Access profile

Profile of ideal applicant:

• Architects
• Technical architects
• Engineers in the construction sector: civil, roadway, canal and port, industrial, etc.

Profile of second-best applicant:

• Archaeologists
• Historians
• Economists
• Lawyers
• Scientists

The master’s programmes that lead into this doctoral programme are those offered by the UPC in the fields of architecture and construction. In cases in which applicants have completed other official master’s-level study programmes that provide advanced specialised or multidisciplinary training, at this or another university, and are focused on enabling students to complete research and professional work and are recognised as programmes that prepare students to undertake doctoral-level studies, the applicants will have to provide additional information about the corresponding study programme in order to decide whether or not any additional coursework will have to be completed, according to current legal limits (see the “Bridging Courses” section).

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:
a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.

Number of places

12

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is three years, counted from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is five years, counting from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. For calculating these periods, the date of admission is considered to be the date of the first enrolment for tutorials, and the date of submission the moment in which the Doctoral School officially deposits the doctoral thesis.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years. When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the minimum period of study requirement.

The calculation of periods of study will not include periods of absence due to illness, pregnancy or any other reason provided for in the regulations in force. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which, where appropriate, must inform the Doctoral School. Doctoral candidates may also temporarily withdraw from the programme for up to one year, and this period may be extended for an additional year. Doctoral candidates who wish to interrupt their studies must submit a justified request to the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which will decide whether or not to approve the request. Each programme will establish conditions for readmission to doctoral studies.

Extension
If full-time doctoral candidates have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, the academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year. In exceptional circumstances, a further one-year extension may be granted, subject to the conditions established by the corresponding doctoral programme. In the case of part-time doctoral candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

Organization

• Lacasta Palacio, Ana Maria

• Claramunt Blanes, Jose
• Cornado Bardon, Cossima
• Garcia Carrera, David
• Lacasta Palacio, Ana Maria
• Muros Alcojor, Adrian
• Onecha Perez, Ana Belen
• Rosell Amigo, Joan Ramon
• Zamora Mestre, Joan Lluis

• Department of Architectural Technology (PROMOTORA)

Secretary of the doctoral programmes in Architecture
Tel.: 934 011 875
Secretariadoctorat.utgab@upc.edu

Access profile

Profile of ideal applicant:

• Architects
• Technical architects
• Engineers in the construction sector: civil, roadway, canal and port, industrial, etc.

Profile of second-best applicant:

• Archaeologists
• Historians
• Economists
• Lawyers
• Scientists

The master’s programmes that lead into this doctoral programme are those offered by the UPC in the fields of architecture and construction. In cases in which applicants have completed other official master’s-level study programmes that provide advanced specialised or multidisciplinary training, at this or another university, and are focused on enabling students to complete research and professional work and are recognised as programmes that prepare students to undertake doctoral-level studies, the applicants will have to provide additional information about the corresponding study programme in order to decide whether or not any additional coursework will have to be completed, according to current legal limits (see the “Bridging Courses” section).

Access requirements

Applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a Spanish master’s degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February)

In addition, the following may apply:

• Holders of an official degree awarded by a university in Spain or any other country in the European Higher Education Area, pursuant to the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, which establishes official university course regulations, who have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on official university degrees, of which at least 60 must be at the master's degree level.
• Holders of an official Spanish bachelor’s degree comprising at least 300 credits, as provided for by EU regulations. Holder of degrees of this kind must complete bridging courses unless the curriculum of the bachelor’s degree in question included research training credits equivalent in value to those which would be earned on a master's degree.
• Holders of an official university qualification who, having passed the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have completed at least two years of a training course leading to an official degree in a health-sciences specialisation.
• Holders of a degree issued under a foreign education system. In these cases, homologation is not required, but the UPC must verify that the degree certifies a level of training equivalent to an official Spanish master's degree and qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.
• Holders of a Spanish doctoral qualification issued under previous university regulations.

Note 1: Doctoral studies entrance regulations for holders of an undergraduate degree awarded before the introduction of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014)

Note 2: Governing Council Decision 64/2014, which approves the procedure and criteria for assessing the fulfilment of academic admission requirements for doctoral studies by holders of non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

In order to study in a doctoral programme, the programme’s Academic Committee must first grant applicants admission. Specific admission requirements are as follows:

Training complements

Bridging courses will be defined based on the aforementioned applicant profiles, and are as follows:

Ideal applicant: university professionals who habitually participate in the technical processes involved with architecture, building construction and urbanism, as architects, surveyors or engineers in the construction sector.

These professionals will not be required to take bridging courses if they have previously completed one of the master’s programmes that lead up to this doctoral programme. Otherwise, they will have to complete the master’s-level coursework suggested by the programme’s Academic Committee.

Second-best applicant: professionals that occasionally collaborate on architectural projects, such as archaeologists, historians, economists, lawyers and scientists.

These professionals will not be required to take bridging courses if they have previously completed one of the master’s programmes that lead up to this doctoral programme. Otherwise, they will have to complete the master’s-level coursework suggested by the programme’s Academic Committee.

Candidates who, while carrying out their research plan, show a lack of specific instrumental training, may be required by their supervisor to complete additional educational and/or training activities from the list of courses offered by the University for doctoral candidates, in line with the UPC’s Doctoral School.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

Candidates’ first enrolment will take place during the time indicated on the admission decision.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

In the first half of October.

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

Activity: Tutorial.
Hours: 288.
Compulsory.

Activity: Study trips.
Hours: 80.
Optional.

Activity: Stays at businesses or with collaborators.
Hours: 480.
Optional.

Activity: Attending conferences.
Hours: 288.
Optional.

Activity: Mobility.
Hours: 480.
Optional.

Activity: Assessment based on doctoral student activity report (DAD) and research plan.
Hours: 4.
Compulsory.

Activity: Training in information skills.
Hours: 1.5
Optional.

Activity: Research methodology.
Hours: 12.
Optional.

Activity: Innovation and creativity.
Hours: 8.
Optional.

Activity: Language and communication skills.
Hours: 18.
Optional.

Activity: Workshops.

Activity: Publications.
Hours: 80.
Compulsory.
Before submitting their theses, candidates must have at least one publication.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year for full-time doctoral candidates who have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, in the terms outlined in the Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. In the case of part-time candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

International Mention

The doctoral degree certificate may include International Doctorate mention. In this case, the doctoral candidate must meet the following requirements:

a) During the period of study leading to the award of the doctoral degree, the doctoral candidate must have spent at least three months at a respected higher education institution or research centre outside Spain to complete courses or do research work. The stays and activities carried out must be endorsed by the thesis supervisor and authorised by the academic committee of the programme. The candidate must provide a certifying document issued by the person responsible for the research group of the body or bodies where the stay or activity was completed. This information will be added to the doctoral student’s activity report.
b) Part of the thesis (at least the summary and conclusions) must be written and presented in one of the languages commonly used for science communication in the relevant field of knowledge, which must not be an official language of Spain. This rule does not apply to stays and reports in Spanish or to experts from Spanish-speaking countries.
c) At least two PhD-holding experts belonging to a higher education institution or research centre outside Spain must have issued officially certified reports on the thesis.
d) The thesis examination committee must have included at least one PhD-holding expert from a higher education or research institution outside Spain who was not responsible for the candidate’s stay abroad (point a) above).
e) The thesis defence must have taken place on UPC premises or, in the case of joint programmes, at the location specified in the collaboration agreement.

List of authorized thesis for defense

Last update: 04/10/2023 04:45:29.

List of lodged theses

• CRISPI BRILLAS, ALBERT: La innovació tecnològica en l'arquitectura per a la indústria durant els anys 40, 50 i 60 del segle XX a l'àrea de Barcelona
  
  Author: CRISPI BRILLAS, 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 ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND URBANISM TECHNOLOGY
  Department: Department of Architectural Technology (TA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 28/09/2023
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: ZAMORA MESTRE, JOAN LLUIS
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: FERRÉS PADRÓ, FRANCISCO JAVIER
       SECRETARI: GARCÍA CARRERA, DAVID
       VOCAL: PÉREZ LUQUE, GABRIEL
  Thesis abstract: The construction of architecture for industry between 1939 and 1969 in the Barcelona area was a challenge for all those who intervened, since, in a post-war environment with serious economic, technical and cultural limitations, the need arose to build new industrial buildings in Barcelona with new programs such as chemistry, food, electronics or motor and with new needs for large, diaphanous, bright and well ventilated spaces.Barcelona became a strategic production center for local industrial recovery, but international economic and cultural isolation, as well as the poor construction industry that had altered the civil war, particularly affected the production of the most basic products by construction, and therefore limited the technological possibilities for the construction of these new spaces for work, which required craft, professionalism and above all innovative spirit to its architects to face new challenges.The following is an investigation of some relevant technical contributions in the construction of these buildings that took place in an exceptional situation, which is intended to analyze the protagonists, the circumstances, the drivers of innovation, the material context and policy constraints.
  
• GATTI, FABIO: Marcelo Cortés arquitecto. El desafío sísmico de las técnicas con tierra armada
  
  Author: GATTI, FABIO
  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: 28/09/2023
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: BOSCH GONZÁLEZ, MONTSERRAT | ROSELL AMIGÓ, JUAN RAMON
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MILETO, CAMILLA
       SECRETARI: CLARAMUNT BLANES, JOSE
       VOCAL: JOVÉ SANDOVAL, FÉLIX ANTONIO
  Thesis abstract: The main objective of the research is to provide a development in the technological knowledge of architecture and construction with earth in seismic territory, exploring into the subject of traditional and contemporary earthquake-resistant earth construction systems through the work of the Chilean architect Marcelo Cortés. Investigating and knowing the keys to the operation of construction systems allows to propose ways of improving those that are used today, and to be able to develop, based on these, new solutions.The Chilean architect can be considered a pioneer in this regard and an international avant-garde expert. Thirty-five years of research and, especially, of built works have allowed him to update traditional raw earth seismic resistant construction techniques into a wide range of works carried out. Among his projects there are some in which the earth experiences its formal freedom for the first time while maintaining an earthquake-resistant structure.The development of the traditional quincha gave him access to a complete system of structures that he has explored over the years, with a great diversity of variants and construction systems, which have emerged in a wide spectrum of formal possibilities and structural arrangements, demonstrating how the combination of earth and steel makes it possible to create contemporary earthquake-resistant architecture.This process of constructive intuition and learning through the empirical system "trial and error" have generated other construction systems such as the metalic quincha with folded mesh and the techno-mud. This interest in the earth material, and especially all his symbiosis between designer, researcher and builder, have lead him to investigate other construction systems such as adobe and rammed earth.The choice of a heuristic methodology derives from the empiricism of Cortés's own work, in which the lack of a mathematical model that demonstrates the scientific validity of his construction systems constitutes the way in which the author of this thesis answers the question: why the construction with earth from Cortés behaved adequately during the 27F earthquake of 2010? The thesis responds to the proposed hypothesis by defining a study method according to the concept of seismic hazard as topology and the concept of vulnerability as typology and tectonics.Regarding this classification, in the field of life that encompasses the architect's own environment and the sociocultural environment, the seismic vulnerability variables have been identified as the typological and tectonic design configurations of his work. The context refers to the landscape and its topography, the location and its seismic environment. The main factor that characterizes its environment are the characteristics of the 2010 earthquake, the types of soils, the geophysical / geomorphological characteristics of the terrain and the current regulations.The study of the variables indicated above has been carried out based on heuristic criteria of earthquake resistant design and structural configurations of simple and reinforced earth.The thesis analyzes the most important aspects of some of his most significant works through a selection of what he himself considers his best work, since most of the projects analyzed were selected by the architect himself.Regarding the selection of the study cases, analyzed for the study of the context and design variables, a building has been investigated for each reinforced earth construction technique used in the work of Cortés.Finally, the study of the work of Cortés analyzes the determinants of the relationships between earthquakes, the life of the architect and the construction technique used.The conclusion summarizes the final considerations of the comparative study of vulnerability and threat variables, as well as the final considerations on the challenge of the technique carried out by Cortés in his work.
  
• GUZMÁN HERNÁNDEZ, IGNACIO ALEJANDRO: Estrategias de diseño bioclimático para una vivienda popular en clima cálido-húmedo de México. Protección solar, ventilación y técnicas de deshumidificación
  
  Author: GUZMÁN HERNÁNDEZ, IGNACIO 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 ARCHITECTURAL, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND URBANISM TECHNOLOGY
  Department: Department of Architectural Technology (TA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 29/09/2023
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: FRANCO GONZALEZ, FIDEL | ZAMORA MESTRE, JOAN LLUIS
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MORALES RAMÍREZ, JOSÉ DIEGO
       SECRETARI: ROSET CALZADA, JAIME
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: ALPUCHE CRUZ, MARIA GUADALUPE
  Thesis abstract: Popular housing in hot and humid areas of Mexico often faces challenges in terms of energy efficiency and comfort due to extreme weather conditions. Humidity is one of the main problems affecting the habitability of these houses. In this thesis, bioclimatic design strategies that can help reduce humidity in these houses are analyzed, paying special attention to solar shading, ventilation and specific dehumidification techniques, such as pressurization, shallow geothermal and the use of silica gel panels. The research is based on the analysis of different materials and technologies, through simulations and mathematical models, to evaluate their impact on the quality of life of the inhabitants of a case study near the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco. The results of this research show that the proposed strategies and modifications can be effective in reducing temperature and relative humidity, however, no single strategy, or combination of strategies, can guarantee adequate levels of hygrothermal comfort in extreme climates, such as the one considered in this research. These recommendations, however, could help to significantly improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of these dwellings, by improving not only their comfort, but also their health.It is concluded that no single strategy guarantees adequate levels of comfort, but the combination of several can approach these levels. Some strategies include increasing the roof height, using false ceilings with air cavities, implementing thermal insulation, modifying window proportions, providing solar protection, promoting constant and cross ventilation, using shallow geothermal energy, dehumidifying pressurization, and using silica gel panels. These strategies have partial effectiveness and their improvements do not accumulate linearly. The importance of analyzing the specific conditions of each location to determine the optimal combination of strategies is pointed out. An estimate of water efficiency and how these strategies could benefit vulnerable populations around the world is also mentioned. Despite progress, the difficulty of reducing relative humidity in hot and humid climates and the need for continued research in this area is recognized.
  

Last update: 04/10/2023 04:30:30.

List of defended theses by year

• HABIBI, SAEID: Low-cost intelligent refurbishment of façades. A study of Barcelona public school building façades
  
  Author: HABIBI, SAEID
  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: Article-based thesis
  Reading date: 01/02/2023
  Thesis director: PONS VALLADARES, ORIOL | PEÑA VILLAMIL, DIANA MARITZA
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ARMENGOU ORÚS, JAUME
       SECRETARI: HAURIE IBARRA, LAIA
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: SAELI, MANFREDI
  Thesis abstract: Due to the fact that construction, maintenance, and operation of buildings consume almost 40% of global energy today, architects play a major role in the reduction of world energy consumption. Building¿s façades can have a significant and measurable impact on the economic, environmental, and social performances by edifices, and their retrofit is seen as a key solution to the problem of today¿s aging building stock. Concerning overheating and the potential loss of internal heat, transparent parts of the building façade have a large effect on the building¿s energy consumption. Within this context, the use of intelligent systems on architecture envelopes can fulfill contemporary demands as promising solutions regarding energy efficiency, emissions, or the degree of visual contact in building environments.In Spain, boom periods of construction combined with typical building styles of each period, have resulted in a large stock of aging educational buildings at risk of structural vacancy and obsolescence. Despite their lack of insulation, high air infiltration, and solar gain, many such edifices from the 1970s-1980s are still in use today. Moreover, the majority of today's buildings will still be in use in 2050 based on the Spanish edifices' annual replacement rate of 3% according to the European Commission.The main objective of this Ph.D. thesis is to analyze, develop and promote intelligent services to existing façades to optimize these buildings' economic, environmental, and social sustainability performances through a holistic and innovative sustainability assessment model.To do so, the first phases of this thesis, the author carried out a deep documental investigation on more than 800 research articles regarding intelligent façade systems, advancements in material engineering, user demands, automations, and their sustainability performance following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting standards. Based on the results from preliminary investigations, different low-cost and environmental-friendly dynamic façades have been prototyped in the context of the Spanish public schools targeting pupils' academic progress through optimizing the lighting and thermal comfort levels. These prototypes have been developed by employing municipal solid waste materials during participatory workshops with school pupils. This concept is expected to promote awareness and better management of our society's critical waste generation by returning waste to the reusing cycle.From the data collected, researchers found that intelligent façade design and application result from a complex decision-making process. The cost and long-term nature of the investment mean that the façade decision is strategic. Accordingly, the next phase examined the actuality of intelligent façade projects in practice through conducting in-depth exploratory methodologies and tools for analyzing, evaluating, and designing among the incorporation of interdisciplinary experts in the topic. Finally, the last phase experimentally monitored and tested the developed prototypes and other test samples of various waste items.The findings show that the process of façade retrofit that fulfills the school building functioning, energy performance, emissions, costs, and appearance, requires the realm of the profession. The members involved in the retrofitting projects of public primary school buildings mainly had to make initial façade design decisions based on ideas resulting from cognition and drawing on experience. This thesis and its subsequent conceptual framework provide a new overview of waste-based construction materials and their introduction to developing intelligent façade technologies, through scientific indexes that can be useful for occupants, builders, architects, and policymakers to have a good understanding of the potential contributions that intelligent façades provide.
  

• MILAN, CAIO CESAR: Estudio numérico y comparativo del comportamiento de columnas tubulares mixtas con un pretensado inicial de uno de los componentes. Aproximación experimental del comportamiento de secciones CFST pretensadas, sometidas a compresión cíclica.
  
  Author: MILAN, CAIO CESAR
  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
  Reading date: 23/03/2023
  Thesis director: MARISTANY CARRERAS, JORDI | ALBAREDA VALLS, ALBERT
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ROMERO GARCIA, MANUEL LUIS
       SECRETARI: RETAMALES SAAVEDRA, RODRIGO ALFONSO
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: IGLESIAS TOQUERO, GORKA
  Thesis abstract: The use of mixed structures of the most varied types and typologies, mainly in steel and concrete, have been increasingly used in the recent decades. The mechanical advantages of these structures in comparison with conventional reinforced concrete and steel structures working independently, allow to optimize the performance of both components.Within all the possibilities of composite structures, this investigation focuses on the study of composite columns of circular tubular steel profiles filled with concrete (CFST). CFSTs are increasingly used due to improved structural performance, especially under compression. This is basically due to the confinement effect provided by the pipe, which generally improves the ductility and strength of the concrete fill. Mainly, a series of issues derive from the construction process of these sections, such as, for example, the fact of loading the tube before concreting in preliminary construction stages causes a preloading effort that implies a different response from the section than expected. These problems must be considered in the design process and lead to unwanted preload effects in one of the two components derived from the process itself.A limited number of studies treat preloading as a design method in itself before being under service loads (active methods) to improve the capabilities of CFST sections. Therefore, the thesis begins by analyzing and comparing 4 different methodologies (2 passive versus 2 active preload methods) describing the potential benefits and consequences of them throughout the section; while sometimes a prestress ratio in a component can improve the overall mechanical response, sometimes it doesn't and even becomes detrimental. The relation of the confinement effect on the core and especially when activated reveals the degree of real improvement of the compressive response of the section in terms of ductility and resistance.Finally, for the method that has been considered most beneficial, a small experimental campaign was carried out so that there is a first approximation of the behavior of this type of preloaded section.
  

• VALENCIA BARBA, YOVANNA ELENA: Análisis de ciclo de vida de particiones interiores en la vivienda plurifamiliar de España. Análisis comparativo de los sistemas permutables usuales
  
  Author: VALENCIA BARBA, YOVANNA ELENA
  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: Article-based thesis
  Reading date: 19/07/2023
  Thesis director: GOMEZ SOBERON, JOSE MANUEL VICENTE
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: CORRAL HIGUERA, RAMON
       SECRETARI: CABRERA COVARRUBIAS, FRANCISCA GUADALUPE
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: VALDERRAMA ULLOA, CLAUDIA ALEJANDRA
  Thesis abstract: The growth and development of the construction sector has significant potential for sustainable development strategies, since it consumes considerable amounts of resources, materials and energy worldwide and is known to being one of the sectors with the highest generation of waste. Also, it has been established that the greenhouse gases associated with construction activity could be avoided if the integration of the circular perspective were applied in the management of the resources. In the search to address the problem and mitigate the environmental impact generated, various methodologies have been developed to identify, quantify and evaluate the environmental impact of systems and products, such as the life cycle assessment (LCA). The main objective of the thesis is to evaluate the suitability of the integration of the LCA within the selection criteria of construction systems during the design stage of the building. With a focus on establishing and comparing the incorporated environmental impact profile of various construction systems used as interior partitions in multi-family housing in Spain. In this thesis, three articles were generated, in which four construction systems of horizontal interior partitions (floor slabs) were analyzed with a "cradle to handover" approach, including additional stages that have the potential to generate waste (such as maintenance, replacement and end of life). Its environmental performance was compared in two functional unit scenarios, one with a homogeneous square meter and other with a heterogeneous square meter. In addition, 44 vertical interior partition (walls) construction systems were evaluated: first, by combining the technical requirements with the embodied environmental impact of the systems with a ¿cradle to handover¿ approach; and second, extending the analysis approach to ¿cradle to grave¿ and incorporating dynamic parameters in the LCA. The articles that make up the thesis were carried out following the guidelines established by the ISO 14044-15804 standards for the elaboration of the LCA and the approach of the incorporated environmental impact established in Annex 57. The main databases used were BEDEC and CYPE engineers for the quantification of construction systems; and Ecoinvent to obtain data related to the emissions and environmental impact of the systems. The environmental impact methodologies used were CML 2001, Eco-indicator 99 and ReCiPe. And the programs used for the environmental assessment of LCA were LCA manager and Brightway 2, jointly with spreadsheets as a complement in data processing. Among the results obtained, it is highlighted that the stage with the greatest contribution to the environmental impact is the production of the materials. In addition, it was observed that the emissions generated in this stage will be decisive when the analysis approach is extended to the repair, replacement and renovation stages. Among the layers that make up the construction systems, the contribution to the environmental impact varies depending on the nature of the materials, the base layer with concrete derivatives being the one with the greatest environmental impact. It was observed that the contribution to the environmental impact of each component of the construction system maintains a direct dependence on the service life of the analyzed system. The development of the thesis allows us to conclude the importance of evaluating the environmental profile of the group of materials that make up the construction systems and of considering the service life of the elements and the building, in order to obtain results of greater representativeness and reliability. In addition, the findings of the thesis allow to validate the potential and suitability of using LCA to establish the environmental profile of construction systems, in order to incorporate the results of the evaluation as new criteria for sustainable analysis in the design process and selection of construction
  

• VELÁZQUEZ ROBLES, JANI FERNANDA: Resilient incremental social housing design: Mexico City, Mexico
  
  Author: VELÁZQUEZ ROBLES, JANI FERNANDA
  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
  Reading date: 19/06/2023
  Thesis director: COLOMA PICÓ, ELOI | HOSSEINI, SEYED MOHAMMAD AMIN
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ZAMORA MESTRE, JOAN LLUIS
       SECRETARI: COSTA JUTGLAR, GONÇAL
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: ALBINO GERVACIO, FELIPE
  Thesis abstract: The rapid growth of Mexico¿s urban population and the highly exposed vulnerability of the country to natural hazards and climate risk are aspects that need to be considered for the actual adaptation of the infrastructure to ensure the safety of all the residents. Last decade, private construction companies and the public administration in Mexico built different large-scale social housing projects for low-income occupants to provide a house to the most vulnerable population considering natural hazards and climate risk. The quality of the buildings is getting worse with time causing health problems, non-inclusive spaces, poor architectural flexibility, expensive maintenance, and poor environmental performance, among others. Having said that, the leading question of this study is: How to design a more sustainable and resilient incremental social house in Mexico City considering social, environmental, and economic aspects? The main limitation of this proposal is to respect the budget from the Mexican public administration designated to social housing projects.To deal with economic restrictions of Mexican public administration, the incremental housing concept proposed in this study could be used to answer (1) current housing needs for most low-income families in Mexico City, (2) provide an affordable initial core housing with spatial flexibility for future housing expansion, (3) provide a more environmentally sustainable social housing design in terms of the entire life cycle of the construction considering energy consumption and water consumption and CO2 emissions. Therefore, this research study presents a methodology, which is a combination of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and MIVES (Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment), to assess the three main pillars of sustainability in incremental social housing design. To validate the methodology, first it is applied to three existing incremental housing cases, which are scenario A in Mexico, scenario B in Puerto Rico and scenario C in Indonesia, sharing similar characteristics such as construction area, construction cost per m2 and high-risk flooding location in developing economies. As well as, the same methodology is applied to elaborate a design elaborated by the author called MICASA, to find the best architectural solutions for an incremental social housing in Mexico City. The results show that the BIM-MIVES methodology is a useful tool for decision-making to improve the sustainability of social housing design in Mexico City. In this study, the proposal design, MICASA, shows 45% less CO2 emissions, 38% less energy consumption and 68% less solid waste than scenario A. MICASA is 2.5 times more expensive per m2 than scenario A, however, MICASA respects the cost limit assigned by the public administration for a low-income housing construction in Mexico City with a construction cost of 546.45 euros/m2. Considering social and environmental requirements, MICASA is the most sustainable case study compared to scenario A, B and C. The findings of this study suggest that it is feasible to design more sustainable social housing developments in Mexico City considering the environmental impact reduction, life-cycle cost and social acceptance respecting construction budget limitations.
  

Last update: 04/10/2023 05:01:11.

Research groups

• AIEM-Architecture, energy and environment
• FORM+-Research Group FORM+
• GAT-Architecture and Technology Group
• GICITED-Interdisciplinary Group on Building Scienceand and Technology
• LiTA-Architectural Innovation and Technology Laboratory
• REARQ-Rehabilitation and Architectural Restoration
• TECTEX-Textile Technology Research Group

Teachers

• Albareda Valls, Albert
• Bosch Gonzalez, Montserrat
• Claramunt Blanes, Jose
• Coloma Picó, Eloi
• Cornado Bardon, Cossima
• Crespo Sanchez, Eva
• Curos Vila, Joan
• Fernandez Carrasco, Lucia
• Franco Gonzalez, Fidel
• Garcia Carrera, David
• Gimferrer Vilaplana, Xavier
• Gomez Soberon, Jose Manuel
• Haurie Ibarra, Laia
• Lacasta Palacio, Ana Maria
• Moya Ferrer, Luis
• Muñoz Blanc, Carlos
• Muros Alcojor, Adrian
• Navarro Ezquerra, Antonia
• Nikolic, Jelena
• Onecha Perez, Ana Belen
• Palumbo Fernandez, Mariana
• Pardal March, Cristina
• Pons Valladares, Oriol
• Rodriguez Cantalapiedra, Inmaculada
• Rosell Amigo, Joan Ramon
• Zamora Mestre, Joan Lluis

• Avellaneda Diaz-Grande, Jaume
• Bernat Maso, Ernest
• Boixader Ibañez, Dionis
• Botton Halfon, Jocelyne Mireille de
• Casas Portet, Anna
• Daumal Domenech, Francesc de Paula
• Diaz Gomez, Cèsar
• Garcia Almirall, Maria Pilar
• Giraldo Forero, Maria del Pilar
• Gomez Serrano, Jose
• Gonzalez Barroso, Josep Maria
• Gonzalez Moreno-Navarro, Jose Luis
• Graus Rovira, Ramon
• Llorens Duran, Josep Ignasi de
• Lopez Almansa, Francisco
• Maristany Carreras, Jordi
• Marti Casanovas, Miquel
• Masseck, Torsten
• Moya Sala, Joaquim Narcis
• Paricio Ansuategui, Ignacio de L.
• Paris Viviana, Oriol
• Ramos Galino, Fernando Juan
• Ravetllat Mira, Pere Joan
• Roca Blanch, Estanislau
• Roset Calzada, Jaime
• Sastre Sastre, Ramon