Committee:
     PRESIDENT: CORREIA GUEDES, MANUEL
     SECRETARI: ALVAREZ DEL CASTILLO, JAVIER
     VOCAL: PULIDO VELÁZQUEZ, MANUEL
Thesis abstract: This study addresses the relationship between climate change and human health in the framework of urban resilience in a Latin American context. It sought to strengthen the climate and health components through conceptual harmonization and integration, as well as the identification of indicators within urban resilience measurement models. Thus, the first proposal of a model for measuring the urban resilience index adapted to Latin American cities is presented, specifically addressing the relationship between climate change and health. This model was validated and operationalized through a case study in two vulnerable communities in urban-rural transition areas in Santiago de Cali, Colombia.The approach included estimating five indicators of health, natural disasters, climate variability, socio-economic, governance, and satisfaction, where resilience negatively correlates with vulnerability. Given the limited monitoring and systematization of information in Latin American cities, much of the data was collected through structured interviews. The results revealed patterns characteristic of highly vulnerable Latino communities, such as a high degree of self-management to solve problems and improve quality of life. These findings provide elements to infer and prioritize communities with a strong sense of ownership, enabling the effective implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, given the high likelihood of ownership and continuity.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: BOADA OLIVERAS, IMMACULADA
     SECRETARI: MARCO GOMEZ, JORDI
     VOCAL: FIZ FERNANDEZ, JOSE IGNACIO
Thesis abstract: Wildfires present a significant threat to ecosystems, property, and human life, underscoring the need for accurate, adaptable, and efficient detection systems. This thesis introduces a novel approach to wildfire detection that addresses key limitations in accuracy, adaptability, and sustainability, emphasizing real-world deployment and resource-conscious design. Through three interconnected studies, the research develops a structured, confounding factors-aware framework that progresses from dataset creation to efficient, real-time deployment solutions.The first study establishes a confounding factor-aware wildfire dataset and a multi-task learning framework to address false positives caused by challenging elements, such as clouds, fog, and reflections. By training models on both fire classification and confounding element identification, this approach significantly reduces false alarms, enhancing model precision in complex detection scenarios. The second study advances this framework by incorporating a hierarchical domain-adaptive learning approach that integrates forest-specific and non-forest datasets. This dual-dataset strategy, with shared and specialized layers, enhances the model’s ability to generalize across diverse environmental conditions, providing a more adaptable solution for varied forest contexts.Building on these foundations, the third study introduces knowledge distillation to transfer insights from a complex, hierarchically trained model to a lightweight model optimized for edge devices, such as drones. This approach maintains high detection accuracy while minimizing computational demands, supporting sustainable deployment. A novel metric, the Confounding Element Specificity (CES), is also introduced to evaluate the model’s ability to handle confounding elements in real-world settings, contributing to efficient resource deployment and accurate monitoring.Together, these studies propose a structured, scalable framework for wildfire detection that combines technical rigor with practical, sustainability-focused applications. The findings contribute adaptable, high-accuracy models intended for real-world implementation and offer a foundation for further research in sustainable, AI-driven environmental monitoring and wildfire management.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: MONER GIRONA, MAGDA
     SECRETARI: PASTOR MORENO, RAFAEL
     VOCAL: EGIDO AGUILERA, MIGUEL ANGEL
Thesis abstract: The sustainability-driven global energy transition requires ensuring universal access to electricity, particularly in last-mile rural areas. Renewable-based energy access programs are pivotal for fostering development, empowerment, and climate resilience in these regions. However, comprehensive assessments of past efforts are crucial to avoid repeating mistakes and ensure operational success of these initiatives. Likewise, it is particularly important to consider the durability and impact of the implemented solutions in terms of development and gender equality. This PhD thesis aims to address these gaps by developing multi-criteria procedures for a holistic sustainability assessment of last-mile electrification initiatives in emerging economies, while also extracting lessons from real-world case studies. The research first analyses the local energy transition for two historically marginalized populations: indigenous and traditional communities. It also assesses large-scale electrification programs in Brazil and Venezuela, and subsequently evaluates the operation and region-wide impacts in three Brazilian states. Additionally, a framework using gender data and sex-disaggregated data is proposed to ensure gender-responsive electrification initiatives, with case studies from three Brazilian municipalities. These phases underscore the importance of tailored multicriteria decision-making analysis frameworks that consider local contexts, stakeholder preferences, and inclusive perspectives. Assessment of last-mile electrification outcomes reveals the transformative potential of renewable energy solutions, emphasizing the need for systemic and integrated approaches and multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. This analysis serves as a guide for last-mile electrification promoters to synergistically address sustainable design, operational durability and long-term local development that leaves no one behind.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: PERIS BLANES, JORDI
     SECRETARI: ROCA BOSCH, ELISABETH
     VOCAL: HU, FEI
Thesis abstract: In recent years, sustainability transitions have emerged as a critical research focus within sustainability science. This doctoral research explores sustainability transitions through a Taoist-inspired lens, integrating Eastern philosophical insights with systems thinking and leverage point theory. It develops two innovative frameworks—the Deep and Shallow Sustainability Intervention (DSSI) framework and the Transition Intervention Point (TIP) System—to address both deep cultural-paradigmatic shifts and shallow operational adjustments in sustainability transitions. The research progresses across three stages: establishing a philosophical foundation, constructing a theoretical framework, and designing a practical tool. Together, these contributions offer a holistic and strategic approach to sustainability transitions, enriching both theory and practice. The frameworks are being tested in real-world contexts, particularly within an EU-funded rural transformation project, laying the groundwork for future empirical research and application.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: BONNET, CÉLINE
     SECRETARI: GUESMI, BOUALI
     VOCAL: TOMA, LUIZA
Thesis abstract: The retail industry has long had to contend with a more competitive and complicated environment. Changes in consumer behaviour, market structures, and public health concerns have drastically altered this environment over the last 20 years. Furthermore, the importance of promotional differentiation increased as a result of economic crises, inflation, dwindling consumer purchasing power. Retail sales promotions present significant opportunities to reshape and influence the consumer behaviour. Considering their direct impact on expenditures patterns, it is crucial to understand the multifaceted promotional effects.In this context, the overall objective of this dissertation is studying the effect of sales promotions on consumer purchasing behaviour across different contexts. Three consumer studies were conducted, examining promotional effects on budget allocation, crisis driven behavioural changes and health related policy implications using Homescan data from Kantar Worldpanel. First, the effect of retail sales promotions on the allocation of the household food budget among the items of the shopping basket was investigated in Catalonia, Northeast region in Spain. Using Homescan data from purchases of a supermarket, own and cross-promotion elasticities were calculated using the Exact Affine Stone Index (EASI). Results reveal positive effects of sales promotions on households’ expenditure and mostly a negative asymmetric cross-effect, implying a small but significant budget reallocation.Second, purchasing behaviour changes during crisis periods were analysed using COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. Price sensitivity and promotional responsiveness were examined across different crisis phases and expenditure levels using both fixed effects regression and quantile regression models. Homescan data covering the period the first year of COVID-19 and the year before are used. The results indicate that households exhibit a decreased price sensitivity and reduced promotion responsiveness during the first lockdown followed by increased sensitivity during the new normality period. Additionally, during first lockdown, low expenditure households are more sensitive to prices and promotions than high expenditure households. Third, a cross-country comparative analysis is conducted. The relationship between retail sales promotions and Body Mass Index (BMI) is examined using the EASI demand system, comparing northern (Scotland) and southern (Spain) regions. The analysis focuses on foods High in fat, Sugar and Sodium (HFSS) across different BMI profiles. Findings indicate that consumers with unhealthy BMI exhibit higher sensitivity to price and expenditure changes compared to those with healthy BMIs. Moreover, Scottish households show greater sensitivity to expenditure changes and promotions compared to their Spanish counterparts.The research conducted in this dissertation provides valuable insights to retailers, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved in the food retail sector. The outcomes of this dissertation can guide promotional strategy design, pricing decisions, and policy interventions to meet consumer needs while addressing broader societal concerns including crisis management and public health objectives.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: SAYADI GMADA, SAMIR
     SECRETARI: COSTA FONT, MONTSERRAT
     VOCAL: DE STEUR, HANS
Thesis abstract: The challenges facing the lagoon and aquifer ecosystems in North Africa highlight the critical need for sustainable restoration and management solutions. This thesis examines both the socio-economic and environmental aspects of restoration initiatives in Tunisia, emphasizing the preferences, cultural values, and financial willingness of local communities to engage with these efforts. It encompasses two significant case studies: the restoration of the Bizerte lagoon, public attitudes towards lagoon improvements, and aquifer restoration in the Djeffara region. Chapter 2 explores the cultural and economic significance of the Bizerte Lagoon and the Manzel Abderrahmen harbor for local fishermen. To assess their willingness to support restoring both of them, we conducted face-to-face surveys with fishers at the Manzel Abderrahmen port, incorporating a Discrete Choice Experiment. The findings indicate that fishers are willing to pay higher taxes (up to 13%) to preserve their deep connection to the region and its cultural heritage while also improving port organization. This chapter highlights that fishers prioritize the port over the Lagoon despite recognizing its vital role. Integrating cultural bequest values into environmental decision-making is crucial to ensuring policies align with local priorities.Chapter 3 analyzes general public preferences regarding lagoon restoration throughout Tunisia. To do so, we conducted a face-to-face survey incorporating a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) with citizens in Bizerte to assess their social demand for restoring the Bizerte Lagoon´s ecosystem services. The results identified two contrasting groups: those who advocate for restoration and those who are hesitant to support it. The findings indicate that while a majority of citizens favor high-impact restoration strategies, there are concerns among others that are not directly related to ecological benefits. This chapter underscores the necessity for substantial and clearly communicated improvements to validate public investments in restoration projects. Chapter 4 examines aquifer restoration in the Djeffara region, focusing on citizens' preferences for voluntary versus mandatory payment schemes. A face-to-face survey was conducted in Medenine, using two payment approaches—obligatory and voluntary—to assess citizens' willingness to support aquifer restoration and determine whether the payment mechanism influences their decision. The results highlight a strong emphasis on water availability and a clear preference for voluntary contributions, reflecting the region's cultural traditions of social responsibility. Additionally, this chapter explores the potential drawbacks of mandatory payments in contexts of low public trust and political instability.Overall, these studies enhance the understanding of the interconnections between ecological restoration, socio-economic gains, and community attachment to the territory and culture. By integrating cultural, economic, and participatory elements, this thesis provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to create effective and inclusive environmental restoration programs in Tunisia and comparable contexts.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: ARIAS ISAZA, CARLOS ALBERTO DE JESÚS
     SECRETARI: ALVAREZ DEL CASTILLO, JAVIER
     VOCAL: SALAZAR, JUAN FERNANDO
Thesis abstract: This research work, initiated in 2018, proposes a methodology for the articulation of public, private, academic and citizen actors as a water governance scheme in Latin American watersheds. It combines technical knowledge with the local knowledge of the communities settled in the territory, transcending the limitations of governmental periods and promoting the appropriation of the actors through co-creation exercises to achieve sustainable actions that improve the conditions of the water resource, strengthening trust, reciprocity and cooperation.The methodology was applied in the watersheds of La Iguaná, Doña María and Santa Elena streams, located in the Aburrá Valley, whose core municipality is Medellín, Colombia. This process was part of the Alliance for the Climate and Health Emergency in the Aburrá Valley, in which entities such as CORANTIOQUIA and the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area, environmental authorities, the District of Medellín, the Metropolitan Technological Institute, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, the Barcelona City Council, EPM as the Public Utilities Company, Pork Colombia (a private sector entity) and the settled communities participated. Seven years later, the actions in the watersheds have become more dynamic and the communities have joined together in the SOS Watershed Network, where they exchange knowledge and lessons learned. This shows that it is possible to consolidate a roadmap through co-creation exercises that can be implemented in the short, medium and long term. Following the ideas of Ostrom (1997) and Scharmer (2024), the process includes knowing the limits and natural supply of the territory, establishing a dialogue with small groups to lead from the emerging future in terms of ecosystem regeneration, homologating concepts, views and interests, knowing the actions carried out in the past, mobilizing resources according to the capacities and roles of each one with a view to achieving the common objective. This contributes to consolidating water governance, which will translate into the necessary water security for the population. Environmental observatories are key tools for co-creation among basin stakeholders. It is necessary to identify the most appropriate type of observatory for each basin and implement a permanent updating scheme to guide decision making, through co-creation schemes with all stakeholders, prioritizing the most urgent actions. The democratization of information, the active participation of citizens, the diversity of stakeholders involved, continuous monitoring, and regulatory frameworks are key aspects that an environmental observatory should have in order to consolidate water governance. The focus groups and the workshop on Barriers that limit Water Governance showed that the main barriers are: high levels of distrust among the different stakeholders, difficulty in working towards a common goal, particular interests, legal limitations to enhance collaborative work, lack of knowledge about what a watershed is and the lack of accurate information to make decisions that improve the environmental and social conditions of the watersheds towards water security. The methodology integrates local knowledge with technical rigor through dialogues where everyone values each other's contribution, visualizing together the priorities in each watershed. This constitutes a conscious leadership exercise that seeks to transcend the mechanisms implemented over time, motivating sustained and inclusive processes. It is hoped that, given the similarity of socio-environmental contexts in Latin America, it can be replicated in other regions, strengthening water governance schemes and environmental justice, highlighting the importance of water within the water-energy-food nexus, as a vital element for human survival.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: OLIVER SOLÀ, JORDI
     SECRETARI: VIDAL LOPEZ, EVA MARIA
     VOCAL: FOGLIA ROMERO, EFRAIN
Thesis abstract: Understanding the role of property rights in managing Information and Communication Technology devices, primarily computers, is fundamental to addressing resource waste and achieving digital inclusion and sustainability goals. Although ICT device acquisition, use, and disposal are predominantly governed by individual property, reuse ecosystems demonstrate significant benefits. In such ecosystems, diverse actors collaborate to recover discarded ICT devices, refurbish, maintain and deliver them at minimal environmental and economic cost to vulnerable populations. Based on Common-Pool Resources theory, this thesis introduces a model that applies a community property approach to govern the reuse of ICT devices, using the bundle of rights framework to organise and manage reuse ecosystems. Building on the eReuse initiative, developed through action-research by a multistakeholder community involved in computer refurbishment for social inclusion in Spain, it captures patterns of collective action, classifies participants by roles, and maps the property rights underpinning their interactions, ensuring fair relationships within the ecosystem. To assess the suitability and application in Ibero-American contexts, the model was evaluated in three reuse ecosystems in Argentina and Uruguay. Results indicate that, although local adaptation is often needed, the model works in practice and shows strong potential to inform the governance design in culturally aligned ICT reuse ecosystems. The model is operationalised through two digital tools, DeviceHub and Workbench, which facilitate the tracing of property changes in devices throughout their life cycle, while also collecting detailed usage and performance metrics. In eReuse, it was found that approximately 46% of discarded and donated devices could be reused, highlighting the premature recycling of functional equipment due to criteria such as accounting or software obsolescence. Data collected through these tools also enables more precise estimation of impacts and supports the creation of indicators for comparing digital inclusion strategies across various regions and scenarios. The results show that the CO2 equivalent efficiency of reusing devices ranges from 30% in areas with a higher proportion of renewable energy to 5% in regions dependent on fossil fuels, when compared to new devices. This underscores that reuse is not inherently efficient but is instead dependent on contextual factors. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the need for more granular data to refine these estimates and gain a better understanding of the full impact of ICT reuse in different contexts. Finally, this governance model was tested through practical case studies in real-world contexts. Our results demonstrate that the success or failure of reuse depends on the sociocultural context and barriers such as ensuring long-term maintenance and usability, which are more effectively mitigated in servitised reuse ecosystems, where maintainers and ICT agents ensure device performance in the face of rapid technological change. These insights contribute to bridging the gap between sustainability goals and ICT governance, highlighting the role of digitally enabled reuse ecosystems in fostering equitable, low-carbon digital transitions and generating local employment opportunities.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: ARIAS ISAZA, CARLOS ALBERTO DE JESÚS
     SECRETARI: ALVAREZ DEL CASTILLO, JAVIER
     VOCAL: CALDARICE, OMBRETTA
Thesis abstract: Urban crises reveal the true essence of our cities: their ability to collapse or, on the contrary, to sublimate themselves in adversity. Floods, economic shocks, pandemics — all tremors that expose every fragility but, paradoxically, can also unleash transformative potential. While resilience works to restore a fragile status quo (Davoudi, 2012), antifragility (Taleb, 2012) is bolder: it draws raw energy from each crisis to reinvent itself and rise to a higher level of evolution.This research demonstrates how this paradigm, when applied to the urban fabric, can become a new operational strategic lever: rather than enduring the crisis, the city exploits it, crushes it, and extracts from it a new force, a “fuel” for mutation and sustainable growth.Following a critical analysis of existing post-crisis management approaches, fifteen fundamental theoretical principles were identified and empirically confronted with the reality of twenty-seven cities that have experienced major crises. Six of them demonstrated an exemplary urban trajectory, revealing how key mechanisms (strategic diversity, proactive innovation, systemic anticipation, active prevention, sustainable resilience) are articulated to metabolize uncertainty.By breaking down the structures and dynamics at work, this research reveals the "DNA" of urban antifragility and leads to the formalization of a conceptual framework equipped with an operational toolkit built around proven and quantifiable dynamics. This tool provides: (i) a precise diagnosis based on 75 performance indicators, making it possible to rigorously assess the capacity of cities to adapt and transform in the face of crises; (ii) a strategic roadmap to "reprogram" the urban trajectory, articulated around priority axes and concrete actions facilitating optimal evolution; (iii) a register of best practices, empirically proven in antifragile cities, used to strengthen public policies and guide implementation guidelines.The full-scale experiment carried out in Tel Aviv made it possible to confront the model with reality on the ground. A multi-level survey system was deployed, combining in-depth interviews, strategic round tables and targeted surveys with local stakeholders. This evaluation validated the conceptual robustness and operational relevance of the proposed framework, highlighting its ability to provide a precise diagnosis, a coherent strategic orientation and concrete levers of action to accelerate the transformation of the city. The analysis of in situ returns led to a refinement of the model, consolidating its applicability and facilitating its transposability to other urban contexts.This conceptual framework and its strategic toolkit establish an evolutionary dynamic where each disruption becomes a lever for transformation. By reintegrating uncertainty as a driver of adaptation and innovation, they are profoundly reconfiguring urban strategies, providing cities with the means to anticipate, absorb and transcend crises. This approach paves the way for an anti-fragile urbanity, where the unexpected ceases to be a constraint and becomes a vector of sustainable and differentiated growth.

Committee:
     PRESIDENT: FONSECA ESCUDERO, DAVID
     SECRETARI: LÓPEZ ÁLVAREZ, DAVID
     VOCAL: FERNANDEZ MORALES, ANGELICA
Thesis abstract: This dissertation investigates the role of Double-Skin Façades (DSFs) in promoting sustainable building practices, focusing on their influence on energy efficiency, thermal and visual comfort, and social dynamics, particularly in urban settings. Given that buildings account for about 40% of global energy use, façades significantly impact energy performance, making their design a critical area for improving sustainability. This study employs a combination of empirical observations, advanced simulations, and parametric design tools such as Rhinoceros and Grasshopper to explore how DSFs can reduce energy consumption while enhancing the comfort and well-being of occupants.The research is structured around key performance indicators like Energy Use Intensity, Number of Hours in Thermal Comfort, and Spatial Glare Autonomy. The findings indicate that adaptive DSFs, when optimized, significantly improve building energy performance, reduce cooling and heating loads, and provide effective glare control—all while enhancing visual comfort. Moreover, DSFs help create socially dynamic environments by improving the aesthetic appeal of façades and fostering social interactions in urban areas.A case study in Barcelona highlights the broader applicability of these findings to Mediterranean climates, with implications for both new construction and retrofitting projects. By integrating advanced computational tools for multi-objective optimization, the study not only identifies façade configurations that balance energy efficiency and occupant comfort but also demonstrates how façades can enhance social engagement in densely populated urban spaces.In conclusion, the research provides architects and urban planners with actionable insights into the use of DSFs and parametric tools for sustainable building design, offering solutions that reduce energy consumption, improve occupant comfort, and encourage social interaction—key aspects of developing more sustainable urban environments.