Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The most appropriate education for applicants to the doctoral programme in Sustainability to have will soon include bachelor’s studies in the sciences and technologies and master’s studies in Sustainability Science and Technology, the current master’s programme in Sustainability or another master’s programme in the same scientific field. In addition to having this educational background, certain personal characteristics are considered important, such as interest in the research projects being carried out in the programme, critical and analytical skills, having initiative, being consistent and persistent with work, being able to work in a team, and having suitable oral and written communication skills.

The normal admission pathway to this doctoral programme is completion of the master’s programme in Sustainability or the master’s programme in Sustainability Science and Technology, in these cases, no bridging courses will be required. The appropriateness of applicants with other master’s degrees will be assessed by the Academic Committee, who will, if necessary, define the bridging courses that must be completed.
Thus, holders of degrees in the following subject matters may be admitted into the doctoral programme in Sustainability:
• Any of the fields of engineering, architecture or construction.
• Any of the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• Any of the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography.
• A higher engineering degree (pre-EHEA).
• An architecture degree (pre- EHEA).
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography in addition to a master’s degree in any area of engineering.

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

10

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

• Gil Roig, Jose Maria

• Aranda Gimo, Silvia
• Chams, Nour
• de la Fuente Antequera, Albert
• Gibert Oliveras, Karina
• Gil Roig, Jose Maria
• Roca Rosell, Antoni
• Villares Junyent, Miriam

• University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (PROMOTORA)

Office 202 – Building C2 (North Campus)
Tel.: 934 017 094
E-mail: doctorat.sos.camins@upc.edu

Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The most appropriate education for applicants to the doctoral programme in Sustainability to have will soon include bachelor’s studies in the sciences and technologies and master’s studies in Sustainability Science and Technology, the current master’s programme in Sustainability or another master’s programme in the same scientific field. In addition to having this educational background, certain personal characteristics are considered important, such as interest in the research projects being carried out in the programme, critical and analytical skills, having initiative, being consistent and persistent with work, being able to work in a team, and having suitable oral and written communication skills.

The normal admission pathway to this doctoral programme is completion of the master’s programme in Sustainability or the master’s programme in Sustainability Science and Technology, in these cases, no bridging courses will be required. The appropriateness of applicants with other master’s degrees will be assessed by the Academic Committee, who will, if necessary, define the bridging courses that must be completed.
Thus, holders of degrees in the following subject matters may be admitted into the doctoral programme in Sustainability:
• Any of the fields of engineering, architecture or construction.
• Any of the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• Any of the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography.
• A higher engineering degree (pre-EHEA).
• An architecture degree (pre- EHEA).
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the natural sciences or mathematics.
• A licentiate degree (pre- EHEA) in the fields of the social sciences, economics or geography in addition to a master’s degree in any area of engineering.

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

With regard to the doctoral programme in Sustainability, the selection and admission of candidates is the responsibility of the programme’s academic committee.

 • Candidate’s CV, motivation for research work and references provided (50%).
• The availability of a grant or funding to complete a thesis (40%).

The following will also be considered:
• Grades earned in previous degree programmes. Average grade on the academic transcripts that enable admission to the doctoral programme (4%).
• Level of English. Knowledge of other languages will also be considered favourably (4%).
• Interview with the candidate (if the Committee finds it necessary) (2%).

Training complements

The academic committee for the programme may require that doctoral students pass specific bridging courses. In this case, the Committee will monitor the bridging courses and set up appropriate criteria to limit their length.

The courses shall involve training in research, but in no case will candidates be required to enrol in 60 or more ECTS credits (as per the academic regulations for doctoral studies, bridging courses could also include transversal education, but this is likely to be changed to include only research-related credits, especially in cases of 300-ECTS-credit doctoral programmes).

Depending on the doctoral student activity report, the programme’s Academic Committee may propose measures, in addition to those established by current regulations, that would disassociate candidates who do not meet the established requisites.

In the doctoral programme in Sustainability, applicants who have graduated from associated master’s programmes (i.e., the master’s programmes in Sustainability Science and Technology, and in Technology for Human Development and Cooperation, both offered by the UPC) will not be required to take bridging courses.

In this doctoral programme, student-specific supplementary requisites for methodological of scientific training may be defined by the academic committee when a candidate is admitted, depending on his/her background. This additional coursework shall pertain to subjects taught in the master’s programmes associated with this doctoral programme (the master’s programmes in Sustainability Science and Technology, and in Technology for Human Development and Cooperation, both offered by the UPC).

Thesis supervisors, based on their observations of candidates’ shortcomings, or the need for additional training in one or more areas pertaining to doctoral theses, may require candidates to complete specific training. This training will take place in the form of attending specialised courses, seminars, workshops or completing stays in research centres that allow candidates to complete their training in specific aspects related to their theses.

The time limit for completing this additional training and bridging courses is one and a half years (18 months), if the completion of said courses is required by the programme’s Academic Committee as a condition for the candidate’s admittance. The Committee may remove students who have not completed the required bridging courses within 18 months.

Given that there is no specific profile that grants access to the doctoral programme in Sustainability, bridging courses, if necessary, will be selected from the master’s degree programmes that depend on the UPC’s Sustainability Institute.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

Ordinary enrolment: September-October.

Special enrolment: February.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

Ordinary enrolment: September-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.

Activity: Training in information skills.
Hours: 1.5.
Type: optional.

Activity: Research methodology.
Hours: 12.
Type: optional.

Activity: Innovation and creativity.
Hours: 8.
Type: optional.

Activity: Language and communication skills.
Hours: 18.
Type: optional.

Activity: Courses and seminars.
Hours: 16.
Type: optional.

Activity: Workshops.
Hours: 20.
Type: optional.

Activity: Publications.
Hours: 280.
Type: optional.

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: 27/02/2021 06:03:59.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 27/02/2021 06:03:16.

List of defended theses by year

• ÁVILA GARCÍA, DANIELA: Assessment of water ecosystem services and alternative scenarios to climate change and human impact in neotropical mountains
  
  Author: ÁVILA GARCÍA, DANIELA
  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 SUSTAINABILITY
  Department: University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC)
  Mode: Temporary seizure
  Reading date: 22/01/2021
  Thesis director: MORATO FARRERAS, JORDI | COMÍN SEBASTIÁN, FRANCISCO
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MUÑOZ SEVILLA, NORMA PATRICIA
       SECRETARI: ALCARAZ SENDRA, OLGA
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: CASTRO MARTÍNEZ, ANTONIO JESÚS
  Thesis abstract: Water ecosystem services (ESw) are related to aquatic ecosystems and to the interaction with water and land in different ecosystems such as forests, agricultural lands, riparian areas, wetlands and water bodies. ESw play a central role in human well-being and water management at different scales. Some of these services include the provision of drinking water, irrigation water, fishing, recreation and flood mitigation. However, different drivers of change, such as land-cover degradation and climate change, affect the ability of forests to provide ESw, resulting in water insecurity. This Ph.D. thesis explores the forest-water nexus and provides an overview of the water management related to potential hydrological impacts of land-use and land-cover changes and climate change in two neotropical mountain watersheds in Latin America: Río Grande de Comitán-Lagos de Montebello (RGC-LM) watershed, Chiapas, México, and Las Piedras river (LPR) watershed, Cauca, Colombia. Although ESw related to cloud forest and páramos are of vital importance for their socio-ecological functioning, both study areas face water-related challenges because of different pressures, such as climate change, land-use and land cover (LULC) change, deforestation, and accelerated urban, agricultural, grazing and touristic growth. Therefore, a combination of methods recommended by the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment (TESSA), as well as scenario modelling based on an ecological index of riparian quality, were used to assess how alternative scenarios of reforestation or deforestation and climate change scenarios can affect water provision and water quality at different scales. Considering the socio-ecological context, a total four scenarios were modelled on each study area: two of the modelling scenarios included the implementation of land-use policies that aimed at mitigating the likely consequences of land conversion to cropland or cattle grazing. In contrast, the two opposite scenarios represented increased deforestation, forest fragmentation and degradation of riparian vegetation. Hydrological modelling and the impacts of change were assessed annually using WaterWorld modelling tool. In the case of the RGC-LM watershed, the results were statistically compared at watershed and subwatershed scale, whereas in LPR watershed, climate change scenarios were included, and three zones were delimited according to altitude differences.The results in both watersheds indicate that water quality is positively related to forest cover. The effects of terrain, climate and forest-cover conditions on fog inputs and actual evapotranspiration were relevant to increase or decrease water yield under all scenarios. However, deteriorated water quality and decreased water quantity are not only related to climate change, degradation and reduction of forest and riparian vegetation, but also to inadequate water management in the study areas. Therefore, an effective improvement of ESw in the long-term would require management policies that consider forest-based solutions at different scales, sustainable productive practices, equitable local agreements and efficient distribution networks for water resources.
  

• CARRES GONZALEZ, JORDI: Propuesta metodológica para la implantación del análisis de riesgo en las auditorías de eficiencia energética
  
  Author: CARRES GONZALEZ, JORDI
  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 SUSTAINABILITY
  Department: University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC)
  Mode: Normal
  Reading date: 23/02/2021
  Thesis director: ALVAREZ DEL CASTILLO, JAVIER
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: RÍOS OSORIO, LEONARDO ALBERTO
       SECRETARI: MONTESINOS MIRACLE, DANIEL
       VOCAL: LOPEZ DE ASIAIN ALBERICH, MARIA
  Thesis abstract: Energy audits have been, and are basically the study and analysis of energy flows in a building, process or system with the aim of knowing its behavior in order to find possibilities for energy improvement. It is primarily a quantitative analysis.The following methodology establishes a qualitative process to find the best energy improvement options in an organization that, if possessing great technical knowledge, is capable of understanding what its situation is and how to improve its building, process or organization energy.To see the possibility of adopting risk analysis in energy audits, we start from the basis that energy is an element of risk for the organization. So, can we consider energy as a vital risk for our organization? The answer is yes.We will determine the adverse impact for the organization, as a result of the exploitation by a threat of a certain vulnerability, and the energy vulnerabilities will be determined in all the processes with which energy interacts in an organization that results in a model with 21 application modules to identify and assess risk in organizations.The results and validation of the proposal have been proven in 208 audits in organizations of most business sectors.This thesis is basically practical, so practical that it is currently the basis for conducting energy audits in Spain.
  

• OLIVERES SOLÉ, JORDI: The Management of Fire Complexity at the Edge of Criticality. From Analysis of FIRE case studies, to a Synthesis approach for Mediterranean Forest landscapes and for Emergency Management Organization
  
  Author: OLIVERES SOLÉ, JORDI
  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 SUSTAINABILITY
  Department: University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC)
  Mode: Temporary seizure
  Reading date: 02/02/2021
  Thesis director: ROSAS CASALS, MARTI
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BROTONS ALABAU, LLUÍS
       SECRETARI: PLANAS CUCHI, EULALIA
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: PONS PONS, MARC
  Thesis abstract: Fire regimes are changing under the influence of global change. On the European continent, landscape memory in the 21st century is dominated by an accumulation of forest fuel and irrupted by a progressive climatic forcing that generates a latitudinal and altitudinal escalation of wildfire generations. Catalonia, and especially the mountain areas, is located within these pyro-climatic niches where the gradients of productivity-aridity are in a situation of remarkable vulnerability. Fires in these impact areas are expected to play an ecological role of renewal with no precedents in recent history, at the expense of a high socio-ecological severity in the short-medium term, though.In the first block, the thesis analyses the probability distributions of burned areas at different space-time scales in order to better understand the statistical nature of fires in Catalonia in recent history. In line with other existing publications, the analysis demonstrates the positive impact of the fire prevention and extinction system, with a significant reduction of the potential of large fires since the beginning of the 21st century. At the same time, the analysis also shows an arched back effect in the middle range of the probability distributions, as well as a more sustained correlation in the lower range of fires, since there is a better field data collection. The analysis focuses on different space-time aggregates in Catalonia, paying special attention to the Pyrenees region. In the second block, the research effort focuses on the synthesis of a case study. Knowledge of basic research is used, previously available tools for modelling the dynamics of the landscape are adapted, and new parameters are proposed such as the ecological fire flow. Although the case study responds to a demand from the government of Aran to promote a program of prescribed burns, it is above all an explicit proposal of the Catalan Fire and Rescue Services to prototype fire management in the Pyrenees including the lessons of the community of experts as well as the concerns of public and private managers in a context of global change. The synthesis consists in integrating tactical expertise and scientific knowledge to provide a technically viable alternative (project design and project management) which in turn offers an Aran-sized modelling tool capable of integrating succession dynamics, fire regime, climatic scenarios and different alternatives of response / management, as well as of quantifying the impacts on key environmental vectors such as habitat diversity and effects on protective forests, among others.The thesis demonstrates the potential benefit of positive fire selection from the statistical analysis of the historical fire regime (the hammer effect) and the virtual experimentation (MEDFIRE Aran). On this basis, it proposes a framework of action (the pyro-sustainability) specifically adapted to the size of Aran territory which allows to deploy strategies for both the extinction and reduction of the high severity, and the use prescribed in formed burns and fire management in pre-agreed and pre-planned spaces. The general aim here is to break with the paradox of extinction and to align the resilience of the landscape with the changing climatic conditions in the medium-long term. Many scientific contributions conclude the need to change from the era of extinction to the era of regime management. The thesis precisely provides an effective methodology for sustainable coexistence with fire, applicable to the Pyrenees and other mountain massifs, which would prevent these large biodiversity pools from being left to the chance of extreme weather.
  

• SÁNCHEZ BALVÁS, LIZETH ARTEMISA: Sustainability for energy-efficient lighting
  
  Author: SÁNCHEZ BALVÁS, LIZETH ARTEMISA
  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 SUSTAINABILITY
  Department: University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC)
  Mode: Normal
  Reading date: 15/01/2021
  Thesis director: DE LA FUENTE ANTEQUERA, ALBERTO | FELIPE BLANCH, JOSE JUAN DE
  

  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: ARMENGOU ORÚS, JAUME
       SECRETARI: PUJADAS ÁLVAREZ, PABLO
       VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: QUINTERO QUINTERO, JESÚS MARÍA
  Thesis abstract: The social, environmental and economic side effects of the street lighting are the foremost concern for this thesis, since the expanding use of light at night, along with an inappropriate design, has led a large energy consumption, light pollution and impact on human health and the environment. With increasing consideration on the negative side-effects, it has introduced new recommendations for energy efficient lighting, indicators, and new energy classifications systems to evaluate the energy performance of lighting systems.According to the literature, the energy classification systems are based on installed power and lighting parameters (luminance or illuminance), which influence by regulating the energy consumption and the light levels entering the eye. However, recent studies on the advances of lighting technologies, i.e. light-emitting diode (LED), control systems and luminaires, and developments in mesopic photometry and its influence in energy reduction and vision performance, demand for new requirements. This implies a new quantification system to measure energy efficiency by incorporating all the elements that affect the overall efficiency of the installation. Within this context, an alternative tool to aid decision-makers in choosing the best energy efficiency system to be implemented and to support evidence on the energy savings on street lighting was proposed. This alternative approach takes into consideration the improvement of visual performance by correcting the standard photometry system (photopic) by the mesopic system recommended within the CIE 191:2010 and the operational hours of the lighting system, which are usually disregarded by the most commonly used energy classification approaches. The research outlined in this thesis proposes to use the value function approach that allowed standardizing the proposed energy consumption indicator within a value scale ranging from 0 to 1, which also represents satisfaction degree: the less energy is consumed the more grade of satisfaction. A case study comprising 13 representative streets of the Eixample District of Barcelona was used to validate the alternative approach proposed, and results were compared with those obtained by considering three energy efficiency classifications currently used in Spain, Netherlands and Italy. For the sample, a systematic procedure was carried out to collect data regarding lighting class and geometrical characteristics of the streets, and to the main characteristics of the lighting system.The results derived from the application of the proposed method can be used straightforwardly to quantify the potential energy savings that can be obtained when using different energy classifications. Moreover, these results provide a critical analysis by pointing out the strengths and weakness of the most significant energy performance indicators along with their corresponding energy classification systems. In conclusion, this thesis constitutes a conceptual and empirical approach to the energy classification systems applied in Europe to the street lighting. Thanks to the methodological contribution and the knowledge obtained, this thesis intends to contribute to improving the energy efficiency-based classification systems, and consequently, to move forward into a sustainable and smart assessment tool.
  

Last update: 27/02/2021 06:02:46.

Research groups

• AIEM-Architecture, energy and environment
• ATEM-Structural and Materials Technology
• CAP-High Performace Computing Group
• CEBIM-Molecular Biotechnology Centre
• CELBIOTECH-Research Group: Paper Engineering
• CNDS-Computer Networks and Distributed Systems
• COSDA-UPC-COmpositional and Spatial Data Analysis
• CRAAX-Advanced Network Architectures Lab
• CREDA-Centre for Agrifood Economics and Development
• CRnE-Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering
• EC-Construction Engineering
• EPIC-Energy Processing and Integrated Circuits
• EScGD-Engineering Sciences and Global Development
• GICITED-Interdisciplinary Group on Building Scienceand and Technology
• GIIP-Project Design, Sustainability and Communication Research Group
• GREENTECH-Green Technologies Research Group
• GRHCT-Group of Research on History of Science and Technology
• GRIC-Group of Construction Research and Innovation
• HABITAR-Research Group
• IMP-Information Modelling and Processing
• InSup-Surface Interaction in Bioengineering and Materials Science Research Group
• PERC-UPC-Power Electronics Research Centre
• POLQUITEX-Polymeric Materials and Textile Chemistry
• SIMCON-First-principles approaches to condensed matter physics: quantum effects and complexity
• SUMMLab-Sustainability Measurement and Modelin Lab

Teachers

• Aguado de Cea, Antonio
• Alcaraz Sendra, Olga
• Alier Forment, Marc
• Alvarez del Castillo, Javier
• Alvarez del Castillo, M. Dolores
• Amante Garcia, Beatriz
• Bairan Garcia, Jesus Miguel
• Barcelo Garcia, Miquel
• Bosch Tous, Ricard
• Cadafalch Rabasa, Jordi
• Carrillo Navarrete, Fernando
• Consul Serracanta, Ricard
• Cremades Oliver, Lázaro V.
• Cuchi Burgos, Alberto
• Darbra Roman, Rosa Maria
• de la Fuente Antequera, Albert
• de la Hoz Casas, Jordi
• Domenech Lega, Bruno
• Escribano Rodriguez de Robles, Beatriz
• Felipe Blanch, Jose Juan de
• Ferrer Marti, Laia
• Fonseca Casas, Pau
• Fuertes Perez, Pere
• Gangolells Solanellas, Marta
• Garcia Almiñana, Jordi
• Garcia Carrillo, Agueda
• Garrido Soriano, Nuria
• Gil Roig, Jose Maria
• Haurie Ibarra, Laia
• Kallas Calot, Zein
• Lopez Alvarez, David
• Magrinya Torner, Francesc
• Maspoch Ruldua, Maria Lluïsa
• Mayorga Cardenas, Miguel Yury
• Montserrat Jorda, Josep
• Morato Farreras, Jordi
• Navarro Moldes, Leandro
• Olmedo Torre, Noelia
• Ortego Martinez, Maribel
• Pablo Ribas, Joan de
• Peña Carrera, Marta
• Perez Foguet, Agusti
• Quera Miro, Manuel
• Riba Romeva, Carles
• Roca Bosch, Elisabeth
• Roca Rosell, Antoni
• Rodriguez Cantalapiedra, Inmaculada
• Rosas Casals, Marti
• Ruiz Mansilla, Rafael
• Sabater Pruna, Assumpta
• Salan Ballesteros, M. Núria
• Segalas Coral, Jordi
• Torres Lopez, Antonio Luis
• Valderrama Angel, Cesar Alberto
• Velo Garcia, Enrique
• Vidal Lopez, Eva
• Villares Junyent, Miriam
• Xercavins Valls, Josep