Barcelona Research Articles

Socioeconomic inequalities in the incidence of COVID-19 in Barcelona students

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequalities in schools regarding the COVID-19 incidence during different epidemic waves among Barcelona students, differentiating by sex and educational stage. Study designCross-sectional ecological study. MethodsWe included in the study all students from childhood to secondary education in Barcelona city. The unit of analysis was the schools. The study covered the epidemic waves coinciding with the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school courses. The cumulative incidence (CI) per school and wave was calculated. Bivariate and multivariate analyses using Poisson regression were conducted to estimate relative risks. The population attributable risk, by sex and educational stage, was calculated as a measure of impact. ResultsIn the second wave, higher CI in students was associated with greater school socioeconomic deprivation in all groups. In the younger girls, 24.5 % (5.2–41.4) of the CI was attributed to school socioeconomic vulnerability, increasing to 33.1 % (15.1–47.2) in older girls. During the sixth wave, the impact was lower in the most vulnerable schools in all strata. ConclusionsSocioeconomic factors significantly impacted the incidence of COVID-19 in schools, reflecting social inequalities in Barcelona. There was an inversion of the pattern of inequalities in the sixth wave compared to the previous ones. The results emphasize the need for urgent action and targeted resources to address health inequalities in education and understand the impact of epidemic dynamics on socioeconomic context.

Effectiveness of official food safety control in Barcelona city: Digital and traditional inspections

Analysing the effects of using a digital environment in official food safety control and understanding its benefits is crucial for competent authorities. The aim of this paper was to assess the effectiveness of official control carried out by the Barcelona Public Health Agency between 2015 and 2022 in Barcelona city (Spain) at retail outlets following the transition from a traditional to a digital inspection. Effectiveness is defined as the ability to detect non-compliance during inspections. This study assessed 2,188 inspection reports of risk-based planned inspections from 2015 to 2019 (traditional inspection) and 2022 (digital inspection) to compare the detection of non-compliances. The results show a significant increase in the detection of non-compliance when using the digital inspection. Compared to all inspection areas studied, the highest prevalence difference in the detection of non-compliance using a digital environment was found for the areas of food processing and handling procedures (34.0%) and own controls (16.7%). On the other hand, the areas of food labelling and general cleanliness of premises and equipment showed the lowest difference, 11.1% and 7.9%, respectively. The present case study shows that the use of a digital environment during inspections positively supports the control officers in structuring the compliance judgement and being more sensible to detect non-compliance. This fact results in a greater effectiveness of food control.

Rewinding the invasion history of monk parakeets in Barcelona city: 1976-2022

Rewinding the invasion history of monk parakeets in Barcelona city: 1976-2022

Urban routines, spatial occupancy, and their effects on outdoor crime in Barcelona

Based on mobile phone data from the city of Barcelona, Spain, generalized linear models are used to analyse the relationship between urban mobilities and the spatial and temporal patterning of robbery and theft. The hypothesis was made that mobility fluxes may undermine social control mechanisms by altering the socio-demographic composition of urban populations, therefore increasing the risk of crime victimization. The analysis brought together indicators of land use and a measure of the ambient population disaggregated by different profiles of public space users (by sex, age, and place of residence). The results indicate that robbery and theft tend to cluster around locations that attract a higher proportion of non-residents (i.e. national and international visitors). Non-local visitors, who visit the city occasionally or once in a lifetime, lack a comprehensive knowledge of the environment which would help them to navigate safely through the urban space. Therefore, their presence not only unsettles the social routines of public spaces in Barcelona but also reflects negatively in terms of crime occurrence. This finding raises questions about how to accommodate growing mobilities in our cities without detriment to incumbent residents and their safety, which seems to be critical in post-COVID-19 urban planning.

Predictive Analyses of Traffic Level in the City of Barcelona: From ARIMA to eXtreme Gradient Boosting

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of urban mobility, a pivotal aspect for policymakers, businesses, and communities alike. By deciphering patterns of movement within a city, stakeholders can craft targeted interventions to mitigate traffic congestion peaks, optimizing both resource allocation and individual travel routes. Focused on Barcelona, Spain, this paper draws on data sourced from the city council’s open data service. Through a blend of exploratory analysis, visualization techniques, and modeling methodologies—including time series analysis and the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm—the research endeavors to forecast traffic conditions. Additionally, a study of variable importance is carried out, and Shapley Additive Explanations are applied to enhance the interpretability of model outputs. Findings underscore the limitations of traditional forecasting methods in capturing the nuanced spatial and temporal dependencies present in traffic flows, particularly over medium- to long-term horizons. However, the XGBoost model demonstrates robust performance, with the area under ROC curves consistently exceeding 80%, indicating its efficacy in handling non-linear traffic data variables.

Conservation of Concrete of Cultural Relevance in Friezes and Murals by Picasso and Nesjar in Barcelona: Preliminary Studies

ABSTRACT This paper describes the methodology used for the study and diagnosis of the sgraffitos in concrete by Pablo Picasso and Karl Nesjar. In 1958, architect Xavier Busquets won a competition to construct the new headquarters of the Architects’ Association of Catalonia in Barcelona (Spain), right in the heart of the city of Barcelona. The project included five elements of white concrete with sgraffitos created by sandblasting. These included three friezes as a base of the façade and an envelope for the function room, and two murals inside the building as a covering of the “foyer”. Recently, it was determined that a diagnostic study of the state of conservation of these elements was needed as a step prior to their restoration. Based on studies undertaken from various disciplinary perspectives using the latest technologies, a methodological proposal has been defined for the full study and future intervention in these architectural elements, which are also works of art. The methodology could serve to address new challenges related to diagnosis and intervention in heritage elements made from concrete. Consequently, it will be increasingly important to establish criteria and procedures that enable damage or deterioration to be identified to determine future interventions that respect the material and the work of art.

Modeling air quality at urban scale in the city of Barcelona: A matter of green resolution

Improvement of the air quality in highly polluted cities is a challenge for today’s society. Many of the strategies that have been proposed for this purpose promote the creation of green infrastructures. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is used to analyze the behavior of the most common pollutants and how they are dispersed as a result of different meteorological conditions. To also consider the impact of including green infrastructures on urban morphology, the BEP/BEM (Building Effect Parameterization/Building Energy Model) multi-layer urban scheme is also included in the system. Using the city of Barcelona as a case study, this paper confirms that the modeling methodology used up to now needs to be reviewed for the design of green cities. Certain limitations of the WRF-Chem+BEP/BEM coupled model when applied in urban resolution are discussed, as well as the reasons for such limitations, being the main contribution of this paper to show that an alternative paradigm such as Machine Learning techniques should be considered to address this challenge.

Numerical investigation of different cooling technologies during heatwaves in Catalan Mediterranean buildings

The Mediterranean area is particularly affected by heatwaves, which are extremely critical for health and productivity of people inside the dwellings as well as for energy consumptions related to cooling demand. This study numerically investigated the resilience of different cooling technologies in the most common construction in Catalan building stock during present and future climatic conditions, heatwaves. The studied technologies include green roof, blinds, advanced windows, air conditioning and their combinations. Meteorological data of heatwaves for Barcelona city have been created for three time periods, Present, Mid Future and Long Future. They have been modelled using dynamical downscaled Regional Climate Models, climate projections based on IPCC scenarios. Resilience was assessed using indicators that consider the linear correlation between the grade of overheating inside a dwelling and the severity of outdoor conditions. Thermal comfort and survivability have been also investigated, evaluating sensations of building’s occupants related to indoor air temperature and relative humidity. The original building presented acceptable levels of resilience with a resilience index α below 1, while thermal comfort conditions resulted poor, especially during heatwaves, being for more than 60% of the time in Extreme Caution conditions or worst. The application of the different cooling technologies significantly helped in the improvement of resilience and survivability inside the dwelling. However, their performances reduced in the future scenarios, reaching more than 90% of the time under Extreme Caution conditions or worst. Air conditioning resulted the best solution for avoiding overheating, especially in heatwaves constraining it to a maximum of 1.8°C. Combinations of several passive measures resulted necessary for maintaining suitable conditions.

LC-MS analysis of polar and highly polar organic pollutants in Barcelona urban groundwater using orthogonal LC separation modes.

Groundwater samples may contain thousands of organic pollutants from infiltration of surface water, sewer leakages, and to a minor extent from public water supply network losses. Polar (0 < log D < - 2.0) and very polar substances (log D < - 2.0) have been largely beyond the scope of applied analytical methodologies in environmental monitoring because of challenges related to their extraction from the sample and subsequent chromatographic separation. In this study, we developed an analytical workflow for 96 pollutants covering a broad polarity range, including pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and artificial sweeteners, potentially seeping through the soil in urban areas. The Besos aquifer located at the Northern-eastern edge of the city of Barcelona was chosen as a study area due to the deterioration of the quality of the aquifers over the past years and the proven presence of numerous pollutants. The methodology consisted of vacuum-assisted evaporation (VAE) followed by chromatographic separation of the sample on two columns with orthogonal retention mechanisms, namely, an HSS T3 column (modified C18) and a BEH amide column (HILIC). The analytes were detected by high-resolution mass spectrometry on a Q Exactive Orbitrap system in data-independent acquisition mode. Taking into consideration the retention as well as the peak shape, a Quality Score (QS) was assigned for each analyte to evaluate the quality of each chromatographic peak of each compound. While 67 compounds, including 19 polar and 48 moderately polar, were satisfactorily retained on an HSS T3, 29 compounds, including 14 highly polar, 14 polar, and one moderately polar, were analyzed in the BEH amide column. The optimized methodology was applied for the analysis of 89 out of 96 validated contaminants with satisfactory recoveries in samples collected from seven wells, providing low LODs (0.02 to 0.45ng L-1) and LOQs (0.06 to 1.34ng L-1). A number of highly polar and polar compounds not previously reported to occur in GW, including artificial sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals, were detected at concentrations as high as few g L-1.

Managing the co-creation of accessible and inclusive family recreation retail encounters: A critical incident analysis

Entertainment and recreation are pull factors for retail shopping malls and supercentres. For families in particular, recreation is a relevant part of their retail visits. However, families with children with disabilities (FCwD) continue to face access challenges in retail service environments. In this paper, we empirically explore how a value co-creation process undertaken with FCwD can enhance their perception of an accessible and inclusive family recreation retail visit. Our findings are based on a collaborative research project conducted in 2019 with a major shopping mall in the city of Barcelona, Spain. The methodology consisted of focus groups with stakeholders, ethnographic techniques and interviews with 20 FCwD using a constant comparative technique. The research design included two studies: Study 1, on the design of accessible and inclusive recreation retail encounters for FCwD, and Study 2, on the design of accessible and inclusive recreation retail encounters with FCwD. Using critical incident techniques (CIT), we found that the families perceived the recreation retail encounters in Study 2 to be more inclusive and accessible. From this research, we provide retail managers with recommendations for the successful design of inclusive family recreation retail opportunities in shopping malls.

Association between frailty and inappropriate prescribing in elderly patients admitted to an Acute Care of the Elderly Unit.

The aim of this study is to analyze the association between the degree of frailty and inappropriate prescribing patterns at admission to an Acute Care of the Elderly Unit (ACE Unit). Prospective observational study conducted in the ACE Unit of an acute hospital in Barcelona city between June and August 2021. Epidemiological and demographic data were collected during hospitalization. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on admitted patients. We recorded frailty (FRAIL scale), extreme polypharmacy (10 or more drugs), central nervous system potentially inappropriate medications-PIMs (STOPP-CNS or group D), cardiovascular potential prescribing omissions-PPOs (START-CV or group A), and anticholinergic burden using the drug burden index (DBI). Ninety-three patients were included, of whom 48 (51.6%) were male, with a mean age of 82.83 (SD 7.53) years. The main diagnosis upon admission was heart failure in 34 patients (36.6%). Frail patients were older, with more dependence of activities of daily living and more comorbidity than non-frail patients. Additionally, frail patients demonstrated more omissions according to the START-A criteria. No statistically significant differences were observed in term of extreme polypharmacy, PIMs, or anticholinergic burden. In the current study we found an association between frailty and inappropriate prescribing, specifically with regard to omissions using the START criteria for the cardiovascular system (group A). Notably, frail patients exhibited more omissions compared to their non-frail counterparts, and this difference was statistically significant.

The aftermath of failure. Paris, 1992–2012: the urban economy of a host Olympic City

ABSTRACT This paper considers the urban consequences of failing to host Olympic Games. Using the example of Paris and its unsuccessful bids to hosts the Olympic Games of 1992, 2008 and 2012, the paper analyses the pre- and post-bid status of key projected ‘Olympic’ sites within the context of urban plans and aspirations of the city of Paris. The French capital attracts special attention because of the rapid succession of submissions that proved to be outbid by those presented to the IOC by the cities of Barcelona (1992), Beijing (2008) and London (2012). The paper will briefly outline the reasons for failing to attract the Games but will devote most of its space for an analysis of the siting of the planned Olympic Villages, which often form the most lasting of legacies of Olympic Games in host cities.

Spatial Bayesian distributed lag non-linear models (SB-DLNM) for small-area exposure-lag-response epidemiological modelling.

Distributed lag non-linear models (DLNMs) are the reference framework for modelling lagged non-linear associations. They are usually used in large-scale multi-location studies. Attempts to study these associations in small areas either did not include the lagged non-linear effects, did not allow for geographically-varying risks or downscaled risks from larger spatial units through socioeconomic and physical meta-predictors when the estimation of the risks was not feasible due to low statistical power. Here we proposed spatial Bayesian DLNMs (SB-DLNMs) as a new framework for the estimation of reliable small-area lagged non-linear associations, and demonstrated the methodology for the case study of the temperature-mortality relationship in the 73 neighbourhoods of the city of Barcelona. We generalized location-independent DLNMs to the Bayesian framework (B-DLNMs), and extended them to SB-DLNMs by incorporating spatial models in a single-stage approach that accounts for the spatial dependence between risks. The results of the case study highlighted the benefits of incorporating the spatial component for small-area analysis. Estimates obtained from independent B-DLNMs were unstable and unreliable, particularly in neighbourhoods with very low numbers of deaths. SB-DLNMs addressed these instabilities by incorporating spatial dependencies, resulting in more plausible and coherent estimates and revealing hidden spatial patterns. In addition, the Bayesian framework enriches the range of estimates and tests that can be used in both large- and small-area studies. SB-DLNMs account for spatial structures in the risk associations across small areas. By modelling spatial differences, SB-DLNMs facilitate the direct estimation of non-linear exposure-response lagged associations at the small-area level, even in areas with as few as 19 deaths. The manuscript includes an illustrative code to reproduce the results, and to facilitate the implementation of other case studies by other researchers.

Time poverty, health and health-related behaviours in a Southern European city: a gender issue

BackgroundDespite its growing interest, time poverty is a neglected issue in public health analysis and policies. The objectives of this study were: (1) to analyse gender differences in paid, unpaid...

PRIORITIES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CITY BLOCK DEVELOPMENT

The study aims to find ways to improve the efficiency of urban areas by introducing the planning structure of urban residential areas – the block type of development, taking into account the basic principles of its formation. The authors carry out an analysis of scientific and theoretical materials on etymology and historical experience of the formation of city block buildings in the context of typology of buildings according to planning and spatial characteristics with examples of the planning organisation of the cities of New York, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Barcelona. We consider the formation of residential blocks through simple geometric shapes, such as a rectangle or a square, and concluded that using such shapes emphasises the uniformity of planning. The main principles and factors of developing city blocks are defined to identify the priorities and shortcomings of this type of building. We establish that city block development contributes to comfortable public spaces and strengthens social ties between residents. The study proves the advantages of transport accessibility in block development by placing essential infrastructure facilities within walking and cycling distance. The presence of closed yards, safety, and the absence of traffic jams form a high level of amenity and social connections; these principles contribute to creating an efficient, functional, and aesthetic urban area. City block development is a promising approach for the development of modern cities, providing residents with comfort and a quality standard of urban life. The article also analyses the main disadvantages of using block buildings, one of which is an increase in the density of buildings, which affects the distribution of sunlight and the shading of space. Despite its shortcomings, city block development remains attractive for developing high-quality and sustainable urban environments. The proposal to use city block development in the post-war reconstruction of residential areas and the use of underground space for shelter is relevant and promising for sustainable urban development in Ukraine. Keywords: city block development, residential environment, residential complex, planning methods, planning structure.

Navigating Educational and Urban Landscapes: Middle-Class School Choice Strategies in Local Education Markets

ABSTRACT The middle-classes use school choice as a strategy of class reproduction and comparative advantage. In this article, we show how middle-class parental school choice strategies are spatially dependent and how schooling preferences and final choices are bounded by the social and educational characteristics of the local education market of their neighborhood of residence in the city of Barcelona. Our findings reveal interesting differences relating to the search process and final decisions, which are dependent on parental preferences and risk perception in the different local education markets. Reflections on some policy implications of the analysis are considered in the conclusions.

Intercultural relations and trust in schools: perceptions of immigrant families in the city of Barcelona

ABSTRACT Previous research in Spain has shown that immigrant families’ views regarding the education offered to their children are on the whole positive. This article adds to the current literature by exploring how immigrant families’ perceptions about their relationships with the school staff and other families affect their trust in schools. The article looks at immigrant families’ predominant perception of their relations with schools and other families, whether they perceive discrimination or positive contact, and how this affects their trust in the schools. The study is based on qualitative interviews as well as on participant observation with immigrant parents from differing origins in four neighbourhoods in Barcelona. The results show that the trust that immigrant parents place in schools varies according to three main perceptions of intercultural relations: (i) blatant and subtle discrimination, (ii) intercultural tension with the school, and (iii) intercultural tension with other immigrant parents.

Teen sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and health in an urban setting

In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from the Survey of Risk Factors in a Secondary School Students (FRESC) representative survey among secondary school students aged 13 to 19 in the city of Barcelona. At all school grades, sexual harassment was more commonly reported by girls than by boys (17% of girls vs 4.2% of boys). The factors associated with sexual harassment were higher school grade, having a mental health disorder, cannabis abuse, and discrimination because of sexual orientation in girls and discrimination because of sexual orientation in boys. These findings highlight the potentially strong impact of sexual harassment on adolescents’ lives and underscore the importance of preventing this form of violence.

Sanctuary city success? How attitudes towards irregular migrants and urban policy differ in Barcelona

In 2012, Barcelona City Council introduced a new city agency that would provide housing and resources for migrants and refugees living within their city—irregular migrants. This esteemed sanctuary city policy further integrated irregular migrants into city life; however, how did natives respond to this effort? Through a difference in differences methodological approach and public opinion survey data from 2008 to 2017, I provide evidence of more positive native attitudes towards irregular migrants and immigration policy. I speculate that the increase in positive perceptions occur due to contact theory. While a single-case study, these findings provide hope for how city governments feeling the burden of the ongoing refugee crisis can adequately provide support for their irregular migrant populations without fear of backlash from their citizens.

The unfinished cycling city: embedding age-inclusion in urban cycling futures

ABSTRACT In places with low overall cycling levels, the uptake by people of older ages tends to be especially marginal. This study observes that current cycling promotion in low-cycling cities does not change this tendency and argues that the ageing of urban populations increasingly requires action to address this gap. In response, it aims to understand the cycling trajectories of older adults who cycle or aim to take up cycling. The analysis focuses on their long-term mobility biographies, reporting from qualitative and mobile research methods applied in the city of Barcelona. This paper makes insightful how later life cycling is conditioned by interactions with the urban and social environment, but also how it carries essential qualities for positive ageing. The findings indicate that cycling currently relies on intrinsic mobile capacities that make it exclusive, less achievable as everyday transport mode, and less likely to endure over the lifecourse. The paper concludes that aspiring cycling cities should pay special attention to populations with less cycling representation and makes the case to advance age-friendliness in research and urban policies that wish to build-in and maintain cycling mobility across a wider demographic.