Els Països Catalans de Joan Fuster

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INTMARSIS: A Real Time Seafloor Seismic Observatory

In this paper we present the current status of a marine seismometer to be deployed in the Alboran Sea in September 2016. The design consists of a seafloor unit and a surface buoy connected by a cable. This design pretends to be an alternative to OBS (Ocean Bottom Seismometer) in shallow waters (depth < 500 m). In contrast to OBS, a physical connection between the seafloor unit and the surface buoy allows real time data processing and offshore communication. Even though an umbilical cable seems to be the more obvious alternative, the low energetic consumption of the seafloor unit and the recent improvements in inductive communications open a very interesting new possibility using steel cables.Postprint (author's final draft

Carbon dioxide emissions of Antarctic tourism

The increase of tourism to the Antarctic continent may entail not only local but also global environmental impacts. These latter impacts, which are mainly caused by transport, have been generally ignored. As a result, there is a lack of data on the global impacts of Antarctic tourism in terms of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. This paper presents and applies a methodology for quantifying CO2 emissions, both for the Antarctic vessel fleet as a whole and per passenger (both per trip and per day). The results indicate that the average tourist trip to Antarctica results in 5.44 t of CO2 emissions per passenger, or 0.49 t per passenger and day. Approximately 70% of these emissions are attributable to cruising and 30% to flying, which highlights the global environmental relevance of local transport for this type of touris

Mortalidad atribuible al alcohol en Cataluña y sus provincias

ObjetivoEstimar la contribución del consumo de alcohol en la mortalidad de Cataluña en 1997, su impacto sobre la mortalidad prematura y evaluar si existen diferencias entre provincias.DiseñoEstudio ecológico, descriptivo.EmplazamientoCataluña.PacientesDefunciones de residentes en Cataluña en 1997 por una causa relacionada con el consumo excesivo de alcohol.Mediciones y resultados principalesLos datos de las causas de muerte en Cataluña en 1997 fueron facilitados por el Registre de Mortalitat de Catalunya y se usaron las fracciones poblacionales atribuibles al alcohol recomendadas por los Centers for Disease Control de Estados Unidos en 1987. Se estimó la mortalidad atribuible al alcohol (MAA) y los años potenciales de vida perdidos (APVP) para el conjunto de Cataluña y desagregada por provincias.Un 4,8% de la mortalidad de Cataluña en 1997 estuvo relacionada con el consumo excesivo de alcohol. La mortalidad fue más elevada en varones (6,0%) que en mujeres (3,5%). Por grupos diagnósticos, las neoplasias malignas (29,9%) contribuyeron con un mayor número de MAA, mientras que los accidentes no intencionales presentaron la mayor mortalidad prematura (50,9%). Por causa específica, el mayor número de APVP correspondió a los accidentes de vehículos a motor. Por provincias, se observó mayor MAA por accidentes no intencionales en todas las provincias respecto a Barcelona y menor riesgo de muerte por enfermedades digestivas.ConclusiónEste estudio pone de manifiesto la importante implicación del alcohol en la mortalidad, así como su contribución en la mortalidad prematura y la existencia de importantes diferencias según la provincia de residencia, especialmente para accidentes no intencionales.ObjectivesTo calculate the contribution of alcohol consumption to mortality in Catalonia in 1997, and its impact on premature mortality. To evaluate whether inter-provincial differences exist.DesignDescriptive ecological study.SettingCatalonia.PatientsDeaths of residents of Catalonia in 1997 for a cause related to excess alcohol consumption.Measurements and main resultsThe data on the causes of death in Catalonia in 1997 were provided by the Catalonia Death Register. The population fractions attributable to alcohol used were those recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control in 1987. Mortality attributable to alcohol and the potential years of life lost were calculated for Catalonia as a whole and province by province. 4.8% of mortality in Catalonia in 1997 was related to excessive alcohol consumption. Mortality was higher in men (6.0%) than in women (3.5%). By diagnostic groups, malignant neoplasms (29.9%) contributed to the greatest number of deaths attributable to alcohol, whereas non-intentional accidents was the greatest cause of premature death (50.9%). As a specific cause, the greatest number of potential years of life lost was due to motor vehicle accidents. The highest mortality rate due to alcohol in non-intentional accidents and the lowest risk of death from digestive diseases were in all the provinces rather than in Barcelona.ConclusionThis study highlighted the importance of alcohol in the mortality figures, its contribution to premature death and the existence of major differences depending on the province of residence, especially in non-intentional accidents

"EPS2EVG" European Project Semester a l'EPSEVG. Introducció de competències transversals en sostenibilitat als títols de Grau.

Presentació d'aquest paquet formatiu d'actuació transversal dins de l’àmbit de les enginyeries tècniques que implicarà la millora dels estudis ofertats a l’EPSEVG.Peer Reviewe

Modeling and simulation of the transmission system for a chainless electric bicycle

This project, entitled Modeling and Simulation of the Transmission System for a Chainless Electric Bicycle, consists in the design of the controllers’ logics governing a chainless electric bicycle’s transmission in order to accomplish certain behavior in front of inputs such as pedaling torque, slope gradient, frontal wind, gear selected, etc. To better understand it, a chainless electric bicycle replaces the conventional mechanical transmission (chain) by two electric machines; one in-hub motor working as a propulsion electric drive to move the bicycle and the other electric machine between the two pedaling cranks working as a generator to supply energy coming from the rider to the system. Then, each machine is controlled by a controller+power converter system. Besides, a battery is placed to act as an energy balancer whenever there is exceeding energy supplied by the generator or there is energy lack coming from the pedals and required by the motor. The main goal of the project is to design a system that could emulate a conventional bicycle in terms of cyclist feedback when riding it. One of the main problems of actual chainless electric bicycles is that the feeling of torque and speed in the rear wheel does not always correspond to the action being carried out in the pedals. Moreover, the controllers are optimally designed, and a set of riding modes (both emulating conventional bicycles and new modes thanks to the chainless proposed topology) are designed to show the great possibilities this kind of bicycles can offer in front of other commuting vehicles. The project summarizes as follows: - Research of similar options currently in the market and their weaknesses. - Mathematical model creation of the system. - Design of control algorithms for the electrical drives. - Complete system behavior checking with Matlab/Simulink. - Riding modes definition. Finally, some conclusions are presented and future related projects are brought forward to give an idea of the opportunities a chainless electric bicycle can bring

Where do islands put their waste? - A material flow and carbon footprint analysis of municipal waste management in the Maltese Islands

Waste management on small islands does not hold any straightforward solutions. The numerous difficulties include limited space availability, restricted recycling and resale opportunities and impacts on the local environment that become magnified particularly when the island is small-sized, densely populated and tourist dependent. The well-documented impact on the local environment includes resource loss, damage to the marine and local environment and continuous nuisances created by littering, trucks and treatment facilities. However, waste management can leave its mark beyond the local borders. The generation and treatment of waste is in fact gaining attention in its connection with greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Although in the past GHG emissions were mainly associated with energy generation, today it is frequently acknowledged that improved waste management can also mitigate these emissions. This research paper analysis the flows involved in the management of municipal waste (MW) from an island perspective. Focusing on the island of Malta, which consists of 316 km2 and sustains a population density of 1327 people/km2, a Material Flow Analysis together with a carbon footprint is presented for 2012. The same analysis is then made for three prospective scenarios proposed in the Waste Management Plan for the Maltese Islands 2014–2020 using projected 2018 data. With the use of STAN 2.5 (SubSTance Flow ANalysis), a tabled down analysis of the collection, treatment and disposal/export flows involved in the management of Municipal Waste in Malta is presented. The flows are then translated into a carbon footprint analysis using CO2ZW® (a carbon footprint tool for waste management). The objective is to emphasize the relationship between GHG remove GHG and replace with Greenhouse Gas emissions and existing waste management flows and how this relationship changes when different collection, treatment and disposal options are selected. The research’s ultimate aim is therefore to underline the importance of placing climate concerns in waste management policies. The results note that, in terms of carbon emissions, Malta stands to benefit from the introduction of a second Mechanical Biological Treatment plant since carbon emissions will experience an extensive reduction from the 2012 estimates. However, further reduction of carbon emissions should be accompanied by the increase of dry material recycling, separate organic collection and an analysis of the current collection system particularly route optimisation.peer-reviewe