Author: MONCUNILL MARIMON, JORGE
Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
Programme: NAUTICAL ENGINEERING, MARINE AND NAVAL RADIOELECTRONICS
Department: Department of Nautical Sciences and Engineering (CEN)
Mode: Normal
Deposit date: 25/11/2021
Reading date: 21/01/2022
Reading time: 12:00
Reading place: Sala Juntes Facultat de Nàutica de Barcelona - Videoconferència: https://meet.google.com/gew-pqvy-cti
Thesis director: MARTIN MALLOFRE, AGUSTIN | MARTÍNEZ LOZARES, AITOR TOMÁS
Committee:
     PRESIDENT: PINIELLA CORBACHO, FRANCISCO
     SECRETARI: MARTINEZ DE OSÉS, FRANCISCO JAVIER
     VOCAL: MARTÍNEZ MARÍN, JESÚS EZEQUIEL
Thesis abstract: The objective of this thesis is to improve the efficiency in the compass adjustment.First, a complete, orderly, synthetic and updated study on this matter is performed, including the state of the art, as well as the international and Spanish regulations, and then, four cases of study are considered to be focused on:i) Obtaining a method that allows to use the information of course over ground given by the GPS, in order to create the table of the residual deviations (deviation table) in small crafts, where the unique course indicator is the magnetic compass, once the deviations have been compensated to two leading lines close to cardinal magnetic courses separated by 90º.ii) A study on the incidence of asymmetric rods d, b (which cause coefficients A, E), in order to simplify the methodology to compensate. Besides, an improvement in the accuracy of the calculation of the residual deviations is also proposed when it is compensated by following lines that do not exactly coincide with cardinal or quadrantal magnetic courses.iii) A study of the problem in the selection of the quadrantal course for creating the deviation table by the practical formula of the equation of deviation, as experience demonstrates that, from the four deviations on the quadrantal courses, there is always one that is misaligned, i.e. that gives a coefficient D different from the obtained with any of the other three.iv) Obtaining a method for adjusting and creating the deviation table with a single swing to four magnetic courses. This saves time and fuel, as well as increases the safety of ships by staying less time near the shore and other vessels.Formally, the thesis is structured in four parts. The first one is introductory, and deals on magnetism, magnetic compasses, and systems of electromagnetic units. The second part corresponds to an updated study on the fundamentals of the compass adjustment. In the third part, the state of the art in regard to research on magnetic compasses and their adjustment is described. And in the fourth part, the aforementioned cases of study are developed. Finally, conclusions are drawn. In addition, an annex with the international and Spanish regulations on magnetic compasses and their adjustment is incorporated.

Author: SÁNCHEZ HERRERO, EULALIA
Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN OPTICAL ENGINEERING
Department: Department of Optics and Optometry (OO)
Mode: Confidentiality
Deposit date: 03/12/2021
Reading date: 21/01/2022
Reading time: 12:00
Reading place: Auditori Joan Salvadó del Centre Universitari de la Visió. Facultat - UPC Facultat d'Òptica i Optometria de Terrassa - videoconferencia: meet.google.com/hjq-ovqx-era
Thesis director: CADEVALL ARTIGUES, CRISTINA | GISPETS PARCERISAS, JOAN
Committee:
     PRESIDENT: HERNÁNDEZ VERDEJO, JOSÉ LUIS
     SECRETARI: CARDONA TORRADEFLOT, GENIS
     VOCAL: BIARNÉS PÉREZ, MARCOS
Thesis abstract: People with peripheral visual field loss perceive limited information about the environment and present severe problems in achieving successful orientation and mobility. In recent years, virtual and augmented reality systems have been incorporated with the aim of taking advantage of the performance of new technologies to improve people's quality of life, and the need to design and propose an evaluation system to assess them has arisen.The aim of this work is to design and build a laboratory (MoviLab) that allows the systematic and objective analysis of visual skills, as well as the effect of interventions aimed at improving mobility skills in patients suffering visual impairment with peripheral field defect.To this end, two areas of work have been identified. On the one hand, the creation of a visual skills assessment system and, on the other, a mobility assessment system.To assess the visual skills, a computer system has been designed and implemented (Movilab software and auxiliary devices), which allows adapting the tests to the patient's visual capacity and facilitates the recording of the results. This computer system makes it possible to include in clinical practice aspects that are generally under-evaluated in this patient profile, such as glare, visual search and certain areas of visual perception. For the evaluation of mobility, a physical space has been designed and implemented, equipped with a video recording system and control of lighting conditions, where safe itineraries in which obstacles are placed, without danger, and which represent the real problem can be carried out. The laboratory makes it possible to detect variations in the walking speed of patients if the lighting or obstacles are modified.The main result of this thesis is the MoviLab laboratory as a whole, which is now a UPC asset included in the catalogue of external scientific-technical services, in the Healthtech area. MoviLab will allow the promotion of R&D in the field of systematic and objective analysis of visual skills, as well as the effect of interventions aimed at improving mobility skills in patients suffering visual impairment.Normality reference values have been obtained for the new assessment tests. These values allow the comparison of results with those of special populations.A model report has been created which includes the parameters of visual impairment mentioned in the BOE. This report has been very well accepted by patients and professionals such as the ophthalmologists who treat them.A validation study of the laboratory and mobility itineraries has been carried out on a sample of healthy observers, whose visual field is reduced with simulation glasses, and on a sample of patients with peripheral field defect. The results have confirmed its sensitivity to detect variations in walking speed and it is therefore considered validated to evaluate mobility aids.The effect of two mobility aids aimed at improving mobility skills in patients suffering peripheral field defect has been analyzed and the importance of carrying out this type of study in two phases, the pre-clinical phase and the clinical phase, has been demonstrated. The following protocols have been proposed:- Visual skills assessment protocol for patients suffering visual impairment with peripheral field defect.- Mobility assessment protocol.Keywords: low vision, peripheral visual defect, visual skills, visual search, glare, visual perception, mobility assessment, mobility aids and obstacle detection.

Author: BAGHERI MOGHADDAM, FAEZEH
Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL, CIVIL AND URBAN HERITAGE AND REFURBISHMENT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS
Department: (RA)
Mode: Normal
Deposit date: 29/09/2021
Reading date: 24/01/2022
Reading time: 11:00
Reading place: ETSAB- Sala de Graus ETSAB
Thesis director: FORT MIR, JOSEP MARIA | NAVARRO DELGADO, ISIDRO
Committee:
     PRESIDENT: SUNGUR, ASLI
     SECRETARI: MORET VIÑALS, ORIOL
     VOCAL: NECCHI, SILVIA
Thesis abstract: This dissertation aims to improve work conditions in office buildings by implementing vertical greenery systems, such as green façades and living walls in semi-arid climates. Since building energy performance is characterized by their electrical systems and thermal exchanges through the building envelope, which is primarily defined by glazing systems in the façades, covering glazed façades with a vegetation layer can play a key role in energy-saving and thermal comfort of buildings. This research evaluates, through the building simulation method, the influence of green façades in thermal comfort, energy consumption, and the heating and cooling loads of an office building in Denver city with a semi-arid climate condition. Furthermore, the psychological and physical performance of vertical gardens as a nature-based solution and, from the perspective of biophilic cities and philosophy, has been assessed through a review of previous studies related to the effect of greenery systems in office buildings. A green façade can also be used as a retrofit option for office building refurbishment. A case study was created as a conceptual model to investigate the influence of green façades and green façade configuration on their performance prediction in semi-arid climates. Additionally, for a better understanding of vertical garden performance in semi-arid regions, simulation case studies in Barcelona with a Mediterranean climate (as articles) and Denver with a semiarid climate as the context of this dissertation were conducted and their results were compared together. The information generated from the simulation of bare and green façade configurations as a double-skin façade was incorporated into qualitative theories trying to predict human comfort aspects in the work environment. For balancing energy-saving measures through green façade refurbishment, four qualitative criteria serve as the foundation for occupant psychological and physical comfort, and their impact on productivity has been established. These criteria are: the requirement for appropriate indoor air temperature, indoor air quality, daylight availability for the psychological performance of users, and perceived control over the façade by a vegetation layer in workplaces. Finally, a new concept of vertical gardens was introduced by integrating biology and technology in architecture, which may solve the issue of weather conditions and water scarcity in some climates, such as semi-arid climates, for implementing vertical gardens.

Author: SANTIN MURIEL, ANDREU
Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MARINE SCIENCES
Department: (DECA)
Mode: Normal
Deposit date: 28/09/2021
Reading date: 24/01/2022
Reading time: 12:00
Reading place: Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM). Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37, 08003 Barcelona (ETSECCPB) videoconferència:https://meet.google.com/wtb-zpqs-nzx
Thesis director: GILI SARDÁ, JOSEP MARIA | GRINYÓ ANDREU, JORDI
Committee:
     PRESIDENT: RIOS LOPEZ, MARIA PILAR
     SECRETARI: GEROVASILEIOU, VASILEIOS
     VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: PALACÍN CABAÑAS, CREU
Thesis abstract: Sponge assemblages dominate several distinctive, hard-bottom environments, being one of the most important structural organisms at several locations around the world. Although the Mediterranean sponge fauna is among the world's most studied, information is minimal for sponges from Mediterranean deep-sea areas compared to shallow waters, with most of the data deriving from indirect sampling methods or from by-catch specimens collected by bottom trawlers. Taking advantage of the footage and material collected during the Life + INDEMARES, ABIDES and ABRIC projects, the present thesis aims to shed light, by means of non-invasive methods, into the sponge communities occurring in two remarkable sites of the Catalano-Balearic Sea (northwestern Mediterranean Sea): The Site of Community Interest (SCI) of the Menorca Channel (Balearic archipelago), which is to become a future Marine Protected Area (MPA), and the Cold Water-Coral (CWC) communities recently discovered in the Blanes Canyon.Regarding the Menorca Channel SCI, this thesis characterized, by means of quantitative analyses of video transects, the main sponge assemblages occurring in the area, with a special focus on the geographical, bathymetrical and size-structure distribution of its most relevant habitat-forming sponge. Quantitative analysis of 85 video-transects (a total linear distance of 75 km), together with representative collections to confirm species identifications, allowed to discriminate six major assemblages, which mainly corresponded to differences in substrate type and depth. Highest sponge densities and abundances were concentrated in areas of high hydrodynamism, namely the rocky shoals offshore Cap Formentor and the Menorca Canyon¿s head. Most of the studied species were dominated by small to medium size classes, suggesting pulse recruitment events. A clear depth-zonation pattern has been observed, going from the inner continental shelf to the upper slope. At the same time, the continental shelf harbored the presence of diverse and contrasting growth morphologies, yet the biggest forms occurred at the shelf edge and the upper slope. Regarding the identified assemblages, on the inner continental shelf, a semi-sciaphilous Axinellid assemblage dominated the rocky outcrops. Maërl beds on the inner continental shelf were dominated by Haliclona (Reniera) mediterranea, whereas the horny sponge Aplysina cavernicola and several other haliclonids mostly dominated maërl beds and rocky substrates of the outer shelf. Soft sediments on the shelf break hosted a monospecific Thenea muricata assemblage, whereas rocky substrates of the shelf break were characterized by a mixture of encrusting, columnar and fan-shaped sponges. Finally, the upper slope was dominated by Hamacantha (Vomerula) falcula and the hexactinellid Tetrodictyum reiswigi. This thesis highlights the presence of dense, well-preserved sponge populations in the Menorca Channel, and provides a baseline for their future monitoring once the MPA is declared, potentially serving as reference for other areas across the Atlanto-Mediterranean region.Regarding the Blanes canyon, the present thesis provides the first insight on the associated sponge fauna of its recently discovered CWC communities, while also reviewing the current knowledge of the sponge fauna dwelling in all the Mediterranean CWC provinces. In regards to the studied area, some rare species are cited for the first time in the Mediterranean or redescribed, while two of them, Hamacantha (Hamacantha) hortae and Hamigera bibiloni are new to science. At a basin scale, Mediterranean CWC appear as poriferan biodiversity hotspots, yet current diversity values on each site rather represent a small fraction of its actual fauna. Additionally, the existence of an endemic sponge fauna exclusively dwelling on CWC is refuted. Nonetheless, the sponge fauna thriving in Mediterranean CWC appears to be unique, and different from that of other Atlantic regions.

Author: YAGO LLAMAS, DANIEL
Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MECHANICAL, FLUIDS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Department: Department of Physics (FIS)
Mode: Article-based thesis
Deposit date: 09/12/2021
Reading date: 24/01/2022
Reading time: 12:00
Reading place: Sala C1-002, edifici C-1 - UPC Campus Nord
Thesis director: CANTE TERAN, JUAN CARLOS | LLOBERAS VALLS, ORIOL
Committee:
     CODIRECTOR: LLOBERAS VALLS, ORIOL
     PRESIDENT: CUETO PRENDES, ELIAS
     SECRETARI: MARTINEZ FRUTOS, JESUS
     VOCAL: NAVARRINA MARTÍNEZ, FERMIN LUIS
Thesis abstract: This doctoral thesis addresses topology ptimization problems at a single scale. Based on this purpose, a new topology optimization approach is developed in order to improve existing and widespread techniques in the research community on the topic. The proposed technique presents several characteristics that overcome some of the well-known difficulties in topological optimization while maintaining a considerable degree of simplicity.In the first place, the formulation of the topological optimization technique is presented, as well as its algorithm. The method is based on 4 fundamental features: (1) the use of a 1-0 characteristic function, as well as the precise identification of the material boundaries from a discrimination function (0-level-set function), (2) the definition of a topological derivative consistent with the ersatz method (used in the state problem), as an approximation to the exact topological derivative, (3) the inclusion of a Laplacian regularization with minimum size control of the different components, and (4) the formulation of an analytical optimality condition aiming at the optimal topology solution. The approach is applied to different topology optimization problems, well-reported in the literature and used as numerical benchmarks (in structural and thermal problems), to examine their performance. In these fields, stiffness and conductivity maximization problems are considered for validation, respectively. In addition, different topological optimization problems of major engineering interest are tackled, including the design of compliant mechanisms within the structural field and thermal cloaking devices within the thermal field.Finally, a comparison of the formulation with other existing topology optimization techniques is performed, including (1) SIMP, (2) ESO/BESO, and (3) Level-set with Hamilton-Jacobi as the updating equation. The analysis of the results provides a comparison in terms of the quality of the topology of each method, the computational cost of the optimal solutions, as well as the simplicity of implementation. The resulting study reveals the potential of the developed methodology in these specific comparison terms.In an attempt to bring the method closer to other researchers and to promote its use, an educational version of the method (written in MATLAB) has been published in an online repository, together with documentation, facilitating its dissemination and subsequent use in other applications of interest.