Urban Area Of Madrid Research Articles

Predicting traffic intensity in the urban area of Madrid: Integrating route network topology into a machine-learning model

In addition to temporal effects, spatial effects must be considered in models of traffic intensity. Temporal effects (temporal autocorrelation) and spatial proximity shape observed traffic intensity, with repetitive patterns of peak and trough hours on weekdays and simultaneous peaks in traffic intensity picked up by traffic sensors along roadways of similar capacity. In this article we explore the ability of a neural network (NN) model to replicate both patterns, with the explicit inclusion of the route network’s characteristics. Combining information on optimal routes between different origins and destinations in the Madrid metropolitan area with the localization of traffic sensors, we estimate the route use intensities that mimic the observed traffic patterns as those that can most accurately reproduce the traffic-intensity values recorded by the sensors throughout the urban area. We conclude that this modeling approach can in fact mimic the distribution of the main origins and destinations of displacements in the metropolitan area of Madrid, reproducing the spatial and temporal patterns observed in traffic intensity. In addition, we conduct an analysis of anomalies to test an eventual application of the proposed method to determine the effects on the traffic system of critical events, such as the implementation of the Madrid Central Low Emission Zone.

Shopping centers challenging decline: Competitive strategies in three case studies from Madrid's urban area

Shopping centers are undergoing a period of crisis, leading to the decline and closure of multiple complexes. In response to this situation, they adopt competitive strategies to remain attractive, survive, and succeed. The aim of this research is to explore these strategies through three case studies in the metropolitan area of Madrid, namely Oasiz Madrid, intu Xanadu, and X-Madrid. A qualitative and mixed method approach is used, including literature review, observation, documentary analysis through newspaper articles and online media, and interviews. It is found that size, the new lifestyle center model, and experiences are the three strategies individually developed by each of the analyzed shopping centers. The common premise is that traditional retail and physical trade are being replaced by leisure and entertainment as key factors to attract visitors. From a management perspective, this study provides guidance for framing the future in shopping centers.

Traffic intensity prediction in the Madrid urban area: an NN model with network topology

Traffic intensity prediction in the Madrid urban area: an NN model with network topology

High-resolution impacts of green areas on air quality in Madrid

This study numerically investigates the influence of trees on air quality in Madrid urban area (Spain). Simulations are performed using the mesoscale model WRF/Chem (EPA, US) and the microclimate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model PALM4U (IMUK, DE) configured as LES (Large Eddy Simulation). PALM4U is running over one of the 1 km × 1 km grid cells with 5 m very high spatial resolution using three different scenarios. In the simulation domain, there is a zone (approximately 25% of the domain) of vegetation where the dominant species are broadleaf trees included in the BAU (Business as Usual) scenario. The second scenario is focused on changing the type of the tree from broad leaf at BAU scenario to needle leaf the so-called ND scenario and the third scenario called NOTREE which comprise the replacement of the trees located in the green zone. The base simulations (BAU) are compared with data from the Madrid air quality monitoring network for the evaluation of the simulation results. The effects of the trees are calculated comparing scenarios (BAU-NOTREE and BAU-ND), so a brute force methodology has been used. This paper shows that the effects of the trees and type of trees are not uniform across the urban area because there are variations in the energy fluxes and the aerodynamic effect and there are important interactions of trees with wind flow dynamics. The mitigation potential effect of trees on gaseous air pollutants concentrations is showed and also may enhance substantially air pollution in other areas.

A New Material-Oriented TES for Land Surface Temperature and SUHI Retrieval in Urban Areas: Case Study over Madrid in the Framework of the Future TRISHNA Mission

The monitoring of the Land Surface Temperature (LST) by remote sensing in urban areas is of great interest to study the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) effect. Thus, it is one of the goals of the future spaceborne mission TRISHNA, which will carry a thermal radiometer onboard with four bands at a 60-m spatial resolution, acquiring daytime and nighttime. In this study, TRISHNA-like data are simulated from Airborne Hyperspectral Scanner (AHS) data over the Madrid urban area at 4-m resolution. To retrieve the LST, the Temperature and Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm is applied with four spectral bands considering two main original approaches compared with the classical TES algorithm. First, calibration and validation datasets with a large number of artificial materials are considered (called urban-oriented database), contrary to most of the previous studies that do not use a large number of artificial material spectra during the calibration step, thus impacting the LST retrieval over these materials. This approach produces one TES algorithm with one empirical relationship, called 1MMD TES. Second, two empirical relationships are used, one for the artificial materials and the other for the natural ones. These relationships are defined thanks to two calibration datasets (artificial-surface-oriented database and natural-surface-oriented database, respectively), one containing mainly artificial materials and the other mainly natural ones. Finally, in order to use two empirical relationships, a ground cover classification map is given to the TES algorithm to separate artificial pixels from natural ones. This approach produces one material-oriented TES algorithm with two empirical relationships, called 2MMD TES. In order to perform a complete comparison of these two addenda in the TES algorithm and their impact on the LST retrieval, both AHS and TRISHNA spatial resolutions are studied, i.e., 4-m and 60-m resolutions, respectively. Relative to the calibration of the TES algorithm, we conclude that (1) the urban-oriented database is more representative of the urban areas than previous databases from the state-of-the-art, and (2) using two databases (artificial-surface-oriented and natural-surface-oriented) instead of one prevents the overestimation of the LST over natural materials and the underestimation over artificial ones. Thus, for both studied spatial resolutions (AHS and TRISHNA), we find that the 2MMD TES outperforms the 1MMD TES. This difference is especially important for artificial materials, corroborating the above conclusion. Furthermore, the comparison with ground measurements shows that, on 4-m spatial resolution images, the 2MMD TES outperforms both the 1MMD TES and the TES from the state-of-the-art used in this study. Finally, we conclude that the 2MMD TES method, with only four spectral bands, better retrieves the LST over artificial and natural materials and that the future TRISHNA sensor is suited for the monitoring of the LST over urban areas and the SUHI effect.

Update on the invasion status of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868), in Madrid, a large city in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula

New geolocated records of the invasive ant Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868) are added to the previous references for the city of Madrid and its surroundings, and the possible causes of the occurrence and permanence of this species in urban areas are discussed. The data collection corresponds to a series of samplings carried out for the last three years in green areas of the city, bibliographic searches, citizen science platforms and personal communications. To date, eleven locations in the urban area of Madrid and four points outside the city have been registered. The city of Madrid is undergoing a colonisation by the Argentine ant, although it is not widespread yet, since observations over time and space are isolated and apparently unrelated. However, this species has a great capacity to disperse and establish new colonies, mainly human-mediated through the transport of goods, plants, gardening tools, etc. Considering the numerous colonizable urban green areas in the city that can provide the necessary conditions for its expansion, the Argentine ant should not be underestimated, and immediate action is strongly recommended.

Using Shapley values to assess the impact of temporary traffic restrictions on NO2 levels in Madrid urban area

Using Shapley values to assess the impact of temporary traffic restrictions on NO2 levels in Madrid urban area

The ongoing dispersion of the Eucalyptus bronze bug (Thaumastocoris peregrinus) in Spain

Aim of study: Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006) is notable for its dispersion potential, and for its damage to a wide range of hosts of the genus Eucalyptus. The intense movement of people and cargo between continents contributes to the success of its geographical distribution on the globe and hinders the adoption of preventive measures. The celerity and precision in the identification of T. peregrinus, as well as its invasion and dispersion routes are fundamental for the implementation of measures to prevent new invasions.Area of Study: Park of Retiro in the community of Madrid, Spain, where T. peregrinus is present.Material and methods: We analyzed a fragment of COI mtDNA gene in T. peregrinus specimens, using samples collected at a public park in Madrid urban area, to study the possible pathways of incursion of this insect in Spain. The goal was achieved using molecular tools, with PCR amplification of partial mtDNA COI and sequencing the fragment, which is used as a barcode of life for identification at species level. Species identity was confirmed using the database in GenBank.Results: The results confirms that the specimens found in Madrid are T. peregrinus, and all are from the same maternal lineage.Research highlights: We present the first molecular information of T. peregrinus population present in Spain, and suggest and discuss possible routes of incursion of this pest.Keywords: Invasive pest;DNA Barcoding;Invasion Routes; Forest Entomology.

ML versus IV estimates of spatial SUR models: evidence from the case of Airbnb in Madrid urban area

In recent decades we have seen an increased interest in the use of seemingly unrelated regressions models (SUR) in a spatial context, with compelling case studies in different fields. This upsurge has favoured the development of new and more efficient inference techniques. At present, the user has a basic toolkit to deal with this kind of model, that is, however, in need of improvement. This paper focuses on the question of estimating, quickly and accurately, spatial SUR models. The most popular procedure is maximum likelihood (ML) which guarantees precision at the cost of a high computational burden. This is especially true in cases of large sample size and strong spatial structure. We explore simpler estimation algorithms such as instrumental variables (IV), which expedites calculation at the cost of a certain loss in quality of the estimates. We focus on the importance of sample size and the trade-off between accuracy and speed. To that end, we perform a comprehensive simulation experiment in which we compare ML and IV algorithms, looking for their strengths and weaknesses. The paper includes two applications to the case of Airbnb in the urban area of Madrid. First, we estimate a spatial SUR hedonic model of accommodation prices, using micro-data for three different cross sections a la Anselin, that is, considering temporal correlation plus spatial structure. Then, the data are aggregated by neighbourhoods. We specify a spatial SUR model with two equations (apartments and rooms) also using three cross sections. In both cases, the models are estimated by ML and IV using the spsur R package (Angulo et al. in spSUR: spatial seemingly unrelated regression models. R Package version 1.0.0.3, 2019), with the aim of illustrating its capabilities.

The impact of geographical factors on churn prediction: an application to an insurance company in Madrid's urban area

ABSTRACTGeography has previously been noted as a decisive factor in business literature. This paper provides evidence of the significant role geography plays in customer lapse behaviour in an urban environment. This novel approach is based on the idea that the customers who cancel all policies and leave the company are not randomly distributed; rather, a mimetic performance of close individuals is noted. The physical proximity of the customer to the geographical focus (strategical centre, as insurance offices) and the interaction with nearby customer are spatial factors that increase (or decrease) the probability of churning. An empirical analysis using more than 7000 spatially georeferenced offline customers of a Spanish insurance company in the urban area of Madrid (Spain) demonstrated that the customer's proximity to offices of such insurance company under study decreases the probability of churning, whereas high lapse risk was detected in customers in the surroundings of the company's competitor branches. In addition, we identified spatial autocorrelation in churn probability, thus demonstrating that the probability of churn of a customer increases if nearby customers churn.

Integrating geotechnical and SAR data for the monitoring of underground works in the Madrid urban area: Application of the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry technique

The Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) is a powerful deformation control technique for civil engineering applications. However, the performance definition and limitations of the technique in tunneling works are far from being standardized. This work presents a thorough validation effort of the applicability of the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) technique to the Madrid’s M-30 tunneling works. A set of 26 Envisat images, covering from August 2003 to April 2008, were processed with two PSI techniques and the results were validated with on-ground measurements from leveling benchmarks and strips. The comparison of the deformations of more than 1500 control points has led to a global deformation difference of 2.6 mm RMS and 3.5 mm RMS with a coverage of the area of interest with persistent scatterers of 65% and 34% for the two PSI algorithms used. The limitations of the PSI technique when using SAR missions with low revisit time were shown. PSI has proven the potential to complement on ground monitoring techniques in tunneling works as soon as the limitations are overcome.

Evolution of urban monitoring with radar interferometry in Madrid City: performance of ERS-1/ERS-2, ENVISAT, COSMO-SkyMed, and Sentinel-1 products

ABSTRACTDuring the last decades, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image exploitation has matured with the launch of different satellite missions and the development of different techniques, which allow exploiting the capabilities of the radar images. Among these techniques, persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) has proven to be a powerful tool to derive terrain deformations over urban areas. It is based on the use of a large number of images over wide areas in order to obtain terrain displacements time series. The imagery from the different SAR missions has led to an archive with data that covers up to 30 years in the past. Moreover, different methods and algorithms have been proposed in order to perform this complex task. In this line, this work aims at identifying if data from different missions and processed by different techniques can be combined in order to study the evolution of urban monitoring. Three different PSI techniques are used in order to process data from four SAR missions: European Remote Sensing (ERS)-1/2, Environmental Satellite, COSMO-SkyMed, and the recent Sentinel-1 A/B. The rapidly evolving urban area of Madrid, where numerous undergrounding works have been carried out in the last decade, has been chosen as the testing environment. The density of persistent scatterers, the deformation accuracy validated with GPS displacements and deformation trends are used as the key performance items for the assessment.

Indoor Dust Metal Loadings: A Human Health Risk Assessment

In order to characterize the influence of environmental factors in dust metal loadings inside homes in an urban environment and to evaluate the associated potential health risks, samples of settled indoor dust from 10 apartments in the urban area of Madrid (Spain) were collected with wet wipes. Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Mn loads were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) after a HNO3 + H2O2 digestion. The environmental factors evaluated were load distribution between rooms, number of residents, presence of smokers, traffic intensity, apartment elevation, and frequency of house cleaning. Tukey’s range test and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that metal dust loadings present two prevailing origins: (1) They present higher loadings in the entry hall, which suggest that dust is tracked indoors adhered to footwear and clothing and (2) they arise from tobacco smoking. Significant correlations were also observed between metal loadings and traffic intensity (Cr), number of residents (Cr, Pb, and Cu), number of days between cleaning (Ni), and flat height (Mn). A human health risk assessment considering a mechanistic hand-to-mouth model for dust ingestion and dermal absorption revealed that urban children are not expected to develop adverse health effects from exposure to trace elements in household dust. The contribution of this exposure scenario to the overall received dose should be included when assessing the background exposure of children to trace elements. A more precise assessment should attempt to reduce the significant uncertainty of the risk model output associated with estimates of exposure variables, deposition rates, and metal bioaccessibility.

Capacidad de detección de patología psiquiátrica por el médico de familia

ObjectiveTo determine the ability of family physicians to detect psychiatric disorders, comparing the presence of psychiatric disorders detected using validated tests and referrals by family physicians. DesignCross-sectional, two-phase study. LocationPrimary healthcare centres in an urban area of Madrid. ParticipantsPatients between 18 and 65years attending primary healthcare centres for non-administrative purposes. Main measurementsTo detect psychiatric disorders in the waiting room, an interview was performed using GHQ-28 and MULTICAGE CAD-4 in the screening phase (considered positive: score of 6 or higher on the GHQ-28 or a score 2 or higher on MULTICAGE CAD-4). Patients with a positive score and 20% with negative were recruited for the second phase (case identification) using MINI interview. During family physician consultation, the patient gave his doctor a card with an identification number to record the presence of psychiatric illness in his/her opinion and whether there was treatment with psychotropic drugs. ResultsA total of 628 subjects participated. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders corrected by two phase methodology was 31.7% (95%CI: 27.9 to 35.5). Of the 185 patients with a psychiatric disorder detected, 44.2% (95%CI: 36.7 to 51.7) were identified as patients with psychiatric disorders by their family physician. Disorders best detected were: hypomania, dysthymic disorder, depressive episode with melancholic symptoms, and panic disorder. ConclusionsA significant percentage of patients with possible psychiatric disorders detected with validated test have not been identified by their family physician.

Evaluación de la adherencia al tratamiento con calcio y vitamina D en ancianos de una zona básica de salud

Background and objectiveThe vitaminD deficiency is high in the elderly population. Calcium and vitaminD supplements is a frequently used measure in individuals at risk for falls and/or fractures. However, this practice has achieved a low level of compliance. The aim is to assess the adherence to treatment with calcium and vitaminD in elders with hypovitaminosisD in an urban area of Madrid. Patients and methodsIntervention study performed on 438 individuals ≥65years from the ‘Peñagrande Cohort’ with hypovitaminosisD that were treated with calcium and vitaminD. Adherence at 3 and 12months was assessed using the Morisky-Green and counting of prescriptions written. ResultsA total of 413 of the 438 individuals with hypovitaminosisD were analysed (18 patients were not treated because of contraindications, and 7 were considered lost). At 3 and 12months, 63.9% and 47.2%, respectively, were adherents. After a brief educational intervention, 19.3% of individuals without adherence at 3 months became good compliers when measured at one year. Comorbidity was associated with lower rates of adherence to treatment after one year (46.3% versus 35.2%, P=.027). The main cause of non-adherence to calcium was digestive intolerance, and due to oversights for vitaminD. Concordance between adherence assessed by the Morisky test and counting of prescriptions written was high (Kappa index=69.8%). ConclusionsNon-adherence to chronic treatment with calcium and vitaminD is a relevant problem in elderly. It is important to assess adherence and implement health education strategies in clinical practice.

Psychiatric morbidity and predisposing factors in a primary care population in Madrid.

The aim of this article is to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in patients in primary care centers in an urban area of Madrid and to study possible associated risk factors. Cross-sectional month prevalence was evaluated in two phases in an urban area of Madrid. The sample for the first phase included 635 individuals (aged 18-65 years), and the second phase included 320 individuals. Socio-demographic variables (age, sex, educational level, living conditions and country of origin) and clinical variables (psychiatric diagnosis and level of psychosocial stress) were studied. The instruments used for screening were the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-28 item questionnaire and the MULTICAGE-CAD 4test. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) was used in the second phase (in 'possible cases' and 20% of the 'non-cases'). Prevalence was calculated using weighted logistic regression with the observed sampling fractions of the patients in study phase 2 as sample weights. The month prevalence of mental disorders was 31.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) = [27.6, 35.2]). Anxiety disorders were the most frequent diagnoses with a prevalence of 22.4% (95% CI = [17.8, 27.1]), followed by depressive disorders (16.6%; 95% CI = [12.9, 20.3]), substance abuse or dependence disorders (5.6%; 95% CI = [3.2, 6.9]) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 4.4%; 95% CI = [2.0, 2.8]). Factors associated with mental disorders were the presence of stressful life events in the previous 12 months, Latin American region of origin, being woman aged 25 and 34 years and having a low education level.

Road Dust Emission Sources and Assessment of Street Washing Effect

Although previous studies report on the effect of street washing on ambient particulate matter levels, there is a lack of studies investigating the results of street washing on the emission strength of road dust. A sampling campaign was conducted in Madrid urban area during July 2009 where road dust samples were collected in two sites, namely Reference site (where the road surface was not washed) and Pelayo site (where street washing was performed daily during night). Following the chemical characterization of the road dust particles the emission sources were resolved by means of Positive Matrix Factorization, PMF (Multilinear Engine scripting) and the mass contribution of each source was calculated for the two sites. Mineral dust, brake wear, tire wear, carbonaceous emissions and construction dust were the main sources of road dust with mineral and construction dust being the major contributors to inhalable road dust load. To evaluate the effectiveness of street washing on the emission sources, the sources mass contributions between the two sites were compared. Although brake wear and tire wear had lower concentrations at the site where street washing was performed, these mass differences were not statistically significant and the temporal variation did not show the expected build-up after dust removal. It was concluded that the washing activities resulted merely in a road dust moistening, without effective removal and that mobilization of particles took place in a few hours between washing and sampling. The results also indicated that it is worth paying attention to the dust dispersed from the construction sites as they affect the emission strength in nearby streets.

Distribución espacial de las clases altas en la región metropolitana de Madrid 2001-2011

La articulación espacial de elites y clases altas influye en el desarrollo urbano, puede condicionar la viabilidad de los servicios municipales y desencadenar polémicos procesos de gentrificación. Estos patrones de distribución territorial de las clases altas se estudian para la región metropolitana de Madrid mediante tres perspectivas: del análisis multivariable y cartográfico; de la intensidad de la segregación; y de la articulación interna que genera la movilidad obligada entre municipios. Los resultados indican que la CAM presenta cinco grandes conglomerados de municipios especializados socioespacialmente: tres de clase alta y medio-alta situados al norte y oeste de la comunidad, uno de carácter mixto al este (el subsistema entorno a Alcalá de Henares) y uno de clases bajas en el sur. Los datos a nivel de secciones censales muestran una fuerte segregación y un patrón característico de la CAM: centros urbanos con alta presencia.

Effectiveness of PRECEDE model for health education on changes and level of control of HbA1c, blood pressure, lipids, and body mass index in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BackgroundIndividual health education is considered to be essential in the overall care of patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2), although there is some uncertainty regarding its metabolic control benefits. There have been very few randomized studies on the effects of individual education on normal care in DM2 patients with a control group, and none of these have assessed the long-term results. Therefore, this study aims to use this design to assess the effectiveness of the PRECEDE (Predisposing, Reinforcing, Enabling, Causes in Educational Diagnosis, and Evaluation) education model in the metabolic control and the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsAn open community effectiveness study was carried out in 8 urban community health centers in the North-East Madrid Urban Area (Spain). Six hundred patients with DM2 were randomized in two groups: PRECEDE or conventional model for health promotion education. The main outcome measures were glycated hemoglobin A1c, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, lipids and control criteria during the 2-year follow-up period.ResultsGlycated hemoglobin A1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels decreased significantly in the PRECEDE group (multivariate analysis of covariance, with baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c, SBP, and variables showing statistically significant differences between groups at baseline visits). The decrease levels in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides and LDL cholesterol were nonsignificant. PRECEDE increased compliance in all control criteria, except for LDL cholesterol. BMI did not change during the study in either of the two models analyzed.ConclusionsPRECEDE health education model is a useful method in the overall treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes, which contributes to decrease glycated hemoglobin A1c and SBP levels and increase the compliance in all the control criteria, except for LDL cholesterol.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov NCT01316367

Prediction of hourly O 3 concentrations using support vector regression algorithms

In this paper we present an application of the Support Vector Regression algorithm (SVMr) to the prediction of hourly ozone values in Madrid urban area. In order to improve the training capacity of SVMrs, we have used a recently proposed approach, based on reductions of the SVMr hyper-parameters search space. Using the modified SVMr, we study different influences which may modify the ozone prediction, such as previous ozone measurements in a given station, measurements in neighbors stations, and the influence of meteorologic variables. We use statistical tests to verify the significance of incorporating different variables into the SVMr. A comparison with the results obtained using a neural network (multi-layer perceptron) is also carried out. This study has been carried out in 5 different stations of the air pollution monitoring network of Madrid, so the conclusions raised are backed by real data. The final result of the work is a robust and powerful software for tropospheric ozone prediction in Madrid. Also, the prediction tool based on SVMr is flexible enough to incorporate any other prediction variable, such as city models, or traffic patters, which may improve the prediction obtained with the SVMr.