Public display of deposited theses

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS

• DE OLAZÁBAL, RAMIRO: Advancing Solver Performance in Large-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics: Generalizing the Linelet Preconditioner for the Pressure Correction Equation
  
  Author: DE OLAZÁBAL, RAMIRO
  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 APPLIED MATHEMATICS
  Department: School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 17/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 28/03/2025
  Thesis director: LEHMKUHL BARBA, ORIOL | VÁZQUEZ, MARIANO
  Thesis abstract: This thesis presents the Global Linelet Preconditioner (GLP), a preconditioning strategy designed to overcome these limitations and improve scalability in extreme-scale Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications. The method extends and generalizes the traditional linelet approach by introducing a communication step within the preconditioning operation, allowing interdomain coupling and preserving connectivity across partition boundaries. This modification significantly enhances convergence rates in highly anisotropic meshes by ensuring that the strongest couplings in the linear system are treated effectively, regardless of domain decomposition constraints. A key contribution of this work is the development of a purely algebraic linelet construction algorithm, which eliminates the need for geometric information when defining linelets. While conventional methods rely on explicit mesh structures to determine anisotropic directions, the algebraic approach constructs linelets based solely on matrix properties, allowing greater flexibility and applicability to general unstructured meshes. Furthermore, the geometric-based construction was also explored and integrated within the framework, demonstrating superior performance in structured meshes with well-defined anisotropic features. The comparison between the geometric and algebraic approaches revealed that while the former achieves better performance when clear directional stiffness is present, the latter provides a robust alternative when mesh topology is complex or unavailable. The effectiveness of GLP was assessed through extensive numerical experiments, including benchmark problems and real-world CFD applications such as the 30P30N high-lift airfoil, the Stanford diffuser, and the DrivAer model. Results demonstrated that GLP significantly improves solver convergence over existing preconditioners, including previous versions of the linelet preconditioner, particularly in cases where a high percentage of elements lie within the boundary layer. Performance analyses revealed that while GLP incurs a higher preprocessing cost due to linelet construction and communication, these overheads are outweighed by the substantial reduction in solver iterations, leading to overall computational savings in large-scale simulations. In addition to improving convergence, GLP introduces a partition-agnostic formulation, making it independent of the domain decomposition strategy. Unlike traditional preconditioners, which are sensitive to mesh partitioning, GLP maintains its numerical performance across varying decomposition configurations, enabling more flexible and balanced parallel execution. The parallel implementation of the method, tailored for High Performance Computing environments, ensures scalability across a wide range of core counts, as demonstrated by detailed scalability analyses.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

• ORTIGOSA DUARTE, NURIA: Exposiciones de arquitectura en Barcelona 1939-2019. Una colección.
  
  Author: ORTIGOSA DUARTE, NURIA
  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 DESIGN
  Department: Department of Architectural Design (PA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 26/03/2025
  Thesis director: CALLÍS FREIXAS, EDUARD | MONTEYS ROIG, FCO JAVIER
  Thesis abstract: The objective of this research is the study of the collection comprising the 950 architectural exhibitions held in Barcelona from the end of the Spanish Civil War to the present day. The study focuses on the «what» rather than the «how», that is, on their content beyond their display. The most common way architectural exhibitions have been studied is through their individuality or, in some cases, in small associations, but never through the entirety of their exhibition activity. However, in this dissertation, the exhibitions are understood as a whole, as an architectural collection that allows for establishing a series of relationships among them, revealing qualities that can only be uncovered through «the whole». Nor have they been considered from the plurality of the city that hosts them, despite their temporal concurrence and their dispersion across numerous locations in the city, whereas here they are taken as a body equivalent to the architecture of the city to which they belong and simultaneously help to shape.Somewhere between theory and practice, architectural exhibitions serve as a platform for the dissemination and debate of ideas; they are part of and contribute to the architectural discourse of the city in which they are held. This is achieved by conveying a specific argument that stimulates architectural thinking through its content. Such content is composed of a selection of «pieces» usually taken from architectural collections or archives, generally housed in specialized institutions, as well as some elements produced ad hoc. In other words, the collections and archives from which this content is drawn represent an invaluable reserve for the «construction» of new exhibitions. The group of exhibitions that forms the body of study for this thesis is itself a collection, comprising 950 archives. Based on the above, this collection can be seen as a tool for the formation of new arguments and, therefore, new architectural discourses.This research will dissect the exhibitions held in Barcelona from the perspective of the collection, extracting knowledge from both their morphology as exhibition act and the content of their discourse in relation to the city. This body of study will also allow for the revelation of characteristics of architectural exhibitions as an architectural practice in themselves, which, as a recent field of study, remain unexplored. Additionally, with the aim of highlighting the propositional role of architectural archives and collections and «learning to handle» the one addressed here, it will discuss reference case studies through which it will be demonstrated that the collection under study can be taken as an active and usable resource, stemming from the propositional idea intrinsic to all architectural projects. Through this research, it will be shown that this collection of exhibitions, in addition to having the capacity to reveal previously unknown issues that can only be evidenced through its collective condition, is not a passive repository of architectural elements but a latent gathering of ideas awaiting activation. It is a project tool capable of generating potential arguments that open new perspectives on the ongoing transformation of our built environment and its exhibitions.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AUTOMATIC CONTROL, ROBOTICS AND VISION

• TIAN, YI: Bio-inspired Event-driven Intelligence for Motion Estimation
  
  Author: TIAN, YI
  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 AUTOMATIC CONTROL, ROBOTICS AND VISION
  Department: Institute of Robotics and Industrial Informatics (IRI)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 18/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 31/03/2025
  Thesis director: ANDRADE CETTO, JUAN
  Thesis abstract: Motion estimation problems can range from low degrees of freedom (DOF) ego-motion estimation to complex, high-DOF motion, which includes dense pixel displacement or optical flow. This information is essential for enabling robots to perceive and navigate their environments. However, existing vision systems for motion estimation are less robust and efficient than biological systems, largely due to limitations in sensor technology and processing methods. This thesis builds on the bio-inspired sensor -event camera-, and the brain-inspired computing approach -Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs)-, presenting a promising solution that bridges these gaps. Event-based cameras have high temporal resolution, low latency, reduced data redundancy, and are power efficient. These unique capabilities make them particularly well-suited for environments and tasks where traditional frame-based cameras struggle. They show great potential for the solution of motion estimation problems across a wide range of applications, such as providing accurate and low-latency motion estimation for autonomous vehicles or aerial robots. SNNs are inspired by how neurons in the human brain communicate through synapses using spikes, which are brief and discrete electrical signals that allow highly efficient and robust information processing. The thesis begins with estimating 3-DOF ego-motion, progresses to sparse optical flow, and ultimately tackles dense optical flow. In the first step, the thesis addresses event-based ego-motion estimation by integrating SNN approaches with traditional optimization-based techniques. It explores the ego-motion estimation problem from inference optical flow obtained by an SNN and proposes a pooling method to address the aperture problem encountered in the sparse and noisy normal flow output of the SNN. In the next step, modern artificial neural network (ANN) architectures are leveraged to improve event-based optical flow estimation. This step proposes a U-Net transformer-based architecture with a recurrent neural network as the backbone. In the final phase of this research, the visual transformer architecture is further extended to flow encoders, incorporating spatiotemporal attention to enhance the extraction of temporal information. This led to the development of a swin transformer-based ANN model and its spiking counterpart. Notably, this work marks the first use of spikeformers in event-based optical flow estimation, demonstrating the potential of combining transformer architectures with SNNs for regression tasks. Overall, this thesis advances the understanding of motion estimation using event cameras. It sets the stage for their application in real-world scenarios such as high-speed object tracking and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). The biologically inspired methods developed in this thesis offer promising avenues for balancing the performance and efficiency of computer vision and robotics systems, paving the way for future innovations in this field.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

• , DUOLAN: Integration of Spatial and Temporal Patterns for ecological environment management in River-Riparian System
  
  Author: , DUOLAN
  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 CIVIL ENGINEERING
  Department: Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 18/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 31/03/2025
  Thesis director: BLADE CASTELLET, ERNEST | SANCHEZ JUNY, MARTI
  Thesis abstract: Rivers are important carriers of water resources and important components of ecosystems. In some areas, rivers have been artificially narrowed, riparian areas have been encroached upon, riparian resources have been over-exploited, and artificial restrictions have been placed on the river channel. This resulted in the loss of the river's role in receiving and storing flood waters, which leading to the collapse of river banks and the destruction of river embankments, severely affecting the stability of the river, threatening the safety of bridges, culverts and other critical river-related infrastructure, and endangering the ecological environment. The definition of riparian zones is particularly important for the management and protection of rivers. In the implementation of policies to promote river management in various countries, emphasis has been placed on strengthening the management of riparian zones, ensuring the safety of flood control and giving full play to the comprehensive ecological benefits of rivers. In recent years, various countries have proposed laws and regulations in recent years mainly to control overdevelopment, restore natural vegetation growth in riparian areas, protect habitats and achieve flood control. With the progress of water-related social development, the balance between environmental impact and benefits is increasingly emphasized. Changes in river shape, man-made riverbeds, and riverbank construction affect aquatic life and destroy wildlife habitats. River regulation also alters ecosystems. To reduce these impacts, government agencies implement protocols for riparian assessment and monitoring, including physical habitat, hydromorphological, and hydrological regime evaluations.The research first begins with a retrospective analysis as the starting point to acquire how existing laws and regulations on development and restoration lack effective integration and induce weak adaptability. A river-riparian model is developed based on two-dimensional hydraulic modelling integrated with numerical modelling by relying on topographical, hydrological, vegetation, and soil data to analyze the hydro-ecological cycle within the riparian zone and delineate the boundary of riparian. The model aims to provide a site-specific approach to riparian zone delineation. In addition, a system of parameters for ecological status assessment is proposed which focuses on the main contradictions between the environment conservation and the ecosystem services of riparian zones. In order to develop and analyze strategies for a good ecological status of the water bodies and riparian zones, the methodology of riparian zone delineation will provide tools for enhancing the coordination of the needs of riparian resource development and ecosystem protection and use, and the ecological environment assessment system will evaluate the hydromorphological quality and promote the healthy development of the ecological environment. The findings of this research propose a convenient and effective method for delineating riparian zones which can be basically universally applied. It is noteworthy for its applicability in riparian zone management practices and as a reference for policy strategy development. The proposed quantitative evaluation method covers the key aspects of hydromorphological quality evaluation. This eliminates the highly subjective assignment of weights and classification of evaluation levels while also avoiding the inclusion of complex calculation procedures. The river-riparian areas evaluation method allows the decision-makers to easily analyze the problems through the resulting calculations and lay the foundation for further solutions.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

• PUJOL TORRAMORELL, ROGER: Improving Real-Time Guarantees of Cache Coherence and Advanced Interconnections in Real-Time Systems
  
  Author: PUJOL TORRAMORELL, ROGER
  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 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of Computer Architecture (DAC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 18/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 31/03/2025
  Thesis director: CAZORLA ALMEIDA, FRANCISCO JAVIER | ABELLA FERRER, JAIME
  Thesis abstract: The dissertation, research on enhancing timing predictability and performance for Critical Real-Time Embedded Systems (CRTES), focusing on Multi-Processor Systems on Chip (MPSoCs). CRTES are essential in critical domains like automotive and avionics, where complex functionalities and high performance are increasingly required for operations such as AI and multi-sensor data processing. However, MPSoCs face significant timing verification and validation (V&V) challenges, especially related to shared resources like caches and interconnects, which can introduce unpredictable delays. This thesis addresses three core areas to improve CRTES predictability: cache coherence, interconnection predictability, and application performance through vector extensions.Cache Coherence: In MPSoCs, cache coherence protocols ensure consistent data across multiple cores, but shared caches introduce contention that affects timing predictability. Traditional approaches to improving coherence often involve modifying protocols, a costly and complex task. This thesis takes an alternative approach by leveraging hardware event monitors (HEMs) to observe cache contention, providing valuable data for timing V&V without altering existing protocols. This methodology is applied to commercial MPSoCs like the NXP T1040 and T2080, which are widely used in real-time domains.On another note, the Remote Protocol-Contention Tracking (RPCT) method is proposed, which enables fine-grained tracking of delays due to inter-core contention, offering insights into cache coherence impacts on software predictability and informing developers on optimization strategies. Additionally, the thesis proposes a novel Multiple HEM Validation (MHV) method to improve the accuracy of contention measurements by validating HEM reliability through inter-HEM relationships, mitigating known issues with single-event HEM inaccuracies.Interconnections: MPSoCs rely on point-to-point (P2P) communication protocols like AXI4 for data transfer between cores, but the standard AXI protocol lacks timing constraints, making it unpredictable under real-time requirements. Addressing this, this thesis introduces AXI4 Real-Time (AXI4RT), an extension to the AXI protocol that specifies timing parameters to control the duration of transactions between manager and subordinate interfaces. By defining timing guarantees directly within the protocol, AXI4RT ensures predictable communication, enhancing system reliability for real-time applications. Additionally, this thesis provides some initial steps for contention tracking on modern AXI5 interconnects by doing an in-depth analysis how can contention be tracked with currently available HEMs and proposing some HEMs that could improve this tracking.Application Performance with Vector Extensions: To meet growing performance demands in CRTES, MPSoCs often use GPUs and custom accelerators, but these present certification challenges due to their complexity and unpredictable timing. This thesis explores using vector extensions (VExt) as an alternative. Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) processing units are already available in many embedded processors, which perform parallel operations on multiple data elements, effectively improving data processing speeds. Unlike GPUs, VExt are integrated within processors and comply with high-integrity system standards, making them easier to certify. The thesis provides an analysis of VExt in COTS processors like NVIDIA’s AGX Xavier and show their potential to enhance performance while maintaining compliance with standards such as MISRA-C.In summary, this thesis advances the state-of-the-art in CRTES predictability, presenting solutions that ensure more reliable timing for complex embedded systems in safety-critical applications. By addressing cache coherence, interconnect timing, and performance, this thesis provides tools and methodologies for better timing analysis, enabling MPSoCs to improve real-time guarantees.
  
• SEYGHALY, RASOOL: A Federated Learning Approach to Smart Advertising
  
  Author: SEYGHALY, RASOOL
  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 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of Computer Architecture (DAC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 17/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 28/03/2025
  Thesis director: GARCÍA ALMIÑANA, JORDI | MASIP BRUIN, XAVIER
  Thesis abstract: This thesis presents a Federated Learning-based Smart Advertising System designed to enhance user engagement, optimize network efficiency, and ensure data privacy in digital advertising. Traditional advertising systems face significant challenges in balancing personalization with privacy, managing network overhead, and scaling efficiently. This study addresses these issues by integrating Edge Computing and Federated Learning (FL) to enable real-time, decentralized ad targeting while keeping user data secure.The proposed system consists of a decentralized recommendation engine, where local models are trained on users’ devices and aggregated using meta-heuristic optimization techniques, particularly the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA). Experimental results demonstrate that WOA outperforms other aggregation techniques, such as the Firefly Algorithm (FA) and Bat Algorithm (BA), in terms of convergence speed and overall efficiency. The system also leverages formal verification techniques, including model checking, to ensure correctness, security, and compliance with privacy regulations.Comprehensive evaluation through both simulated and real-world case studies (such as the AROUND system) shows that the proposed architecture reduces network traffic, minimizes computational overhead, and significantly improves Click-Through Rates (CTR) and user engagement compared to traditional centralized models. The system is particularly beneficial for applications in museums, shopping malls, and retail chains, providing real-time tracking, indoor mapping, and personalized content delivery.The findings underscore the potential of Federated Learning and Edge Computing in privacy-preserving smart advertising, offering a scalable, cost-efficient, and user-centric solution for the future of digital marketing.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

• DOMINGO TARANCON, MAGÍ: Structural Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Concrete Bridges
  
  Author: DOMINGO TARANCON, MAGÍ
  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 CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 20/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 02/04/2025
  Thesis director: RAMOS SCHNEIDER, GONZALO
  Thesis abstract: The application of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) in bridge structures presents a significant advancement in structural performance, reinforcement optimization, and serviceability enhancement. This study examines the impact of FRC on bridge design, focusing on its ability to reduce reinforcement demands, improve crack control, and enable internal force redistribution. Despite these advantages, challenges related to fiber distribution, orientation, and potential brittle failure necessitate careful consideration in both design and construction.The integration of FRC in U-shaped light-train viaducts, as demonstrated in the Metrorrey Line 2 viaduct, highlights its potential to replace conventional reinforcement partially or entirely in sections with low reinforcement ratios. In particular, FRC enhances shear strength in bottom slabs and webs, leading to a reduction in transverse reinforcement requirements and simplifying reinforcement layouts. While FRC alone sustains ultimate limit state (ULS) loads in sections with low internal forces, in heavily loaded sections, its primary contribution lies in improving serviceability limit state (SLS) performance through better crack control and reduced reinforcement needs. Transversally posttensioned viaducts further amplify the benefits of FRC, as reduced internal force demands facilitate significant reinforcement reductions. However, despite theoretical possibilities for eliminating reinforcement, rebar bands remain necessary to ensure robustness, ease tendon placement, and enhance constructability.Following on the previous findings, the replacement of skin reinforcement in the webs by FRC is assessed in a road bridge. Several numerical models are prepared, from which it can be observed that such reinforcement can be eliminated. However, the elimination of the skin reinforcement produced a failure with a reduced deformation capacity. Depending on the structural case, allowing fibers to undergo strains beyond ultimate crack width can allow to attain redistribution and higher deformation capacities. Nonetheless, the risk of brittle failure in continuous elements with large cross-sections poses a challenge. Addressing these risks requires further research to experimentally validate redistribution mechanisms and establish calibrated design methodologies that account for fiber failure.Two experimental campaigns highlight the variability in fiber distribution and its implications for mechanical performance. Standard construction practices resulted in significant variations in fiber concentration, particularly in self-compacting concrete (SCC), where segregation was more pronounced. In addition, poor fiber alignment in precast elements led to substantial strength reductions, necessitating a revaluation of quasi-isotropic fiber orientation assumptions in design codes. These findings emphasize the importance of controlled casting methods to ensure stable fiber distributions and orientations, ensuring reliable material behavior in bridge applications.Overall, while FRC offers notable advantages in reducing reinforcement requirements, enhancing crack control, and enabling redistribution, its successful implementation in bridge structures depends on rigorous construction methodologies and refined design considerations.
  
• ORTIZ BERNAL, GALO FABIÁN: Comportamiento de estructuras de hormigón pretensado con armaduras pretesas de polímeros reforzados con fibras (FRP).
  
  Author: ORTIZ BERNAL, GALO FABIÁN
  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 CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 20/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 02/04/2025
  Thesis director: OLLER IBARS, EVA MARIA | MARI BERNAT, ANTONIO RICARDO
  Thesis abstract: The effect of corrosion on reinforcement and its impact on the service life reduction of existing reinforced and prestressed concrete infrastructures has led to the search for alternatives to conventional steel with enhanced durability. In this context, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcements are a promising alternative, as they are not susceptible to corrosion. However, their implementation as active reinforcement in the construction sector is still scarce, due to the limited research conducted and the fact that their use is not included in most current design guidelines, which restrict their application to passive reinforcement.The main objective of this thesis is to study the structural behavior of prestressed concrete elements with active FRP reinforcement, with the aim of contributing to the development of future design recommendations that ensure their functionality, safety, and durability. To this end, an experimental campaign was conducted on 20 simply supported beams with a span of 4.50 m, consisting of 10 flexural tests with a 3-point bending configuration and 18 shear tests (on 9 beams) subjected to a single-point load applied at a distance of three times the effective depth from one of the supports. Additionally, tests were carried out to characterize the mechanical properties of the materials, evaluate the bond performance of the prestressed FRP tendons, and verify the effectiveness of the anchorage systems used for each material.The study considered glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars with thermosetting resin (GFRP), glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars with thermoplastic resin (TP-GFRP), carbon fiber-reinforced polymer bars (CFRP), and carbon fiber composite cables (CFCC), as well as steel strands (control), prestressed at different levels. The exhaustive instrumentation allowed for the recording of the applied load, displacements at multiple points, rotations at the support, strains at different sections in both active and passive reinforcement, and the slip of the active reinforcement with respect to the concrete during the tests. The use of the digital image correlation (DIC) system enabled the capture of crack formation and propagation during each test.The beams tested in a 3-point bending configuration failed when the active longitudinal reinforcement reached its ultimate strength, leading to a decrease in the prestressing force and to the formation of a diagonal crack. In the beams tested in shear, the failure mode was as expected but more brittle compared to that of the prestressed steel beams. In some cases, the shear failure was accompanied by a tensile failure of the reinforcement in the section where the critical shear crack opened, due to the increase in tension produced by the shear force. The analytical formulations were able to predict the ultimate load values and the numerical modelling (using the ABAQUS programme) reproduced the performance of the beams in service but in some cases, they were not able to predict the failure load.
  
• VINTIMILLA MOLINA, CARLA TERESA: Optimize use of Recycled Aggregate in High-Durability Structural Concrete: An Experimental Study
  
  Author: VINTIMILLA MOLINA, CARLA TERESA
  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 CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 20/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 02/04/2025
  Thesis director: ETXEBERRIA LARRAÑAGA, MIREN
  Thesis abstract: Currently, the construction industry faces the challenge of adopting more sustainable practices, with the use of recycled aggregates in structural concrete production emerging as a key strategy. This doctoral research evaluates the viability and efficacy of structural concrete incorporating high volumes of fine and coarse recycled aggregates, specifically recycled concrete aggregates (RCA-type A) and mixed recycled aggregates (MRA-type B). The recycled aggregate concretes were subjected to exposure conditions ranging from XC1 to XC4 classes, extending to more severe environmental conditions such as XS1. The study was conducted in several experimental phases. In the first phase, the physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of recycled aggregates were evaluated. All concrete mixtures were designed with a compressive strength of 30/37 MPa and a cement, CEM II A/L 42.5R, content of 300 kg/m³. The second phase involved a comprehensive analysis of the physical, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete mixtures with varying proportions of RCA-type A and MRA-type B, using effective water–cement ratios of 0.48 and 0.52. This phase aimed to determine the maximum replacement percentage of recycled aggregates that could be incorporated without compromising the mechanical performance of the concrete. Results confirmed the feasibility of integrating up to 60% coarse RCA (CRCA) and 20% fine RCA (FRCA) in structural concrete mixtures, achieving mechanical properties comparable to natural aggregate concrete (NAC). The analysis was extended to the use of MRA-type B, validating good mechanical performance with up to 40% coarse MRA (CMRA) and 15% fine MRA (FMRA) without compromising structural performance.The third and fourth phases expanded the study, focusing on the effects on concrete durability using the limits established in previous phases. Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) and NAC mixtures were produced with similar compressive strengths using effective water–cement ratios of 0.47 and 0.51, respectively. These phases utilized different cement types, such as CEM II A/L 42.5 R, CEM II A/S 42.5 N/SRC, and CEM III/B 42.5 N-LH/SR, to evaluate drying shrinkage, chloride permeability, and accelerated carbonation of the various mixtures and the influence of cement type. After validating those mixtures with up to 50% CRCA and 20% FRCA maintain their structural integrity under conditions susceptible to carbonation and chloride-induced corrosion, in the final phase, with additional studies on natural carbonation and chloride profiles, the concrete produced up to 60% CRCA and 20% FRCA was validated. The findings of this research indicate that concrete mixtures with high percentages of recycled aggregates, RCA and MRA, not only meet current regulatory standards but, in some cases, exhibit enhanced properties compared to those of NAC. These results support their application in structures with extended service life expectations. Furthermore, it is concluded that recycled concrete exhibits properties similar to NAC when working with the same compressive strengths. This doctoral work underscores the sustainability of recycled concrete as a viable alternative, promoting environmentally responsible construction practices without compromising structural integrity in demanding environments.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS

• PRATS BELLA, FERRAN: Análisis y propuesta de calificación sísmica de elementos no estructurales
  
  Author: PRATS BELLA, FERRAN
  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 EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 20/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 02/04/2025
  Thesis director: GONZALEZ DRIGO, JOSE RAMON | PUJADES BENEIT, LUIS GONZAGA
  Thesis abstract: In the nuclear industry, safety-related equipment and components must be designed to withstand earthquakes without losing functionality. The floor response spectrum (FRS) is a widely used method for seismic qualification, serving as a preliminary step for two key procedures: a) dynamic analysis and b) response spectrum-based shake-table testing. The FRS is also crucial in conventional sectors, as evidenced by its incorporation in ASCE 7-2022, the upcoming IBC-2024, and the draft Eurocode EC8. These standards use FRS concepts to define seismic demands for the design of non-structural elements, reinforcing its significance in both nuclear and conventional engineering.The study of non-structural elements' seismic response using the FRS is a decoupled analysis. This means that the primary system (typically a building) undergoes seismic evaluation first, determining floor-level dynamic responses. From these, response spectra at different floors are derived to characterise seismic demands for non-structural elements. The decoupled approach, which neglects both the mass of the non-structural component and its dynamic interaction with the building, is generally considered valid—particularly for lightweight equipment. If a coupled analysis were performed, and the mass of the non-structural element approached zero, the expected response should theoretically align with the decoupled FRS. However, real earthquake data contradict this assumption, as certain low-mass systems exhibit behaviour inconsistent with FRS-derived seismic demands. The primary objective of this thesis is to explain this discrepancy.To achieve this, an extensive review of seismic experiences related to structures, systems, and components—particularly within the nuclear industry—is conducted. The FRS concept is critically analysed alongside conventional seismic code prescriptions for non-structural elements and key methodologies proposed in existing literature. Additionally, the study examines seismic test results, incorporating the author's professional insights from seismic qualification of nuclear equipment and components.Subsequently, a proprietary method is developed to determine the exact seismic response of a zero-mass non-structural element. Since this element is assumed to have no dynamic interaction with the building, its response should theoretically match the FRS. However, the findings reveal otherwise: instead of following the classical FRS, the resulting spectrum is completely flat, showing no frequency-dependent amplifications. It is constant across all frequencies and corresponds solely to the maximum floor acceleration. This challenges the fundamental validity of the FRS for non-structural elements and calls into question its applicability in seismic qualification.As an alternative, a new revised methodology is proposed, aligning with both theoretical findings and experimental results. Specifically, seismic demands for very light non-structural elements—or those with negligible mass relative to the floor they occupy—should be estimated using the maximum floor acceleration (which represents the exact response for the theoretical zero-mass case). To ensure conservatism, this value should be multiplied by an amplification factor ranging between 2 and 3, depending on earthquake intensity.Finally, a key recommendation is put forward: non-structural elements should be instrumented in buildings where structural sensors are already installed. By monitoring their seismic response in real earthquakes—including maximum acceleration, floor-level acceleration, and ground accelerograms—a more accurate understanding of their behaviour can be achieved, ultimately improving future seismic qualification methods.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

• MORADMAND JAZI, HAMED: Design and implementation of lowinterference, high efficiency, power electronicbased power system for PV applications
  
  Author: MORADMAND JAZI, HAMED
  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 ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 26/03/2025
  Thesis director: MARTINEZ GARCIA, HERMINIO | VELASCO QUESADA, GUILLERMO
  Thesis abstract: Nowadays, high step-up converters with fast-dynamic response are demanded for many applications such as uninterruptible power supplies which are used to feed sensitive loads and DC-DC converters in grid connected micro inverters to absorb the maximum power from the PV panels. Several studies have been carried out on high step-up converters to increase voltage gain and efficiency as well as reduce the voltage stress of semiconductors while less attention has been paid to their dynamic response. A converter which can compensate load variations rapidly would have faster dynamic response and lower undershoot and overshoot output voltage and current. In this research, various switching converters will be investigated to achieve new topologies having the capability of faster dynamic response and obtaining higher voltage gain for the above-mentioned applications. Merging some converters has the potential of removing right half plane zero and making converters respond load variations at a faster pace without making any changes in the control circuit and filters. If the integrated converter can deliver power form the input to the load in all operating modes whether the switch is on or not, the converter would compensate load variations with lower interruption. This theory can be evaluated and proved by doing some theoretical and mathematical calculations on the control response and the situation of Zeros and Poles of the closed loop transfer function of the converter. To rate the achievements of this research, the dynamic quantities in the step response of the converters (e. g. overshoot, rise time, and settling time) can be investigated. Also, the voltage gain and efficiency of the converters are important qualities which have to be considered in comparisons. A time table is considered for each stage to ensure that this research can be finished through the next three years.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MARINE SCIENCES

• ZOELLER, VICTORIA CHRISTINE: Stability and Dynamics of Geophysical Neutral Vortices
  
  Author: ZOELLER, VICTORIA CHRISTINE
  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: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 13/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 26/03/2025
  Thesis director: VIUDEZ LOMBA, ALVARO
  Thesis abstract: Mesoscale and submesoscale vortical structures are ubiquitous in the ocean and atmosphere. Most of these vortices are long-lived with a lifetime of several months. They often travel considerable distances and can interact with currents, other vortices, or topographic features. They play an important role in the distribution of heat, salt, and other tracers in the global ocean circulation. This PhD dissertation consists of the numerical investigation of the stability and dynamics of these meso-and submesoscale ocean vortices in both two-dimensional (2D) isochoric Euler flows, and three-dimensional (3D) quasi-geostrophic (QG) flows. In particular, this dissertation places special emphasis on neutral vortices, with a continuous vorticity distribution in 2D or potential vorticity anomaly (PVA) distribution in 3D QG flows.A neutral vortex is defined as a vortex with vanishing circulation at its outer boundary. This kind of shielded neutral vortex is a much more realistic approximation to vortices in the ocean than other theoretical approximations of shielded vortices. The neutral and non-neutral vortices used in this dissertation are linear combinations of vorticity layer-modes (or PVA spherical layer-modes in 3D QG), which consist of conveniently normalized cylindrical (or spherical) Bessel functions of order 0, truncated by a zero of the Bessel function of order 1. A necessary condition for vortices to be unstable is the change of sign of PVA somewhere inside the vortex. Thus, neutral vortices are subject to being unstable, which would be at odds with their observed long-time persistence. Therefore the first aim of this thesis is to present new exact 3D QG solutions for neutral vortices with distributed PVA. Depending on the superposition of the different layer-modes, some vortices remain axisymmetrically robust to small vorticity perturbations, while others are slightly unstable and evolve into stable multipolar structures. Robust axisymmetric neutral vortices have no exterior potential flow, thus generating no physical impact on the vortex surroundings. Furthermore, the robust vortex solutions found in this dissertation could explain the long persistence of baroclinic vortices in the ocean. The exact solutions of neutral vortices described in this dissertation are used to investigate further the interactions of these vortices.The first interaction studied is the interaction between a small-amplitude shear current and different vortices, specifically a neutral robust vortex, a neutral unstable vortex, and a non-neutral vortex. The results show that neutral vortices are good models for geophysical vortices as these vortices remain robust during their interaction. Both the vortices and the shear current remain robust while the vortices cross the shear current until reaching their stable equilibrium location, which is of the same vorticity sign as its amount of circulation.The second interaction is between two neutral vortices. This includes the interaction of two neutral unstable vortices and the interaction of one neutral unstable vortex and one neutral robust vortex. It reveals that some pairs of neutral vortices reach an oscillating near-equilibrium state due to a vorticity (or PVA) exchange mechanism. This involves a periodic exchange of vorticity and the generation of dipolar moments within the vortices. These dipolar moments separate the vortices. However, the formation of an exterior potential flow arising from the breaking of circular symmetry, and the subsequent vorticity advection and redistribution of peripheral vorticity causes the vortices to attract.The last interaction investigated is between a Lamb-Chaplygin dipole and an axisymmetrical unshielded vortex. It shows that vortex interactions can be elastic, indicating that interactions with almost no vorticity exchange, or vorticity loss to the background field, between vortices are possible. The interaction implies a change in their direction and velocity.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS

• DOROST, POROCHISTA: Nanoparticles made of poly(gamma-glutamic acid) derivatives for drug delivery systems
  
  Author: DOROST, POROCHISTA
  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 POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 14/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 27/03/2025
  Thesis director: GARCIA ALVAREZ, MONTSERRAT
  Thesis abstract: Polymers have become one of the primary options in biomedical fields due to their diverse properties, functionalities, and applications. Characteristics such as mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability have made these materials highly attractive for various medical applications. One of the most intriguing applications of these polymers is drug delivery. Biodegradable polymers and copolymers are the primary materials used for producing temporary medical and pharmaceutical devices. These polymers can be chemically synthesized or naturally produced.Biotechnological polymers, produced through biotechnological processes, have garnered significant attention due to two major advantages. First, they are derived from renewable resources; second, as they are biologically produced, they are usually biocompatible, biodegradable and bioresorbable. Therefore, modifying these polymers to tune their properties or functionalities is an effective strategy for developing biomedical materials.Poly(γ-glutamic acid) PGGAH is a biocompatible and biodegradable poly-γ-peptide with carboxylic side groups that can be substituted to modify the polymer’s properties. In this study, PGGAH was hydrophobically and cationically modified. Through hydrophobic modification and altering the hydrophilic properties, amphiphilic copolymers were produced, capable of self-assemble into nanoparticle systems for drug encapsulation and controlled release. This modification was carried out by partial esterification of carboxylate side groups with 4-phehyl-butyl bromide (4-PhBBr). Further decoration to produce stealth and targeting nanoparticles was achieved by reaction of some remaining carboxylate side groups with amino ended poly(ethylene glycol) (NH2-PEG) and NH2PEG derivatized with folic acid, respectively. Cationic modification of this biodegradable polymer enabled the formation of nanopolyplexes with DNA. This modification was carried out by esterification of carboxylate side groups with cationic 2-bromoethyl trimethylammonium bromide (BrETABr). The obtained derivatives were used to prepare nanoparticles through emulsion solvent evaporation or nanoprecipitation dialysis techniques. Nanoparticles with an approximate size of 100 to 380 nm were obtained, demonstrating their potential as drug delivery systems capable of encapsulating the anticancer drug doxorubicin.The chemical structure of the derivatives were characterized using proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and the physicochemical properties by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Functional group analysis was conducted through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Hydrolytic degradation was monitored by 1H NMR, while the appearance of the nanoparticles was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their size and surface charge were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements, respectively.For the hydrophobic copolymer series, cytotoxicity assays were carried out, confirming the low toxicity of the synthesized derivatives. Drug encapsulation and release was initially evaluated under physiological conditions, revealing that the release rate was higher in acidic pH and affected by the degree of polymer modification. On the other hand, cellular uptake nanoparticle tests demonstrated that the nanoparticles successfully penetrated cancer cells. The results of this study indicate that the biotechnological polymer PGGAH is a promising material for designing and developing biodegradable drug delivery systems with potential therapeutic applications for challenging diseases in pharmacological treatment.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS

• LOPEZ MOLINA, CARLOS ALEJANDRO: On the Majorization-Minimization framework and g-convex optimization: Exploiting diversity using sparse-aware and information theoretic criteria
  
  Author: LOPEZ MOLINA, CARLOS ALEJANDRO
  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 SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS
  Department: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 26/03/2025
  Thesis director: RIBA SAGARRA, JAUME
  Thesis abstract: Diversity is a well-established concept in wireless communications whose purpose is to quantify the potential robustness of a receiver when multiple independent copies of the informative signal are received. Indeed, there exists a formal definition of this concept within the context of wireless communications that takes into account its practical usage, i.e. it is defined with respect to the symbol error probability averaged over the channel statistical fluctuation. However, there is no consensus on the generalization of the previous definition to other forms of signal processing applications. For this reason and being inspired by an intuitive definition of diversity extracted from the multimodal data fusion framework, the purpose of this dissertation is to explore the concept of diversity through the lenses of Information theory, a numerical optimization framework based on the Majorization-Minimization principle and the Grassmann manifold. The motivation behind the Majorization-Minimization algorithms is that they fit perfectly to the optimization problems arising from information theoretic cost functions, while the Grassmann manifold emerges naturally in the context of sparse-aware signal processing problems that exhibit some sort of diversity. All these ideas are surveyed through three different scenarios: the multisensor fusion, the Covariance Conversion from wireless MIMO communications and the detection of correlation. All of the scenarios share the fact that the intrinsic dimension of the data is much smaller than the ambient space dimension.In the multisensor fusion problem, we analyze the intuitive definition of diversity in a straightforward manner for three fusion policies. Firstly, the Covariance Intersection principle is reviewed to highlight its connection to the minimum error entropy criterion and the waterfilling algorithm for optimal power allocation in communications. Secondly, we derive a bounded descriptor based on the R\'enyi entropy of a sensor network contamination worst-case scenario (unbounded variance). Thanks to the aforementioned descriptor, it is possible to provide an operational interpretation to the commonly used L0 norm regularization particularized for this problem. Finally, we consider a fusion scheme that incorporates a subspace-based regression technique into the fusion operation. This proposal, which is inspired by a duality with the problem of unstructured interference mitigation in navigation receivers, is motivated by the fact that it is possible to obtain a measure of the fusion integrity when the temporal redundancy of the measurements and the intersensor covariance matrix are estimated in a joint manner.Besides, a different kind of diversity is unveiled in the Covariance Conversion problem for Frequency Division Duplexing schemes from wireless communications. In essence, this problem consists in the estimation of the Downlink channel covariance matrix using a prior estimation of the Uplink channel covariance matrix. Particularly, we are interested in those cases where sparsity can be defined on the second-order statistics, which are found in the mmWave and ultra-wide band channels. Through a detailed analysis of this problem, we show a promising conversion algorithm founded on the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers.Lastly, the detection of correlation between two Gaussian vectors problem serves as a way to explore an information theoretic approach for the quantification of diversity. In fact, we transform this setting into a Mutual Information estimation problem of M parallel Gaussian channels to yield the aforementioned information theoretic measure. However, the Maximum Likelihood estimation of the Mutual Information suffers from bias when a subset of these channels provide no information. In light of this, we propose the adoption of model-order selection rules, well-known in other areas, as a means for estimating information under a bias-variance trade-off.
  
• PÉREZ PORTERO, ADRIÁN: Contributions to RFI detection, mitigation, and excision for GNSS receivers and spaceborne microwave radiometers
  
  Author: PÉREZ PORTERO, ADRIÁN
  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 SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS
  Department: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 24/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 04/04/2025
  Thesis director: CAMPS CARMONA, ADRIANO JOSE | PARK, HYUK
  Thesis abstract: Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) poses significant challenges to remote sensing systems, particularly affecting Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) and microwave radiometry. This thesis advances two interconnected areas of remote sensing: geophysical parameter retrieval using signals of opportunity and RFI impact assessment on Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems. The research develops novel approaches for RFI detection, mitigation, and excision across multiple remote sensing platforms, with particular emphasis on space-qualified systems.The first part of this work advances GNSS-R instrumentation through the development of an experimental testbed and simulator. Laboratory measurements in controlled environments provided critical insights into GNSS-R signal characteristics, enabling systematic validation of signal processing algorithms. The research demonstrates the feasibility of continuous Earth observation through opportunistic platforms, specifically integrating GNSS-R instruments in commercial aviation for applications including weather nowcasting and maritime route optimization. Analysis of polarimetric data revealed significant limitations in current receiver architectures, particularly in processing Left-Hand Circular Polarization (LHCP) signals and reconstructing Stokes parameters. This continued with work conducted at JPL in 2023, analyzing data from the SMAP-R mission which modified its radar payload for GNSS-R reception. The dual capability for forward and backward scattering measurements from the same platform enabled comparative analysis of scattering mechanisms. Leveraging SMAP-R's fully polarimetric reflectometry measurements, we investigated bistatic radar scattering characteristics across varied surface conditions. The analysis focused on two aspects: comparing scattering regime behaviors across different terrains, and developing a prediction model that derives backward-scattering characteristics from forward-scattering measurements. This work extends the theoretical understanding of bistatic scattering mechanisms while providing validation through spaceborne measurements.The second part addresses RFI challenges through three complementary approaches: spectrum monitoring systems, hardware-efficient algorithms, and polarimetric detection methods. A key contribution is the development of an automatic RFI Detection, Location, and Classification (RFIDLC) system for GNSS bands, utilizing a six-sector antenna array design for real-time processing between 1525 and 1625 MHz. For Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) applications, novel algorithms operating on 1-bit quantized signals enabled RFI mitigation despite severe quantization effects. The FPGA implementation achieved significant resource reduction through innovative overclocking and serialization techniques while maintaining space qualification requirements.A major advancement is the development of the Polarimetric Kurtosis detector for microwave radiometry, extending conventional kurtosis-based detection to the full-polarimetric domain through a four-dimensional measurement derived from Stokes parameters. This technique demonstrates enhanced sensitivity to polarized interference signals, particularly in scenarios where conventional detection methods show limitations. The research validates these approaches through experimental testing on both ground-based and spaceborne platforms, establishing a foundation for future RFI mitigation systems in space-based Earth observation missions.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN STATISTICS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH

• BLANC BLOCQUEL DI MARCO, AUGUSTO: Derivatives and risks
  
  Author: BLANC BLOCQUEL DI MARCO, AUGUSTO
  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 STATISTICS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH
  Department: Department of Statistics and Operations Research (EIO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 26/03/2025
  Thesis director: ORTIZ GRACIA, LUIS
  Thesis abstract: This thesis aims to provide solutions to real world problems by the use and development ofstate-of-the-art quantitative finance techniques. The first part of this work tackles the challenge of digital options hedging, particularly, at the-money digital options near maturity. The problem stems from the fact that a digitaloption has a discontinuous payoff at the strike price and has a huge delta and gamma nearexpiration. This problem is well-known among practitioners and academics. In this work, weconsider a general setting for hedging at-the-money digital options near maturity by meansof a bull spread. We solve different optimization problems, with the aim of minimizing theprobability of sub-hedging the digital option at maturity, considering transaction costs andilliquidity issues. Our contribution consists in the fact that we determine the compositionof the bull spread that minimizes the probability of sub-hedging a digital option given thatthe cost of hedging is below a certain threshold. We consider traditional and state-of-the-artmodels for driving the dynamics of the underlying asset. We also introduce the modelingof the illiquidity issue in the optimization problem, and solve that optimization problem.Finally, we calibrate one model to real market data and solve the optimization problem withtransaction costs with the calibrated model.In the second part of this work we intend to create financial tools to fight against climatechange. Over the last five years there have been increasing concerns about the impact ofcryptocurrency mining on climate. One of the main effects of climate change is its impacton agriculture and food production. In addition, climate change has clear consequencesfor human health. We propose novel bitcoin-denominated derivatives contracts on carbonbonds to address this problematic. This paper creates novel financial products which couldhelp the regulatory authorities impact the climate in an indirect fashion, agglutinating twodesired financial outcomes (hedging and volatility transfer) in a single financial instrument.Particularly, the instrument can be used by governments to hedge against climate change andinfluence the prices of carbon bonds and cryptocurrencies. In order to price this product, wedevelop novel parameter estimation techniques based on Shannon wavelets.The third part of this work also revolves around climate change, finance and mathematics.In this work we put forward a methodology to calculate the impact of an increase of the earth’sglobal surface temperature on the probability of default of a company from the agriculturesector. Extreme temperatures have a negative impact on asset prices in all sectors. Weperform a regression of firm’s stock value with predictors S&P 500 and temperature anomaliesand observe that an increase of temperature anomalies has a negative impact on the stockof the firm considered in this work. When modelling temperature anomalies time series it isimportant to identify points in time where a significant change occurs in the behaviour of thedata. These points are called breakpoints. Then, we model the time series of temperatureanomalies by means of segmented linear regression, where the breakpoints are estimatedby means of a wavelet analysis. We calibrate a Merton model with real stock data of thecompany and estimate the probability of default based on the probability that the assetvalue of the firm is below the liabilities level. We proceed to use the regression model toforecast future values of the firm’s stock influenced by the predicted temperature anomaliesand estimate a new probability of default.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN URBAN AND ARCHITECTURAL MANAGEMENT AND VALUATION

• PÉREZ CAMBRA, MARIA DEL MAR: Mitigation of compound events in Barcelona: urban water scarcity, flood risk and reduction of surface temperatures through WSUD.
  
  Author: PÉREZ CAMBRA, MARIA DEL MAR
  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 URBAN AND ARCHITECTURAL MANAGEMENT AND VALUATION
  Department: Department of Architectural Technology (TA)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 20/03/2025
  Deposit END date: 02/04/2025
  Thesis director: ROCA CLADERA, JOSE NICASIO | MARTINEZ SANTAFE, MARIA DOLORS
  Thesis abstract: Climate change is bringing with it situations where droughts coexist with periods of extreme rainfall in many regions of the world. Surface temperatures are increasing due to more frequent drought periods. In urban areas, the rise in surface temperatures also contributes to the heat island effect.In this context, this thesis explores the implementation of water sensitive urban design, which helps to mitigate water scarcity, reduce surface temperatures and cut rainwater runoff in the city of Barcelona.The study deeps delve into a methodology to response the mitigation of compound events effect through WSUD. To achieve this goal, the hydraulic conductivity of the WSUDs’ infiltrating characteristic materials and their thermal behaviour is determined. The methodology is implemented In two different study areas with different building typologies, open spaces and street canyons, with a focus on the most critical parameters. Finally, water consumption reduction, rainwater management and surface temperature were compared for the present time and for the near future, according to the last climate change forecast for the city of Barcelona.