Theses authorised for defence

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND URBANISM TECHNOLOGY

• PARRA ZEBADÚA, AMALIA: Identidad y raíces. Caracterización y puesta en valor del patrimonio arquitectónico tradicional. El Barrio Santo Domingo, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas.
  
  Author: PARRA ZEBADÚA, AMALIA
  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, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND URBANISM TECHNOLOGY
  Department: Department of Architectural Technology (TA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/11/2024
  Reading date: 13/12/2024
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: Defensa pública Aula Sala de Grados, ETSAB. Planta Baja - Enlace público: meet.google.com/gme-wpdc-dft
  Thesis director: CORNADÓ BARDÓN, CÒSSIMA | GENIS VIÑALS, MARIONA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CRISTINI, VALENTINA
       SECRETARI: DOMÈNECH RODRÍGUEZ, MARTA
       VOCAL: COSTA JOVER, AGUSTI
  Thesis abstract: To return to the roots that gave rise to Tuxtla Gutiérrez and in the absence of a protection model that recognizes its traditional architectural heritage, the characterization and enhancement of the constructive heritage of one of the oldest neighbourhoods of this city is proposed, Santo Domingo neighbourhood.The development of this research is carried out based on a broader analysis to comprehensively understand the problems that surround this heritage and generate more accurate guidelines for its safeguarding. From the urban dimension, as part of an urban area in a specific territory; from the social dimension, with the perspective of the inhabitants and, from the architectural-constructive dimension, to identify and value the building and construction types, in addition to detect a common injury pattern to influence intervention projects, individually or collectively.This contribution could provide a methodological basis to contribute to the safeguarding of traditional architectural heritage in other geographical areas with similar problems, as well as the comprehensive urban regeneration of historic urban areas, because the enhancement of built heritage is linked to the dynamics of uses and, therefore, to local culture, which is equivalent to strengthening the identity of its inhabitants and improving their quality of life.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

• ROMANO, MARCELLO: La urbe como conjunto ciudad-campo para su gestión ecológicamente más sostenible. Regeneración de los suelos hasta Pristinia: una nueva pauta de la planificación urbanística y del desarrollo regional
  
  Author: ROMANO, MARCELLO
  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 ARCHITECTURE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
  Department: Department of Architectural Technology (TA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/11/2024
  Reading date: 12/12/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Presencial (ETSAB. Sala de Graus)
  Thesis director: CUCHÍ BURGOS, ALBERTO | VALERO CAPILLA, ANTONIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: NAREDO PEREZ, JOSE MANUEL
       SECRETARI: ECHAVE MARTINEZ, CYNTHIA
       VOCAL: ASCASO MALO, SONIA
  Thesis abstract: This doctoral thesis explores the possibilities of improving the degree of ecological sustainability of the city, mainly an economic and energetic concept. It refers, that is, to a management of our house, the city (from the origin of the word economy, οἶκος, house + νέμω, manage), of an energetic nature, since ecology squeezes out the useful services provided by the environment, and the useful work of natural resources is equivalent to the value of their exergy (useful energy to carry out a productive purpose). For this reason, it is considered that the most convenient approach to the problem of the ecological sustainability of the city is from the field of knowledge of thermoeconomics, since it combines economic and thermodynamic analysis.Improving the degree of ecological sustainability of the city obviously supposes that said degree is measurable. Otherwise, we would not be in the conditions to find out the effect of the planned improvement interventions. However, all thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analyses of systems (exergy analysis, exergoecological analysis, temporal analysis), prior to this thesis, have been concerned with identifying the cost of the system, using the units of measurement of exergy or time, with the purpose of determining the physical losses due to the quo process (exergy cost of production) and the physical cost to replace them (exergy cost of replacement). Of course, in a finite world, such as ours, less is consumed and more time can continue doing - sustaining - what is done. Without a doubt, this is a possible way, and in general terms also coherent with the meaning of the word, of understanding sustainability. However, in this work ecological sustainability is understood as the quality of maintaining for as long as possible the ecological services planned and carried out by human beings, for their cultural territories, based on the availability of useful work contained in natural resources. It has therefore become necessary to develop a methodology for calculating the degree of ecological sustainability of a system, based on the combination of exergy analysis with temporal analysis, in order to determine, that is, the physical cost of the quo process, not only in terms of energy (exergy), but also in terms of the time needed to regenerate the natural resources used. Because, in terms of the possibility of ensuring a certain productive purpose over time, regenerating the exergy of a forest is not the same as regenerating the exergy of an oil well. Of all the cultural territories that human beings have created throughout history, two are particularly important, the city and the countryside, since they serve to inhabit and to produce (part of) the food necessary for living. The hydraulic model of urban domestic sanitation currently most widely adopted and implemented in the world is generally based on the consumption of drinking water and on open cycles of organic matter in the soil. Among other effects, this generates a one-way city-countryside relationship that is ecologically unfavourable. For this reason, based on the study of urban domestic sanitation, a proposal has been drawn up to improve the degree of ecological sustainability of the management of the flow of organic matter in the soil that “circulates” between the countryside and the city. To this end, a tool has been developed to calculate the degree of sustainability of a production system. To validate the theory developed, a coupling of the exergy demand of the countryside with the exergy supply of the city in terms of soil organic matter has been carried out for the first time, which has resulted in an approximate value of 300 m2/p·y, based on and contrasted by four calculation procedures, of the potential contribution of an urban territory to an agricultural area, to regenerate the fertile soil to its optimal state of Pristinia.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AUTOMATIC CONTROL, ROBOTICS AND VISION

• MASIP ALVAREZ, ALBERT: Contribució a la identificació de models LTI intervalars en el domini de la freqüència
  
  Author: MASIP ALVAREZ, ALBERT
  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: Department of Automatic Control (ESAII)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 27/09/2024
  Reading date: 16/12/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: Sala de Videoconferències del TR1 del Campus de Terrassa, Escola Superior d'Enginyeries Industrial, Aeroespacial i Audiovisual de Terrassa (ESEIAAT-TR5) Carrer de Colom, 11, 08222 Terrassa
  Thesis director: PUIG CAYUELA, VICENÇ | QUEVEDO CASIN, JOSEBA-JOKIN
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: VEHI CASELLAS, JOSEP
       SECRETARI: ESCOBET CANAL, TERESA
       VOCAL: BONDIA COMPANY, JORGE
  Thesis abstract: The main objective of this Thesis is to provide an algorithm for the robust identification of models in the form of a transfer function with interval parameters. The starting uncertain data are in the frequency domain; its representation will consist of bands of uncertainty, polygons or other flat figures in the complex plane.To reach the main objective of the work, firstly an extensive analysis of the mathematical tools and the characteristic measures of the candidate signals to excite the process is made. Different alternatives are studied to conveniently excite a process and it is verified that, whenever possible, it is necessary to apply band-limited harmonic signals to obtain information rich in spectral content. Thus, the model obtained will be able to represent the plant's behavior as faithfully as possible.Before proceeding to the robust identification itself, a historical review of nominal identification techniques is carried out. Emphasis is placed on the approach in the form of regressor of the problem. The approximation of the time delay of the plant and a method to decide the most suitable order for the model to be identified are studied.Given the inadequacy of the nominal model when looking at the data, it is proposed to incorporate uncertainty about the identified model in the form of interval parameters.The entire robustness study of the model pivots around Kharitonov's theorem, which assumes independence between the parameters of the polynomials. A chapter is dedicated to determining the frequency response of a transfer function with interval parameters based on this theorem.Within the algorithms proposed for robust identification, the work begins by extending the linear approach in parameters in the case of intervals. But this way of approaching the problem, despite presenting guarantees of convergence and optimality, shows an important fault when considering the frequency response of the identified model: it turns out to be insufficient to guarantee the inclusion of all observed data, since it omits part of the response when it establishes the restrictions of the problem.For this reason it is necessary to reformulate the problem as a non-linear optimization problem. The approach will have as its objective function to obtain the parameters of the model with the least dilation possible and that the response of the model adjusts in the most adapted way possible to the uncertain source data. The constraints will consider the property of inclusion of the data on the part of the model or vice versa. But these restrictions are given in the form of rules or in the form of a nested optimization problem. It is for this reason that it is necessary to properly condition the problem from the beginning.Since it is a non-convex optimization problem, without guarantee of a solution even though the appropriate order of the model is guessed, a previous study of stability and sensitivity is made to provide a seed and limits of the intervals to be found that ease to get the best possible solution.Throughout the Thesis there are application examples, synthetic and experimental, that show the wide scope of the proposed method and the diversity of plants on which it is applied.The thesis covers only linear, continuous and time-invariant (LTI) models. A future investigation would be to extend the results of this Thesis to the linear case with variable parameters (LPV). This would allow to put the interval coefficients of the polynomials of the identified transfer function as a function of one or several parameters that depend, for example, on the operating point of the plant.To avoid the inconvenience of the jumps caused by the restrictions in the form of rules in the optimization problem raised, it is proposed, as future work, to translate the rules as propositional logic.
  
• OLIVARES ALARCOS, ALBERTO: Foundations of ontology-based explainable robots
  
  Author: OLIVARES ALARCOS, ALBERTO
  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: 27/09/2024
  Reading date: 18/12/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública Sala d'Actes de la Facultat de Matemàtiques i Estadística (FME), Campus Diagonal Sud, Edifici U. C. Pau Gargallo, 14 08028 Barcelona
  Thesis director: ALENYÀ RIBAS, GUILLEM | FOIX SALMERON, SERGIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BEETZ, MICHAEL
       SECRETARI: RODRIGUEZ AGUILAR, JUAN ANTONIO
       VOCAL: SRIDHARAN, MOHAN
  Thesis abstract: A critical challenge in the design of robots that operate while interacting with humans is to ensure mutual understanding, which contributes to build reliable human-robot interactions. It is an arduous task since interactive scenarios are often uncertain, exposing robots to exogenous situations that affect their ongoing activities. In those cases, robots shall perceive and recognize unexpected changes in the environment, represent and reason about them, and decide how to adapt to them. This will certainly modify robots' internal knowledge, and it is fair to assume that part of the new robot beliefs might be hidden from other agents such as humans. Hence, robots shall also be capable of communicating or explaining the relevant knowledge about those beliefs updates. In this context, this thesis investigates the use of ontologies as an integrative framework for the construction of robot explanations, particularly within interactive settings involving humans. To this end, the thesis starts formulating the scope of the relevant domain knowledge to conceptualize, and it continues proposing novel ontological models and methods for ontology-based robot explanation generation. The first part of the thesis discusses two main contributions: a systematic review and classification of the state-of-the-art that narrows down the target set of reality phenomena to be conceptualized, and the investigation and development of novel robot perception methods to extract from realistic robot experiences the common patterns of the target conceptualization. The second part discusses the two remaining contributions: ontological analysis and modeling of the target domain knowledge, and the design and development of algorithms to construct ontology-based robot explanations. Note that the different ontological models and algorithms were mainly validated in collaborative and adaptive robotic scenarios. However, they were conceived from a foundational perspective, and we think that their scientific value extrapolates to other application domains (e.g. assistive robotics). Overall, the scientific contributions of this thesis set a solid foundational basis for the ontology-based explainable robots domain, boosting the design of trustworthy interactive robots.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

• BARRAJÓN RASTROLLO, JOSE LUIS: Navigating Organizational Change for Successful Implementation of HR Analytics
  
  Author: BARRAJÓN RASTROLLO, JOSE LUIS
  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 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
  Department: Department of Management (OE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 19/09/2024
  Reading date: 13/12/2024
  Reading time: 13:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública Sala Juntes, planta 1, FIB - UPC
  Thesis director: FERNANDEZ ALARCON, VICENÇ | GALLARDO GALLARDO, EVA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MARIN GARCIA, JUAN A.
       SECRETARI: PONS PEREGORT, OLGA
       VOCAL: ORTIZ DE URBINA CRIADO, MARTA
  Thesis abstract: Context: Numerous studies affirm the positive impact of Human Resources Analytics (HRA) on gaining a competitive edge and enhancing Human Resources (HR) strategic role therefore given the importance of knowing how to implement an HRA function in organizations successfully, this Ph.D. thesis brings relevant insights of the most critical variables, and the barriers to be faced during this process so that future researchers and practitioners have the enough knowledge and tools to address it with success.Purpose: The Ph.D. thesis is divided into two interrelated purposes: (1) identifying the most crucial factors through which organizations base their HRA implementation and (2) the learning barriers to face during the organizational change that suppose implementing those factors to become a data-driven decision-making organization.Method: For the culmination of both purposes, we have conducted an inductive/explorative study using semi-structured interviews as the qualitative data collection method. In this case, the sample consists of ten managers, seven HRA function leaders, and three from HR departments who had carried out analytics projects. Those ten leaders work for ten different organizations in distinct sectors and across varying levels of analytical maturity. We have based on a couple of frameworks, one of organizational learning and another of HRA to design and create our own to guide the research.Results: Through empirical qualitative research, we obtained the five key HRA factors highlighted in the literature: Data, Technology Support, Culture, People and Project Design. Additionally, we considered the analytical maturity level of our organization's sample and related to this, the results show that Data quality and accessibility are crucial in descriptive and predictive stages. On the contrary, prescriptive organizations seem to be more focused on Technology, to support advanced analytical models. As far as organizational change is concerned, our results show that the intensity of the learning barriers in HRA decreases as the organizations increase their analytical maturity level. Besides, communication problems seem to be in the descriptive organizations, especially with the Data and Technology departments and the management. On the other hand, in predictive organizations, HR and/or HRA departments seem to lack autonomy in accessing the Data, building their teams, and choosing the technology they need to mature the function. Finally, other factors, such as ethics, budget, and trust in the HR function, were shown in the results.Conclusions / Implications: This allows researchers and practitioners to design and implement an HRA function supported by a framework that guarantees success in the process.Originality: This Ph.D. thesis extends existing theory about HRA success factors (SSFF), as well as organizational learning, developing a new model including both disciplines for implementing HRA function in organizations successfully.
  
• CARBONELL LAUNOIS, NICOLAS: ENTREPRENDRE AU BURKINA FASO : Quelles sont les contraintes au développement des entreprises et les facteurs de succès pour entreprendre au Burkina Faso, un pays pauvre et enclavé au coeur de l’Afrique?
  
  Author: CARBONELL LAUNOIS, NICOLAS
  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 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
  Department: Department of Management (OE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 18/10/2024
  Reading date: 17/12/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: Seminari 1- DOE, planta 7 de l' ETSEIB- UPC - Avda. Diagonal, 647, Barcelona
  Thesis director: VAN WUNNIK, LUCAS PHILIPPE
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: SIRI, ALAIN
       SECRETARI: GRIMALDI, DIDIER CAMILLE
       VOCAL: CHAPUS, QUENTIN
  Thesis abstract: This thesis examines the constraints to business development and identifies the key success factors for entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso, a landlocked and poor country located in the heart of Africa. The work is based on an in-depth analysis of the geographical, historical, institutional and cultural obstacles that hinder the country's economic development and explores how some entrepreneurs manage to overcome these difficulties.The thesis develops a typology of development obstacles, classified according to their depth: deep obstacles (geographical and historical), intermediate obstacles (cultural and technological) and immediate obstacles (governance and access to finance). These elements are confronted with the strategies of Burkinabe entrepreneurs who have been able to grow their businesses in these difficult conditions.The theoretical study identifies five key success factors contributing to the success of businesses in Burkina Faso: the educational level of entrepreneurs, their entrepreneurial leadership, their strategic positioning, organizational efficiency, and their ability to adapt to the environment. To determine the relative importance of success factors and business performance, surveys and accounting analyses will be conducted.From the discussion of the results of this research, recommendations arise for entrepreneurs, policy makers and researchers to support business development in Burkina Faso.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

• SANZ RAMOS, MARCOS: Numerical modelling of non-Newtonian shallow flows
  
  Author: SANZ RAMOS, MARCOS
  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: 30/09/2024
  Reading date: 18/12/2024
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: Defensa pública ETSECCPB, Sala Tesines C1-002 (C/Jordi Girona 1-3, mòdul C1, Campus Nord, Barcelona).
  Thesis director: BLADE CASTELLET, ERNEST
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: SALAZAR GONZÁLEZ, FERNANDO
       SECRETARI: SANCHEZ JUNY, MARTI
       VOCAL: LÓPEZ GÓMEZ, DAVID
  Thesis abstract: Numerical modelling of natural phenomena, particularly weather-related which are the 90 % of global disasters, is essential to analyse and predict hazardous situations for the people, the economy and the environment. The evolution of these numerical tool, from simple one-dimensional to complex three-dimensional models, to simulate hydrological hazards like floods, mass movements, and avalanches is challenging, especially those in which the fluid can be characterized as non–Newtonian flows.This PhD thesis focusses on the extension of Iber, a depth-averaged two-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical tool, to simulate non–Newtonian shallow flows. To that end, a particular numerical scheme based on an upwind discretisation to ensure for the non–velocity-dependent terms of the shear stresses has been developed to counterbalance the pressure forces. This ensures the stop of the fluid according to the rheological properties of the fluid, even in steep slopes and complex geometries. The code besides being validated and applied in theoretical, analytical, and in common and non–common non–Newtonian shallow flows in real situations, it has been fully integrated in the graphical user interface of Iber. This facilitates the model build-up, setup and results visualization converting the new code in a software suite fully operational for all practitioners.
  
• SARWAR, SAMRA: Transport Planning Strategies in the Context of Autonomous Vehicles
  
  Author: SARWAR, SAMRA
  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: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 01/10/2024
  Reading date: 17/12/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, building C1, room 002, Campus North, Barcelona (https://camins.upc.edu/en/school/location)
  Thesis director: SAURI MARCHAN, SERGI
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: VASALLO MAGRO, JOSÉ MANUEL
       SECRETARI: ESTRADA ROMEU, MIGUEL ANGEL
       VOCAL: MASEGOSA ARREDONDO, ANTONIO DAVID
  Thesis abstract: With the constant advancements in autonomous drive technologies and the growing popularity of tactical urbanism in street reorganization, it is essential to conduct research to evaluate the effects of these new forms of mobility on transportation networks. This research thesis explores their effects on different variables of transportation systems, such as congestion pricing and parking pricing during peak commute times. It also investigates how superblocks and autonomous vehicles impact traffic flow on a larger scale. Furthermore, it evaluates the effectiveness of public transportation by integrating shared autonomous vehicles to reduce congestion at critical locations.This thesis uses Vickery's bottleneck model to calculate the total travel cost for dynamic traffic patterns during morning and evening commutes in the presence of automated vehicles. To achieve the system's optimum, this research employs a time-dependent congestion toll and social parking pricing strategy. This thesis applies the formulated model to a numerical study with an assumed network link. The numerical case study's conclusions clarified the importance of AVs in the network to reduce congestion toll and parking pricing.This thesis proposes the superblock model as a way to make the streets liveable in the presence of AVs. The research employs a genetic algorithm to implement the superblock model in a network with a grid structure. It addresses the dynamic user equilibrium assignment for demand and topology segmentation. In this context, the thesis analyzes the performance of a network with superblocks and AVs through a macroscopic fundamental diagram.Furthermore, in terms of sustainable public transport planning, AVs also play an important role in increasing the system's performance. Therefore, this thesis formulated a methodology for multimodal transport that combines public transport and shared AVs to improve network efficiency. In this context, the research measures public transport performance metrics, such as passengers' total travel time (which includes walking, waiting, and vehicle time), after implementing the optimal multimodal transport strategy. The results suggest that integrating shared AVs at critical locations of public transport improves the overall efficiency and connectivity of the network.Finally, the numerical studies presented in this thesis add value to the current state of the art in terms of optimal toll pricing, parking pricing, superblock model, shared AVs, and public transport performance in the presence of emerging technologies such as "Autonomous Vehicles." The methodologies designed in this thesis can be used by other researchers, mobility planners, and policymakers to achieve the optimal congestion tolls, to optimize the network having superblocks, and to improve the public transport network performance.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

• MENDUIÑA MONTERO, RAUL: Estudio teórico y experimental del refuerzo mediante recrecido de encepados rígidos de hormigón armado
  
  Author: MENDUIÑA MONTERO, RAUL
  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: 25/10/2024
  Reading date: 16/12/2024
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: ETSECCPB UPC- Aula C1002 - C/Jordi Girona, 1-3 08034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: BAIRÁN GARCÍA, JESÚS MIGUEL | MARI BERNAT, ANTONIO RICARDO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: TORRES LLINAS, LLUÍS
       SECRETARI: OLLER IBARS, EVA MARIA
       VOCAL: FERNANDEZ PEREZ, IGNASI
  Thesis abstract: The need to strengthen foundations in existing structures has become increasingly important, driven by the aging of constructions and the growing demand for enhanced structural capacity, whether due to changes in use or updates to regulatory standards. In the case of rigid RC foundations, these often behave as D-regions, areas where stress and deformations do not follow a linear pattern and require specialized design approaches. While numerous studies have focused on the reinforcement of B-regions, research addressing the behavior of D-regions, such as rigid foundations, remains limited. This thesis addresses this gap by analyzing the behavior and reinforcement techniques through the enlargement of rigid reinforced concrete pile caps, a solution that increases their structural capacity. Special emphasis is made on the application of the Strut-and-Tie Method (STM), an approach particularly suited for D-regions, as it simplifies the non-linear behavior of stresses in these areas, facilitating the understanding of the structural mechanisms involved.The research combines a comprehensive literature review with an experimental campaign, in which reinforcement of rigid RC pile caps through enlargement was evaluated. The experimental tests and Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis (NLFEA) helped study the structural behavior of the pile caps in different configurations. The analysis of the results shows that enlargement is an effective technique to improve the structural capacity of foundations, although its success depends on factors such as the quality of the joints between the new and existing concrete and, to a lesser extent, the arrangement of secondary reinforcement. Additionally, the behavior in the Serviceability Limit State (SLS) was analyzed, and strut-and-tie models were proposed, with concrete ties whose tension varies with the evolution of crack widths. These models are capable of coherently explaining the behavior observed experimentally across the entire load range.Following the presentation of the experimental results, different design methodologies are compared, and the use of STM for reinforced pile caps is proposed, with a particular focus on verifying the struts crossing the joints between the original and enlarged sections. The findings are not only applicable to various structural scenarios but also establish a solid foundation for future research on the reinforcement of D-regions, making a significant contribution to the preservation and enhancement of existing structures.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

• GON MEDAILLE, AXEL: Advanced characterization and modelling of innovative low-dimensional materials for solar cells applications
  
  Author: GON MEDAILLE, AXEL
  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: 05/11/2024
  Reading date: 20/12/2024
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública en la Sala A2.14 del Edificio A del Campus Besós-EEBE
  Thesis director: SAUCEDO SILVA, EDGARDO ADEMAR | JEHL, ZACHARIE VICTOR SAMUEL NATHANAEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: PÉREZ RODRÍGUEZ, ALEJANDRO
       SECRETARI: ORTEGA VILLASCLARAS, PABLO RAFAEL
       VOCAL: DIMITRIEVSKA, MIRJANA
  Thesis abstract: Energy transition keeps its course while new materials keep emerging promising better impact on environment. Among those materials, Q-1D chalco-halides materials using Bi and Sb, S, Se and I, Br, giving rise to wide combinations of materials. Most of them present the unique feature of a Pnma crystallographic structure allowing them to grow alongside one preferential direction, giving them optoelectronic properties highly seeked for PV applications, in particular for thin film solar cells. So far, Sb2Se3 has been the most investigated material within this class of material with an efficiency up until now of XX% in substrate configuration under AM1.5 spectrum illumination. Indeed, Sb2Se3 presenting the same crystallographic structure, is well-known within the PV community. However, despite having promising results over the past years, Sb2Se3-based solar cells reached a bottleneck in terms of efficiency. More generally, Q-1D chalco-halides materials either lack or do not have characterization data due to their recent emergence or re-emergence for some materials.This thesis will intend to address Sb2Se3 bottlenecks and present some solutions to allow Sb2Se3-based and other Q-1D chalco-halides solar cells to reach new heights through device modelling, present advanced characterization results from other Q-1D chalco-halides materials such as BiSeBr & SbSeI. Finally, the use of a novel material: Ti3C2Tx MXenes as selective contact suitable for those absorbers is also presented in this thesis. Firstly, a brief introduction of Sb2Se3 modelling parameters as well as BiSeBr & SbSeI results from by Raman spectroscopy and Time – Resolved Photoluminescence (TRPL) characterization are presented. A multi-wavelength investigation done by Raman spectroscopy coupled with novel Density Function Theory (DFT) are presented, giving information regarding the composition of the materials and the impact of the synthesis method for BiSeBr & SbSeI. Additionally, TRPL measurements highlighted the carriers’ dynamics and provide hints towards defects status of those materials. Altogether, this information helped to determine the potential of those new material as photo-absorber according to new figure of merit. Secondly, an emphasis is put on the device modelling using SCAPS-1D software and previous references to generate a qualitative model of Sb2Se3/CdS solar cells in substrate configuration to then design 2 numerical solutions to tackle the current bottlenecks experienced by the PV community. Those numerical solutions enable Sb2Se3 devices to reach 10.7% in efficiency by either implementing an ultrathin Al2O3 oxide intercalated between Sb2Se3 and CdS or operating a partial surface sulfurization on Sb2Se3 layer. Then, a simplified structure including only BiSeBr and 2 selective contacts was generated to pinpoint requirements from an electrical point of view. Although, due to software limitations, optical consideration is lacking to determine accurately suitable selective contacts, first approximations were determined through those simulations.Lastly, we develop the use of another novel material: MXenes Ti3C2Tx as a potential selective contact for Sb2Se3-based solar cells. Besides their wide range of deposition techniques and application, MXenes properties can be modulated alongside their synthesis. Initially, we perform materials characterization through Raman spectroscopy and X-Rays Diffraction (XRD) while changing intercalating agent and post deposition treatment (PDT) parameters to highlight this modulating feature. Then, we synthetized devices with Ti3C2Tx as hole transport layer (HTL) and Sb2Se3 as absorber. To improve carrier extraction, Se was incorporated on Ti3C2Tx layer under different PDT configurations. While PV performances were still poor compared to reference device without Ti3C2Tx some parameters presented some improvements upon Se incorporation onto Ti3C2Tx surface.
  
• JIMENEZ ARGUIJO, ALEX: Advanced strategies for the defect management in high efficiency kesterite solar cells
  
  Author: JIMENEZ ARGUIJO, ALEX
  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: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 24/10/2024
  Reading date: 13/01/2025
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a la Sala Polivalent del Campus EEBE (Besós)
  Thesis director: SAUCEDO SILVA, EDGARDO ADEMAR | GIRALDO MUÑOZ, SERGIO
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GROSSBERG-KUUSK, MAARJA
       SECRETARI: CAZORLA SILVA, CLAUDIO
       VOCAL: CALVO BARRIO, LORENZO
  Thesis abstract: Kesterite-based solar cells represent a promising avenue towards sustainable energy production due to their reliance on abundant, low-toxicity materials, aligning with global initiatives to minimize environmental impact and enhance energy security. This thesis contributes significantly to the field by advancing the understanding and efficiency of kesterite solar cells through innovative defect management strategies and the development of high-performance devices.The research initially focuses on developing a comprehensive and realistic model of kesterite solar cells, which is pivotal in bridging the theoretical predictions with experimental results, providing a robust framework for the analysis of the efficiency limitations and identifying avenues for enhancement. By incorporating a realistic depiction on the influence of defects on the device performance, this model sets a new benchmark for the assessment and optimization of thin-film solar cells. The innovative approaches for defect control within kesterite materials are central to the thesis. The research demonstrates that through precise defect control by an induced electric field or transient doping with small atoms, such as hydrogen and lithium, it is possible to significantly modulate the defect structure of kesterite absorbers. These modifications lead to the decoupling majority carrier density from minority carrier lifetime, effectively enhancing the performance and efficiency of the solar cells. These approaches not only improve the electrical properties of the material but also provides a method to systematically address the intrinsic limitations of kesterite semiconductors.Moreover, the thesis presents advancements in the synthesis and processing of kesterite solar cells, employing techniques such as solution processing, doping, and interface passivation. These methods have been shown to considerably improve the compositional uniformity and optoelectronic properties of the materials, driving the efficiencies closer to those required for commercial viability. Notably, the development of solution-processed kesterite solar cells emerge as a scalable and environmentally benign method, indicating a significant step towards the industrialization of this photovoltaic technology.The thesis concludes that the strategies and methodologies developed herein substantially enhance the understanding and performance of kesterite solar cells. The findings underscore the potential of these materials in the transition to renewable energy sources, highlighting their role in promoting a sustainable future. With further refinement and optimization, kesterite solar cells could play a critical role in the global energy landscape, offering a viable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solution to meet the growing energy demands.In summary, the work presented in this thesis exemplifies a significant advance in the field of photovoltaics, offering practical solutions and novel insights that pave the way for further research and development towards achieving high-efficiency, sustainable solar energy techniques.
  
• JIMENEZ GUERRA, MAYKEL: Innovative bulk and interfaces management on Q-1D Sb2Se3 based solar cells
  
  Author: JIMENEZ GUERRA, MAYKEL
  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: 31/10/2024
  Reading date: 24/01/2025
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a l'Aula A1.08, EEBE, campus Besós
  Thesis director: SAUCEDO SILVA, EDGARDO ADEMAR | SÁNCHEZ GONZÁLEZ, YUDANIA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: SPALATU, NICOLAE
       SECRETARI: PLACIDI, MARCEL JOSE
       VOCAL: GARCÍA SÁNCHEZ SÁNCHEZ, MARIO FIDEL
  Thesis abstract: This thesis investigated antimony Q-1D (Sb)-based solar cells as a promising alternative for sustainable energy generation, addressing critical challenges related to material properties, interfaces, and device architecture. Innovative strategies were developed to optimize optoelectronic properties and improve conversion efficiency, focusing on Sb2Se3, but including also preliminary studies on the Sb2(S,Se)3 solid solution, as well as exploring cadmium-free (Cd-free) materials as electron selective transport layers (ETL).A major achievement was the optimization of the Sb2Se3/CdS interface using chemical etching techniques, such as KCN treatment, which increased the average efficiency of solar cells from 4% to 5%, reaching 5.3% in the best-performing sub-cell. These treatments not only enhanced surface passivation but also altered surface polarity, resulting in the formation of a "buried junction" that improved the fill factor and overall energy conversion efficiency.High-pressure thermal annealings proved effective in enhancing crystal quality by increasing grain size, promoting preferred crystal orientations, and reducing defect density, which enabled a 5.8% efficiency using a new co-evaporation method. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of these techniques to improve device performance and reproducibility.Cadmium-free or significantly Cd-reduced configurations were explored to reduce environmental impact, achieving an efficiency of 6.6% in superstrate-configuration devices based on Sb2(S,Se)3, approaching the 7.6% benchmark achieved with CdS. In the substrate configuration, a Cd-free Sb2Se3 cell reached an efficiency of 5.2%, surpassing the 4.8% achieved with CdS, highlighting the potential of alternative materials to replace cadmium.Despite the progress made, several challenges remain, such as ensuring the stability of Sb2Se3 interfaces under operational conditions and optimizing new materials like SbSeI and SbSeBr. Improving the scalability of fabrication processes and the cost-effectiveness of new treatments are also key areas for future research. The results of this thesis provide a solid foundation for developing more efficient and sustainable Sb2Se3-based solar cells, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation in materials science and device engineering to overcome the remaining challenges and advance toward more scalable and efficient photovoltaic technologies.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

• ALTAMIRA ALGARRA, BEATRIZ: Bioplastic production by cyanobacteria-rich microbiomes. From field samples to productive cultures
  
  Author: ALTAMIRA ALGARRA, BEATRIZ
  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 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 05/11/2024
  Reading date: 17/12/2024
  Reading time: 10:30
  Reading place: Campus Diagonal Besòs, Edifici A (EEBE). Sala polivalent, edifici A Av. Eduard Maristany, 16 08019 Barcelona
  Thesis director: GARCIA SERRANO, JOAN | GONZALEZ FLO, EVA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: KRÖMER, JENS
       SECRETARI: UGGETTI, ENRICA
       VOCAL: BORIN, SARA
  Thesis abstract: Biobased and biodegradable, like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), offer an alternative to petroleum-based plastics by reducing energy use and mitigating plastic waste. Among PHAs, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is the most extensively studied, but its high production costs make it essential to explore novel production systems, like cyanobacteria. In addition, in the seek for exploring cost-effective strategies regarding PHB synthesis, the use of cyanobacteria rich microbiomes, or mixed cultures - a diverse microbial culture comprising various cyanobacterial strains and other microorganisms - is a strong option. However, research on cyanobacteria microbiomes for PHB production is relatively scarce.The present PhD thesis aims to contribute to this research gap by exploring the potential of cyanobacteria-enriched microbiomes, detailing the entire experimental process from field sample collection to the development of productive microbiomes in 3 liters (L) photobioreactors (PBRs). Additionally, it is also intended to provide fundamental insights to improve the production PHB process. To achieve the objective, seven samples were collected from different locations to obtain various microbiomes. A low concentration of phosphorus (0.2 mg·L⁻¹) was applied to promote the dominance of cyanobacteria. In an initial experiment to optimize PHB production, three factors were evaluated: organic carbon supplementation, inorganic carbon supplementation, and light cycles. The results showed that the addition of organic carbon, in the form of acetate, increased PHB production in all samples, reaching up to 14 % PHB in dry cell weight (dcw).In the attempt to develop a methodology to successfully obtain a productive photosynthetic microbiome, the operating mode in regards to nutrients, temperature, light, and carbon supplementation was evaluated in a 3 L PBR under non-sterile conditions. A two-stage approach was developed consisting in alternating seven days for biomass growth and seven days for PHB accumulation. During accumulation phase, acetate supplementation (600 mg·L⁻¹) combined with exposure to darkness resulted in different PHB yields across microbiomes. Of the seven microbiomes analysed, two stood out for their high PHB production, reaching peaks of 28 % and 37 %dcw, some of the highest levels reported in cyanobacteria. Three other microbiomes maintained sustained but lower production (12-15% dcw PHB), while the remaining two showed very low production (<5% dcw PHB) due to the presence of non-PHB-producing organisms, such as green algae. Analysis of 16S rRNA and gene expression revealed that the high PHB levels were associated with the overexpression of the phaC gene, responsible for PHB synthesis, and glgp1, involved in glycogen catabolism, indicating a relationship between the two metabolic pathways. Low PHB production was linked to the overexpression of the gltA gene, which diverts resources toward the Krebs cycle, away from PHB synthesis.Microscopy techniques successfully confirmed the presence of PHB granules within cyanobacteria cells. Further validation of the accumulated polymer as PHB was achieved through Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance.Finally, simultaneous production of up to 205 mg·L⁻¹ exopolyssacharides (EPS) and 12 %dcw PHB was achieved in a 3 L PBR. Notably, the presence of uronic acid in the EPS promoted biomass flocculation. Overall, this thesis tries to demonstrate the feasibility of using cyanobacteria rich microbiomes for long-term PHB production in a non-sterile system. The research provides valuable insights into the metabolic pathways involved and the microbial community contributing to the process, offering a multidisciplinary approach for optimizing cultivation factors and bringing this promising technology closer to pilot scale-up, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective bioplastic manufacturing technology.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

• REZAYAT, MOHAMMAD: Effect of Laser Surface Texturing on Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steel AISI 301LN
  
  Author: REZAYAT, MOHAMMAD
  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 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Materials Science and Engineering (CEM)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 18/10/2024
  Reading date: 13/12/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: EEBE, aula AA1.06, Campus Diagonal-Besòs
  Thesis director: MATEO GARCIA, ANTONIO MANUEL | ROA ROVIRA, JOAN JOSEP
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CASALINO, GIUSEPPE
       SECRETARI: FARGAS RIBAS, GEMMA
       VOCAL: LAGUNA BERCERO, MIGUEL ÁNGEL
  Thesis abstract: Laser Surface Texturing (LST) has emerged as a versatile and effective technique for modifying the surface properties of metallic materials, offering precise control over surface topography and microstructure. This PhD thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the effects of LST on metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 301LN, focusing on microstructural evolution, surface integrity, and corrosion resistance behavior.The study begins with a thorough characterization of the AISI 301LN, including an in-deep analysis of its chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties, at different length scales. The material's inherent properties serve as a baseline for evaluating the effects of LST. Experimental analysis by doing a Design of Experiments (DoE) of the key-parameters for the LST process is conducted, trying to get a deep knowledge of the laser power, scanning speed, and focal distance position effects on austenitic stainless steels. A series of experiments are designed and executed to systematically vary these parameters, allowing for a detailed examination of their impact on surface morphology, grain structure, and phase composition.Microstructural evolution resulting from LST is investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). SEM micrographs reveal significant changes in surface topography, including the formation of grooves, ridges, and other microscale features induced by the laser beam. EDS analysis provides insights into changes in phase composition and/or transformation, such as the formation of α’-martensite near the surface due to rapid heating and cooling cycles induced during the laser processing. Mechanical properties of LST samples are evaluated at the micro- and macrometric length scale by using the Vickers hardness technique, leading to get a correlation between processing laser parameters and the material hardness. Surface hardness is found to increase with higher laser power and lower scanning speeds, attributed to changes in microstructure induced by thermal energy input.Statistical analysis is used to quantify the depth of the microstructural evolution zone, revealing the influence of laser power, scanning speed, and focal distance position on the depth profile. These findings provide valuable insights into the optimal processing conditions for achieving desired surface properties. Corrosion resistance of LST is assessed through immersion testing in molten carbonate salt environments, simulating harsh operating conditions encountered in industrial applications. Post-test analysis using SEM-EDS allows for the examination of oxide scale formation and corrosion mechanisms, with results indicating improved corrosion resistance for samples subjected to specific LST conditions.In general, this PhD thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between the key LST parameters and the surface integrity from a different perspective of metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 301LN. The comprehensive experimental approach, combined with advanced analytical techniques, enhances our knowledge of microstructural evolution, mechanical behavior, and corrosion resistance in metallic materials treated with the LST technique. These insights have significant implications for the development of advanced surface engineering techniques and the optimization of material performance in various engineering applications in the automotive, aeronautic, and medical, among other fields.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MECHANICAL, FLUIDS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

• KARIMZADEGAN, KAVOOS: Fluidic Oscillator Numerical Modelling Considering Dimensional Modifications
  
  Author: KARIMZADEGAN, KAVOOS
  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 Fluid Mechanics (MF)
  Mode: Change of supervisor
  Deposit date: 27/09/2024
  Reading date: 12/12/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública presencial a l'aula 118-Edifici TR5-ETSEIAAT (Terrassa).
  Thesis director: BERGADÀ GRANYÓ, JOSEP MARIA | MIRZAEI, MASOUD
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CASALS TERRE, JASMINA
       SECRETARI: GONZÁLEZ CASTRO, JOSEP RAMON
       VOCAL: HERRERO SABARTÉS, JUAN
  Thesis abstract: Fluidic Oscillators (FO) may significantly improve flow mixing and cooling. However, they are mostly used in Active Flow Control (AFC) applications, where the pulsating flow they generate interacts with the boundary layer to typically postpone its separation. Before using any FO in an application, it is crucial to analyze the frequencies and amplitudes it may produce based on the incoming mass flow and its dimensions. The current work focuses on explaining this particular aspect in a somewhat innovative FO setup. We have preformed a numerical study of a conventional FO arrangement using both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) approaches. Upon comparing the 3D and 2D data and analyzing the primary disparities, we made adjustments to the internal dimensions of the FO to assess the impact on its dynamic performance. The current findings clarify which are the internal dimensional alterations that provide greater output frequencies and amplitudes in the velocity field. An effort is made to examine the source of the self-sustained oscillations. According to the results of the numerical investigations, the dimensional modifications influenced the reverse flow inside the feedback channels, increasing/decreasing it at the feedback channels outlets, which had a clear effect on the frequency and on the operation of the device. When evaluating the forces acting on the jet as it enters the mixing chamber, the pressure momentum (pressure force) appears under all conditions studied, to be several times higher than the mass flow one, from which it can be concluded that this fluidic oscillator is pressure driven. As expected, the increase of the incoming flow Reynolds number, has a direct relation on the fuidic oscillator outlet frequency. The present research establishes for the first time a relation between the reverse mass flow in the feedback channels with the fluidic oscillator outlet frequency, the higher the feedback channel mass flow, the smaller the fluidic oscillator outlet frequency. Also has also been stated that, the 2D-CFD simulations, overestimated the feedback channel reverse flow.
  
• MORALES AVALOS, JORGE EDUARDO: Modeling of orthopedic surgeries using advanced biomechanical computational techniques
  
  Author: MORALES AVALOS, JORGE EDUARDO
  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 Mechanical Engineering (EM)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 30/09/2024
  Reading date: 13/12/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública a la sala Polivalent de l'EEBE.Campus Diagonal Besòs.
  Thesis director: SERRANCOLÍ MASFERRER, GIL | SÁNCHEZ EGEA, ANTONIO JOSÉ
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GILL, RICHIE
       SECRETARI: NOAILLY, JEROME BERNARD
       VOCAL: PELFORT LOPEZ, XAVIER
  Thesis abstract: This dissertation deals with the modeling and simulation of orthopaedic surgeries with the help of computational biomechanical techniques. These orthopaedic conditions are characterized by their geometry and mechanical interactions and need to be translated properly to a virtual environment. Besides engineering simulations such as stress and strain calculations, pre-surgery planning, development of patient-specific treatments and innovation on new surgical trends are some of the benefits that may result from the development of accurate and reliable orthopaedic in-silico models. To provide detailed digital models for the different fields of application, a strong collaboration with surgeons experts on the field has been considered. New knee orthopaedics surgical opportunities have appeared in the last decades oriented to minimizing the effect of diseases like \acrfull{koa}, such as proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO) and computational modeling might help to investigate their biomechanics in-silico. This work focus on the systematic development of in-silico PFO models that can be later on used to create proper and reliable virtual representations of patient-specific surgical treatment response.A major challenge for correctly representing anatomical models for virtual environments is developing a consistent data acquisition methodology and model reconstruction methods. By using \acrfull{fem}, generating accurate mechanical models of orthopaedic systems for a specific condition may provide a reliable baseline for all future virtual modeling approaches. Therefore, numerical simulations have been formulated based on real-world clinical case scenarios provided by our medical collaborators and partners. Mechanical models have be hence not only virtually investigated, but a comparison with respect to patient-specific treatments has been made. The biomechanical response of human joints, with particular interest on the knee, before and after surgical interventions has been herein investigated. These surgical interventions were pre-planned to provide the healthcare needed to the patients without this research work affecting any required medical care. The novel contribution of this investigation is the quantitative analysis of the impact of PFO on the biomechanics of the knee joint. The results provide mechanical evidence that PFO can effectively redistribute and homogenize joint stresses, while also repositioning the \acrfull{cop} towards the center of the knee, similar to what is observed post \acrfull{hto}. The findings propose PFO as a potentially viable and simpler alternative to conventional surgical methods for managing severe KOA, specifically in patients with medial compartment genu-varum.Furthermore, the computational techniques implemented will be optimized to produce the best possible results in the most efficient way. This research also marks the first application of FEMs that may support one of the underlying biomechanical theories of PFO, providing a foundation for future clinical and in-silico studies.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN OPTICAL ENGINEERING

• PARRA MARTÍNEZ, ALBERT: Integrating AI with Multiphoton Autofluorescence-Based Hyperspectral Imaging for Enhanced Embryo and Oocyte Analysis
  
  Author: PARRA MARTÍNEZ, ALBERT
  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: Normal
  Deposit date: 18/10/2024
  Reading date: 13/01/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública Auditori Joan Salvadó del Centre Universitari de la Visió
  Thesis director: OJOSNEGROS MARTOS, SAMUEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: DUOCASTELLA SOLÀ, MARTÍ
       SECRETARI: TRULL SILVESTRE, JOSE FRANCISCO
       VOCAL: MARTIN BADOSA, ESTELA
  Thesis abstract: Infertility affects one in seven couples, according to the World Health Organization, and only around 30% of the embryos from in vitro fertilization treatments successfully implant in the uterus and develop to term. As a result, multiple transfer cycles are often required to achieve a successful pregnancy, which can lead to significant emotional, physical, and financial burden. To reduce time-to-pregnancy and stress for patients, there is a need for a diagnostic tool to better select embryos and oocytes based on their physiology.This thesis presents an innovative, non-invasive methodology to improve embryo and oocyte selection, moving beyond conventional brightfield imaging, which provides morphological information and therefore limited physiological insight. Using a combination of techniques including two-photon excitation, hyperspectral imaging, phasor analysis, and artificial intelligence, we have developed a novel imaging pipeline that enables the non-invasive study of metabolic profiles of embryos and oocytes through their intrinsic autofluorescence signals. This methodology not only offers a more comprehensive understanding of embryo viability, but also represents a significant advancement in the field of reproductive science, enabling non-invasive metabolic profiling in ways that were previously not possible.The proof-of-concept work conducted in this thesis led to the development of a prototype based on light-sheet microscopy for evaluating and classifying embryos. This technology was chosen because of its ability to provide faster, less invasive imaging, while avoiding photodamage, making it ideal for non-invasive analysis. This prototype represents the first step towards a clinical product to use in in vitro fertilization clinics. By offering a method to accurately assess embryo viability non-invasively, we aim to improve the effectiveness, and patient experience of infertility treatment.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PHOTONICS

• MACARONE PALMIERI, ADRIANO: Deep learning for boosted quantum state estimation and bath parameter extraction
  
  Author: MACARONE PALMIERI, ADRIANO
  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 PHOTONICS
  Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 22/10/2024
  Reading date: 11/12/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: ICFO, Mediterranean Technology Park, Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona
  Thesis director: LEWENSTEIN, MACIEJ
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: KYAW, THI HA
       SECRETARI: LIGUORI, NICOLETTA
       VOCAL: GARZANITI, NICOLA
  Thesis abstract: The thesis explores the application of supervised deep learning (DL) to mitigate noise in quantum state estimation protocols, to offer a viable tool for quantum technologies development, that leverages quantum properties, like entanglement. This is vital for quantum information processing and is used in applications like quantum teleportation, quantum key distribution, and superdense coding. However, the practical implementation of these technologies is challenged by noise and errors, making accurate certification of quantum states essential.Traditionally, state tomography is the best possible desiderata, but it is resource-intensive. Alternative methods with better scaling, such as permutationally invariant states and shadows, have been proposed, though they are limited in scope, because limited to specific classes of states or can estimate some quantum properties only. The thesis specifically investigates whether supervised DL can be used to mitigate noise and achieve full quantum state estimation under various conditions, including limited resources, different noisy sources, and, last, incomplete information.The research introduces a novel approach using the out-of-distribution paradigm to extend the applicability of supervised deep learning to unknown data distributions, such as noisy quantum states measured with imperfect setups. This study at a higher depth the generalization ability of deep learning protocols while maintaining the simplicity of trained supervised neural networks. In this way, seamless application from synthetic to experimental data is allowed. At the same time, the computational aspect involves analyzing the complexity of different models and their learning abilities, and noise mitigation capabilities, and showcasing transformer-based models in certifying genuine k-body entanglement as superior.Lastly, the thesis addresses noise characterization using deep learning, particularly how this can infer environmental noise parameters from a single-qubit probe without fixed-time conditions. This contributes to better noise reduction and system control in quantum technologies.
  
• NOWAKOWSKI, KRYSTIAN: Graphene-based Moiré superlattices under opto-electronic spotlight: Bloch oscillations, single photon detection, and polarization-resolved photocurrents
  
  Author: NOWAKOWSKI, KRYSTIAN
  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 PHOTONICS
  Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 07/11/2024
  Reading date: 11/12/2024
  Reading time: 09:00
  Reading place: ICFO, Mediterranean Technology Park, Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona
  Thesis director: KOPPENS, FRANK
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: POLINI, MARCO
       SECRETARI: RUBIO VERDÚ, CARMEN
       VOCAL: TIELROOIJ, KLAAS-JAN
  Thesis abstract: In the last two decades, two-dimensional (2D) materials have captivated the scientific community thanks to their surprising characteristics and technological potential. Significant advancements in the understanding of their properties have opened up promises of applications in the electronics, photonics, sensing, and energy sectors. One of the most unprecedented prospects is the ability to freely combine various 2D materials into heterostructures. The 2D layers can be twisted with respect to each other, enabling a novel tuning mechanism in the solid-state physics toolbox. Introducing a few-degree angle between the layers can create a superlattice structure because of the moiré effect, allowing one to tune the material band structure. Graphene-based moiré superlattices have become a focal point of research in recent years, facilitating the design of many exotic phenomena and effectively bridging the fields of strongly correlated electrons, 2D materials, and topological physics. Optical measurements of these materials were non-existent at the inception of this thesis, prompting the investigation presented herein.In the first part of this thesis, the initial goal was to understand the photoresponse mechanisms of these materials using optoelectronic techniques in the mid-IR wavelength range. Our study reveals a nontrivial polarization-dependent photocurrent response in graphene-based materials. This response can significantly affect the measured signals and exhibit complex spatial patterns. A novel approach was developed to extract spatial maps of polarization-dependent components.One potential responsible mechanism is the bulk photovoltage effect (BPVE) response. BPVEs are second-order photocurrent generation mechanisms that are intricately connected to the quantum geometric tensor, reflecting the phase of the electron wavefunctions and distances between quantum states. Measuring BPVEs can provide insights into the underlying quantum nature of electronic states in moiré materials. We discuss role BPVEs in our results and the potential artifacts that can mimic it as well as the methodology and insights that are fundamental for discerning these different contributions.In the second part of this thesis, we report the discovery of negative differential conductance (NDC) in the high-bias regime in bilayer graphene aligned with hexagonal boron nitride. The NDC probably arises from Bloch oscillation-like mechanisms enabled by a folded band structure of the \moire superlattice. From the NDC we engineer a bi-stable state and demonstrate its sensitivity to single photons. This moire single photon detector (MSPD) can operate at wavelengths from 675 nm to 11.3 um (and beyond) and up to temperatures of 20 K, a combination that remains elusive in the single-photon detector field. The design is compact, CMOS-compatible, and array-integrable, presenting exciting opportunities for upscaling. This is the first observation of Bloch oscillations in a 2D system, enabling the entire arsenal of highly versatile experimental methods suited to these material platforms. We introduce spatially resolved photocurrent measurements as a pioneering technique for visualizing the Bloch oscillation regions. This advancement could lead to new high-frequency electronics and optoelectronic applications in addition to single-photon detection.This thesis lays the groundwork for further exploration of BPVE effects and high-bias phenomena in moiré superlattices and promising breakthroughs in Bloch oscillations, 2D optoelectronics, and photodetector technologies. These findings significantly advance our understanding of both the applied and fundamental physics in these systems, while also introducing crucial methodological innovations for future research in optoelectronics and photodetection.
  
• ORSINI, LORENZO: A Topological Nanophotonics platform based on hyperbolic phonon-polaritons
  
  Author: ORSINI, LORENZO
  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 PHOTONICS
  Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 10/10/2024
  Reading date: 19/12/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: ICFO, Mediterranean Technology Park, Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona
  Thesis director: KOPPENS, FRANK
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ALONSO GONZÁLEZ, PABLO
       SECRETARI: GARCÍA DE ABAJO, JAVIER
       VOCAL: GIANNINI, VICENZO
  Thesis abstract: Topological Nanophotonics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that offers a groundbreaking approach to control and manipulate light at the nanoscale. It combines principles from Topology, Photonics, and Nanotechnology to investigate the captivating behavior of light when confined to structures on the nanometer scale. A main goal of the community is to achieve topological edge states deeply confined below the diffraction limit. Despite promising theoretical and experimental progress, achieving these edge states in a Nanophotonic system remained elusive until now.This thesis is devoted to achieving these Topological edge states in a Nanophotonic system by combining several methods. First, we used natural hyperbolic materials to take advantage of their high-quality sub-diffraction-limit electromagnetic modes, known as hyperbolic phonon polaritons. Additionally, we employed an indirect patterning technique to fabricate nanophotonic devices, solving fabrication-induced issues and allowing for the precise control over the nanostructures. Finally, we characterized these Nanophotonic systems using scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy. Achieving deep subwavelength topological edge states required several foundational achievements:Quantitative Polaritonic Near-Field Analysis:Scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy is a powerful imaging technique for studying materials beyond the diffraction limit. However, interpreting near-field measurements poses challenges in mapping the response of polaritonic structures to meaningful physical properties. To address this, we developed a theory using the transfer matrix method to simulate the near-field response of 1D polaritonic structures. This efficient and accurate analytical theory maps the near-field response to well-defined physical properties, enhancing the understanding of near-field images and complex polaritonic phenomena. Advancing the Hyperbolic Platform:The physics underlying our hyperbolic platform was largely unexplored, leading to a significant gap in understanding the fundamental properties and control methods of indirect patterned hyperbolic materials. Our studies provided new insights into the behavior of hyperbolic phonon polaritons in indirect patterned systems. We achieved three key results: first, we gained new insights into the fundamental behavior of hyperbolic phonon polaritons providing a deeper understanding of their interactions within indirect patterned systems; second, we investigated indirect patterned hyperbolic nanocavities achieving record-breaking quality factors, approximately 80, while maintaining the mode volume five orders of magnitude smaller than the free-space excitation wavelength; and third, discovering that the coupling mechanism between cavities is radiative, significantly impacting the design of lattices and photonic crystals using indirect patterning. Achieving Deep Subwavelength Topological Edge States:We experimentally demonstrated deep subwavelength topological edge states by implementing a one-dimensional lattice based on the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. The topological edge state was confined in a sub-diffraction volume of 0.021μm³, four orders of magnitude smaller than the free-space excitation wavelength volume used to probe the system, while maintaining a resonance quality factor above 100.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS

• MATOS RESINA, MARIA LEONOR: New multiresponsive materials platforms for cancer treatment: Smart electroconductive nanoparticles and transdermal devices
  
  Author: MATOS RESINA, MARIA LEONOR
  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: Change of supervisor
  Deposit date: 07/10/2024
  Reading date: 16/12/2024
  Reading time: 14:30
  Reading place: Anfiteatro PA-3 (Piso -1 do Pavilhão de Matemática) do Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa.(13:30 hora de Lisboa - 14:30 hora local)
  Thesis director: ALEMAN LLANSO, CARLOS ENRIQUE | ALVES FERREIRA, FREDERICO CASTELO | ARAÚJO ESTEVES, TERESA SOFIA
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ESTRELA RODRIGUES CONDE, JOAO PEDRO
       SECRETARI: FERREIRA MORGADO, JORGE MANUEL
       VOCAL: GELMI, MARIAL LUISA
       VOCAL: VAZAO DE ALMEIDA, HENRIQUE MARTINIANO
       VOCAL: ACCARDO, ANTONELLA
  Thesis abstract: Cancer remains the leading cause of death in many developed countries. Despite significant progress in cancer treatment many challenges persist, such as severe side effects, damage to healthy tissues due to non-specific drug distribution and high systemic toxicity.Multiresponsive biomaterials systems have emerged as powerful tools for biomedical applications, especially in cancer treatment. This research aims to advance materials approaches to cancer therapy through the development of new electro-responsive materials platforms, incorporating smart nanoparticles (NPs) and transdermal or implantable devices. For example, NPs were used for controlled drug delivery triggered by electrical stimulation, while the devices also responded to secondary stimuli such as acidic pH or to the presence of tumor biomarkers. This combination of external and endogenous stimuli provides enhanced spatiotemporal control over drug delivery.Several therapeutic agents were tested, including an anticancer pentapeptide (CR(NMe)EKA), or drugs like curcumin, and chloramphenicol. The therapeutic agents were loaded into poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) NPs (PEDOT NPs), which provided the electrical stimuli response. These drug-loaded PEDOT NPs were then incorporated into various biomaterials scaffolds, such as pH-responsive hydrogels and bio-responsive fibers, creating multiresponsive devices. For instance, to achieve a multiresponsive injectable carrier for controlled delivery of the anticancer peptide CR(NMe)EKA, a biocompatible and pH-responsive hydrogel, formed by phenylboronic acid grafted with chitosan, was synthesized and loaded with PEDOT NPs. An electro-chemo responsive hydrogel for chloramphenicol release was prepared by grafting polyacrylic acid onto sodium alginate and encapsulating PEDOT NPs in situ. Additionally, a wireless biomaterials-based electrostimulation system was developed to enable controlled and on-demand release of anticancer drugs, promoting in vitro human prostate cancer cell death. This system utilized curcumin-loaded PEDOT NPs encapsulated in coaxial poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly(caprolactone) electrospun fibers.Overall, this work lays the foundation for designing and developing smarter, more effective biomaterial-based delivery systems for anticancer therapy.Keywords: cancer therapy; controlled drug delivery; electroresponsive nanoparticles; multiresponsive biomaterials; targeting cancer cells.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS

• CARRASCO RIBELLES, LUCÍA AMALIA: Multimorbidity and frailty trajectories and explainable prediction models for health-related outcomes using longitudinal electronic health records of the ageing Catalan population
  
  Author: CARRASCO RIBELLES, LUCÍA AMALIA
  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: 07/11/2024
  Reading date: 20/12/2024
  Reading time: 10:30
  Reading place: Aula Teleensenyament, Edifici B3, ETSETB, Campus Nord, Barcelona
  Thesis director: CABRERA BEAN, MARGARITA ASUNCION | VIOLÁN FORS, CONCEPCIÓN
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GARCÍA GÓMEZ, JUAN MIGUEL
       SECRETARI: HERNANDO PERICAS, FRANCISCO JAVIER
       VOCAL: CATALÀ SABATÉ, MARTÍ
  Thesis abstract: As life expectancy rises, people over 65 years old become a larger proportion of the population. However, longer life expectancy does not imply healthy ageing. Older individuals are more likely to develop multiple chronic diseases and other disabling conditions such as frailty. These conditions not only reduce quality of life but also place significant demands on an already strained healthcare system. This thesis aimed to 1) enhance understanding of the relationship and progression of frailty and multimorbidity, 2) study how frailty modifies multimorbidity patterns and trajectories, and 3) develop explainable predictive models using longitudinal electronic health records (EHRs). All the studies focused on three outcomes: all-cause mortality, nursing home admission, and home care need. Utilising SIDIAP, the primary care EHR database in Catalonia, enabled the development of large, population-based longitudinal studies with greater generalisability and the application of more sophisticated analytical techniques. This thesis yielded several important findings and recommendations. Firstly, it was demonstrated how the characterisation of multimorbidity and frailty and their impact on health-related outcomes evolves with age. The accumulation of diseases increases the likelihood of death, but older individuals with fewer diseases and more frailty-related deficits are more likely to require specialised care. Therefore, treatment plans should be tailored based not only on age but also on the specific characterisation of the patient at any given time. Secondly, the study found that multimorbidity patterns and trajectories are modified when frailty is considered, improving their predictive power for some health-related outcomes. Thus, future research on multimorbidity in older populations should integrate frailty information. Thirdly, a predictive model that addressed the technical challenges of longitudinal EHRs and incorporated mechanisms to enhance transparency was developed and called ARIADNEhr. During ARIADNEhr's development, it was found that increased model complexity does not necessarily improve discriminability but does enhance the clinical plausibility of the resulting attention maps. This model generally outperformed others using cross-sectional data. Additionally, the model's performance was validated with an external population, specifically in the UK with the CPRD database. This thesis exemplifies the transfer of advanced analytical techniques, such as clustering and deep learning, to the health field, supported by rigorous validation to ensure reliability. It offers valuable insights for future studies on the ageing population, emphasising the need for having access to longitudinal, high-quality data such as that from primary care. The findings aim to improve treatment penalisation, enhance patients' quality of life, and reduce costs for the national healthcare system.
  
• ROY, SWASTIKA: Beyond XAI for Trustworthy Federated Learning in 6G Zero-Touch Network Slicing
  
  Author: ROY, SWASTIKA
  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: 27/09/2024
  Reading date: 16/12/2024
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Defensa pública: Edifici B3 Sala de Teleenseyament, ETSETB, Campus Nord
  Thesis director: VERIKOUKIS, CHRISTOS | CHERGUI, HATIM
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ALONSO ZARATE, LUIS GONZAGA
       SECRETARI: ADELANTADO FREIXER, FERRAN
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: SPYROPOULOS, THRASYVOULOS
  Thesis abstract: In the approaching era of 6G networks, the necessity for AI-driven zero-touch network automation ishighlighted by the need to support multiple network slices for various use cases. Network slicing (NS),a significant innovation beyond 5G, will depend on AI to effectively manage complicated communicationnetworks. However, the traditional centralized approach for monitoring and controlling raw data facesseveral challenges. Federated Learning (FL) under a decentralized paradigm provides advantages,including improved security, fewer data exchanges, scalability, lower computational costs, and facilitatedfast local analysis and decision-making.Besides, Explainable AI (XAI) plays a crucial role in establishing trust in the AI black boxes throughoutthe deployment, which becomes imperative, mainly when AI is responsible for complicated resourcemanagement and anomaly detection. Stakeholders seek highly performing AI models for efficientresource allocation to ensure fairness, accountability, and compliance. Furthermore, flexible, intelligentmanagement across Radio Access Network (RAN), core network, cloud, and edge is needed to providerevolutionary connectivity in the broader context of the 6G era. The O-RAN Alliance’s push for Open RANarchitecture and AI-driven management tools further supports this vision.The thesis focuses on advancing the efficiency, scalability, transparency, and trustworthiness of 6Gnetworks through innovative approaches in FL, network resource management, and AI/MLmethodologies. The main objectives include reducing SLA violations, enhancing convergence time, andoptimizing computation costs in FL-based analytic engines. Additionally, the aim is to address the trade-off between performance and explainability, ensuring trustworthy predictions and transparent decision-making in the context of 6G network slicing. The proposed approaches leverage closed-loop automation,XAI, and novel federated learning models to achieve these goals while aligning with the demands andchallenges of the evolving 6G O-RAN landscape.First, A cloud-native SLA-driven FL model has been proposed to improve scalability and performance fornon-IID data at the RAN-Edge. It also demonstrated its superiority in reducing SLA violations andcomputation costs compared to different FL baselines.Second, inspired by closed-loop automation and XAI, we have designed an Explainable Federated DeepLearning (FDL) model to predict per-slice RAN dropped traffic probability, prioritizing explainabilitymetrics and outperforming baseline models.Third, we have proposed an explanation-guided in-hoc federated learning (FL) approach to address thetrade-off between AI performance and explainability for trustworthy 6G network slicing resourcemanagement in a RAN-Edge setup.Fourth, motivated by closed-loop (CL) automation and explanation-guided learning (EGL), we havepresented an explanation-guided federated learning (EGFL) scheme to ensure trustworthy predictionsand enhance model fairness.Lastly, addressing critical resource provisioning challenges among multiple virtualized base station (vBS)instances in the 6G O-RAN landscape, we have proposed a Federated Machine Reasoning (FLMR)framework to optimize CPU demand prediction for vBS, ensure transparent AI decisions and showcasesuperior performance compared to the DeepCog baseline.These methods advance 6G network scalability, efficiency, and transparency, contributing to developingAI-driven, trustworthy network management solutions.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

• HEINONEN, PIJATTA MAARIA: Beyond planning: Prefiguring horizontal practices of architecture in the context of autonomous geographies
  
  Author: HEINONEN, PIJATTA MAARIA
  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 THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of History and Theory of Architecture and Communication Techniques (THATC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 25/09/2024
  Reading date: 20/12/2024
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: Face-to-face (Room Sala de Graus. ETSAB. Main floor)
  Thesis director: MONTANER MARTORELL, JOSE MARIA | HERNÁNDEZ FALAGÁN, DAVID
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: OYON BAÑALES, JOSE LUIS
       SECRETARI: FERRERI, MARA
       VOCAL: GARCÍA VÁZQUEZ, CARLOS
  Thesis abstract: Hegemonic organization of space and architecture as its essential means respond to political and economic intentions whose determination is out of most people’s reach. Representations of dominant practices are embedded in the order and form of space, reaching the spaces and practices of everyday life. The reform of architecture alone has been understood as insufficient in addressing the imbalance of power, indicating the necessity of more fundamental changes in the societal context that architecture depends on. The possible politics of space that would be based on decentralization and inhabitants’ self-determination have been approached theoretically. However, investigations into architectural practices that are, in fact, taking place in counter-hegemonic contexts are few. This study investigated architecture that emerges within the prefiguration of social change, focusing on social movements whose autonomous politics are characterized by horizontal, egalitarian, and non-capitalist principles. The research questions were: What are the characteristics of architectural decision-making, and, what are the characteristics of the architecture carried out in occupied, largely self-built autonomous geographies? The research was based on grounded theory and was guided by simultaneous collection and analysis of data as well as theoretical sampling. Data was collected in three different autonomous geographies in Central Europe. The methods of data collection were participant observation, drawing, mapping, and interviews. The analysis was based on qualitative coding and followed the constant comparative method. The study found first that, in the examined geographies, the collective organization of space is carried out in a direct democratic, transparent manner. Collective decision-making highlights the direct participation of everyone in relevant decisions, from the founding principles of organization to the specific patterns and forms of space. Second, the collective organization of space is voluntary and partial. It is combined with decentralization of decision-making and individual autonomy of intervening in space. Autonomy facilitates a certain freedom to transform space and the social relations implied within, beyond their collective determination. In the examined geographies, spatial organization develops through simultaneous collective and autonomous interventions in a partially non-planned manner. Third, the inhabitants question the property of space and the permanence of architectural form. The open, common, and malleable nature of space enables its transformation according to horizontal lines, referring directly to the inhabitants present. The findings provide new insights into an architecture based on the politics of participation. While the study supports previous theorizations, one of its main contributions is the elaboration of architectural participation as it relates to the shifting negotiation between the individual and the collective. Furthermore, the principal theoretical implication of this study is the questioning and negation of overarching planning that the findings suggest. Instead of exhaustive instruments such as the urban plan, the findings indicate a less invasive idea of coordination-in-space that arises voluntarily from the bottom up. Finally, while questioning certain precepts of normative planning, the study also indicates directions to explore further the possibilities of an indeterminate, horizontal organization of space.