the research community. Different approaches to evaluate software performance have been developed. Each of them is characterized by a certain software specification and performance modeling notation.;In this thesis we present a methodology for predictive performance modeling and analysis of software systems. We use the Unified Modeling Language (UML) as a software modeling notation and Layered Queuing Networks (LQN) as a performance modeling notation. Our focus is on the definition of a UML to LQN transformation We extend existing approaches by applying the transformation to a different set of UML diagrams, and propose a few extensions to the current UML Profile for Schedulability, Performance, and Time , which we use to annotate UML diagrams with performance-related information. We test the applicability of our methodology to the performance evaluation of a complex software system used at border entry ports to grant or deny access to incoming travelers

Oltre l'emergenza

A partire da un indagine terminologica della catastrofe si delinea una possibile strategia di intervento nei luoghi soggetti a possibili calamit

El Workshop Intensivo como forma de aprendizaje en Arquitectura

This article aims to expose the importance of the Intensive Workshops about the relation educationlearning in the didactic and research areas of the architectural, urban and landscape disciplines in the schools or architecture. Starting from a conference from Le Corbusier to the students of architecture of the University of Buenos Aires, it’s possible to detect three key words, three concepts that, besides to be valid nowadays, could well being the base of the structure of a Workshop’s program. Difference, Process and Coherence constitute the vertebral column of the formation and investigation experience that students, teachers and lecturers share. Along the text it is underlined that a Workshop has to be a place of education, learning, and experimentation that put the bases to future research programs. All these aspects, which structure an intensive Workshop, are verified through a recently concluded experience in the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the University UTE of Quito. The International Workshop WinAReQ 2018 has been developed from the 10th to the 22nd of September 2018 on the bases of the concept previously introduced. The success of the experience confirms the importance of this way of learning from a different point of view: from the didactic, the research, the communication and the international relations.El artículo tiene como objetivo exponer la importancia de la fórmula del Workshop intensivo en las disciplinas arquitectónica, urbana y del paisaje dentro de la relación enseñanza-aprendizaje en el ámbito didáctico y de investigación de las facultades de arquitectura, urbanismo y paisaje. El artículo, a través de una relectura crítica del texto de una conferencia de Le Corbusier a los estudiantes de arquitectura de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, identifica tres palabras clave, tres conceptos que es posible poner a la base de la estructuración de un programa de Workshop. Diferencia, Proceso y Coherencia constituyen la columna vertebral de la experiencia de formación e investigación que los estudiantes, los docentes y los ponentes comparten. A lo largo del texto se evidencia como un Workshop debe ser un lugar de enseñanza, de aprendizaje, de experimentación que pone las bases para futuros programas de investigación. Todos estos aspectos, que estructuran un Workshop intensivo, han sido comprobados a través de la experiencia en la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad UTE de Quito. El Workshop WinAReQ 2018 se desarrolló del 10 al 22 de septiembre de 2018 y puso como base los conceptos introducidos anteriormente. El éxito de la experiencia permite afirmar la importancia a nivel didáctico, investigativo, comunicativo y de relaciones internacionales de esta forma de aprendizaje en arquitectura

Feeding (the) landscape. A new dynamic museum for agriculture

The book aims to collect all the theoretical and practical contributions of the 6th edition of the OC /Open City International Summer School, held in Piacenza during the month of September 2016. The initiative involved more than one hundred of students, tutors and professors coming from twenty different countries of the world and took as main focus the problem of ‘Nutrition’, in accordance with the theme of the EXPO 2015 Exhibition. In order to guide the extended and complex theme of nutrition towards the architectural discipline the term Planet was replaced by the one of landscape. Exploited, mistreated and often bad interpreted, the landscape seems in fact back in the spotlight as a protagonist: a rare and limited resource, therefore precious, to which take care so that the planet of the future will be a ‘sustainable place’. In this sense the relationship between architecture and resources was the main reference for the design experiences made by the students involved in the three weeks workshop, during which they produced ten big projects oriented to express innovative ideas, methodologies and strategies for the transformation of some critical areas in Piacenza. The books gathers both the answers by the students and the theoretical thoughts of all the professors and tutors which have guided the students during this experience

Defining marginality in the periurban areas of Quito – A descriptive approach based on empirical and spatial data

In Latin America, marginality is a complex phenomenon involving various geographically significant factors, including the critical, physical, social, and human aspects. Bouldering areas of cities are often excluded from infrastructural interventions and social policies. In the case of Andean countries such as Ecuador, marginality affects not only rural lands but also in-transition areas between different geographical regions, as in the case of mountainous and coastal zones. These regions are characterized by a wide range of natural resources and climate conditions, and because of their diversity and relative proximity to the major cities, they offer potential for sustainable development. Nonetheless, the lack of infrastructure affects the accessibility of these periurban areas and critically limits their interaction. Drawing on these elements, the paper seeks to investigate whether periurban areas can be considered marginal and what tools can depict an encompassing image of local marginality, stressing its advantages for the local community. Following this idea, the paper focuses on the case of Lloa, a large rural parish in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ), to determine which criteria can better capture its marginality, considering it as a periurban in-transition area. The paper suggests a cross-discipline methodology to push the limits of the field through the review of a significant body of literature and a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the case study. Finally, the paper emphasizes the inadequacy of the current forms of planning to effectively define the marginality of periurban areas as a whole in the region by reflecting on the case study and through an analysis of the existing land use plans

Defining marginality in the periurban areas of Quito

In Latin America, marginality is a complex phenomenon involving various geographically significant factors, including the critical, physical, social, and human aspects. Bouldering areas of cities are often excluded from infrastructural interventions and social policies. In the case of Andean countries such as Ecuador, marginality affects not only rural lands but also in-transition areas between different geographical regions, as in the case of mountainous and coastal zones. These regions are characterized by a wide range of natural resources and climate conditions, and because of their diversity and relative proximity to the major cities, they offer potential for sustainable development. Nonetheless, the lack of infrastructure affects the accessibility of these periurban areas and critically limits their interaction. Drawing on these elements, the paper seeks to investigate whether periurban areas can be considered marginal and what tools can depict an encompassing image of local marginality, stressing its advantages for the local community. Following this idea, the paper focuses on the case of Lloa, a large rural parish in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ), to determine which criteria can better capture its marginality, considering it as a periurban in-transition area. The paper suggests a cross-discipline methodology to push the limits of the field through the review of a significant body of literature and a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the case study. Finally, the paper emphasizes the inadequacy of the current forms of planning to effectively define the marginality of periurban areas as a whole in the region by reflecting on the case study and through an analysis of the existing land use plans

Above the Ravines: Flood Vulnerability Assessment of Earthen Architectural Heritage in Quito (Ecuador)

Floods represent one of the most threatening risks for earthen architectural heritage. Developing risk assessment tools is considered crucial to mitigate the risk and to protect heritage buildings. Due to its hygroscopic nature, earthen architecture is generally considered to be vulnerable to water, requiring a specific analysis. This paper proposes a vulnerability assessment method for earthen buildings in flood-prone areas. Based on the evaluation of the susceptibility of the building’s components and characteristics, the method allows for quantifying the vulnerability of the assets, in non-monetary terms. An application of the methodology is carried out assessing a selection of earthen construction in Quito Historic Centre (Ecuador). The results show the influence of each component in the global vulnerability of the earthen buildings. The response of different construction techniques and the importance of the maintenance of heritage buildings is exposed. Vulnerability assessment methods at the meso-small scale constitute the foundation for risk assessment. Thus, this study aims to provide a significant assessment tool that can be used for further analysis and future lines of research, aiming to protect cultural heritage that is at risk

Indici per la valutazione della qualit? ecologica dei laghi

Collection of methods to evaluate lake quality using biological element

Dall’ibridazione tipologica dello spazio pubblico alle fruizioni urbane ibride

Abstract E’ ancora possibile parlare di spazio pubblico oggi? Se per spazio pubblico si fa riferimento ai modelli tradizionali di piazza, strada e parco, coincidenti allo spazio aperto, allora è possibile affermare che lo spazio pubblico è ormai obsoleto, cristallizzato in un immagine non più rispondente alle necessità contemporanee. La staticità presupposta dalle figure archetipe oggi non è più valida, tempo e spostamento sono fattori a cui il progetto deve far riferimento. E’ necessaria un’innovazione tipologica dello spazio pubblico, in grado di interpretare complessità, dinamicità e stratificazione della città contemporanea. Tale innovazione passa indubbiamente attraverso l’ibridazione dei tipi tradizionali: un’evoluzione trasversale tra le tipologie dello spazio pubblico, tra tipologie dello spazio pubblico e spazio abitato e tra tipologie ibride ed usi urbani