Urban Areas In Spain Research Articles

Marcadores del discurso de cita directa en corpus españoles del PRESEEA: estratificación social y distribución diatópica

The aim of this paper is to carry out a study on the social behavior and diatopic distribution of direct quotation markers considering data from PRESEEA-Spain oral corpus. On the one hand, from a sociolinguistic perspective, we will focus on the relation of the use of these discursive units with criteria such as sex, age, and educational level; and, on the other hand, we will consider their productivity in the samples of each city studied. As general results, the presence of different discourse markers (pues, o sea, en plan, etc.) that introduce direct quotation has been observed, a function linked to the initial position they occupy in the utterance. Furthermore, the geolectal difference is evidenced not only in quotation markers that are of exclusive use in some urban areas of Spain, but also in the stratification patterns according to social criteria.

Photographs, Visual Memes, and Viral Videos: Visual Phatic News Sharing on WhatsApp during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain, Italy, and The Netherlands

Sharing and discussing visual images in WhatsApp groups functions as a form of phatic news sharing to achieve a sense of togetherness and sociability. We explore how visual media content shared in personal WhatsApp interactions during the first strict lockdown months of the COVID-19 pandemic functions as phatic news. Our study addresses a gap in journalism studies in researching news-related and visual content from user perspectives. Our article provides insights into how the “semi-private” space of WhatsApp offers people a digital communication space to deal with becoming a news subject during the crisis: people appropriate news by shaping it into different visual forms which can be attractively shared on WhatsApp. We focus on working adults (aged 25–49) in urban areas in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. Visual phatic news sharing on WhatsApp combines public and private aspects, especially how people address issues of public concern through their private WhatsApp communication. Our conclusions reveal how WhatsApp functions as a sense-making practice and vehicle for ontological security in dealing with the fearful and unsettling crisis situation. The visual images shared are a hybrid form of communication, blurring boundaries between private life and public concerns presented on the news.

A Novel Dependoparvovirus Identified in Cloacal Swabs of Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) from Urban Areas of Spain.

The introduction of invasive birds into new ecosystems frequently has negative consequences for the resident populations. Accordingly, the increasing population of monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Europe may pose a threat because we have little knowledge of the viruses they can transmit to native naïve species. In this study, we describe a new dependoparvovirus detected by metagenomic analysis of cloacal samples from 28 apparently healthy individuals captured in urban areas of Madrid, Spain. The genomic characterization revealed that the genome encoded the NS and VP proteins typical of parvoviruses and was flanked by inverted terminal repeats. No recombination signal was detected. The phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to a parvovirus isolated in a wild psittacid in China. Both viruses share 80% Rep protein sequence identity and only 64% with other dependoparvoviruses identified in Passeriformes, Anseriformes, and Piciformes and are included in a highly supported clade, which could be considered a new species. The prevalence was very low, and none of the additional 73 individuals tested positive by PCR. These results highlight the importance of exploring the viral genome in invasive species to prevent the emergence of novel viral pathogenic species.

Automatic 3D Building Reconstruction from OpenStreetMap and LiDAR Using Convolutional Neural Networks

This paper presents the implementation of an automatic method for the reconstruction of 3D building maps. The core innovation of the proposed method is the supplementation of OpenStreetMap data with LiDAR data to reconstruct 3D urban environments automatically. The only input of the method is the area that needs to be reconstructed, defined by the enclosing points in terms of the latitude and longitude. First, area data are requested in OpenStreetMap format. However, there are certain buildings and geometries that are not fully received in OpenStreetMap files, such as information on roof types or the heights of buildings. To complete the information that is missing in the OpenStreetMap data, LiDAR data are read directly and analyzed using a convolutional neural network. The proposed approach shows that a model can be obtained with only a few samples of roof images from an urban area in Spain, and is capable of inferring roofs in other urban areas of Spain as well as other countries that were not used to train the model. The results allow us to identify a mean of 75.57% for height data and a mean of 38.81% for roof data. The finally inferred data are added to the 3D urban model, resulting in detailed and accurate 3D building maps. This work shows that the neural network is able to detect buildings that are not present in OpenStreetMap for which in LiDAR data are available. In future work, it would be interesting to compare the results of the proposed method with other approaches for generating 3D models from OSM and LiDAR data, such as point cloud segmentation or voxel-based approaches. Another area for future research could be the use of data augmentation techniques to increase the size and robustness of the training dataset.

Analysis and simulation of an Urban-Industrial Sustainable Energy Community: A use case in San Juan de Mozarrifar using photovoltaic energy

Although Spain is the country in the European Union with the highest photovoltaic generation potential, the number of solar energy community initiatives remains relatively low. Spain has more than 6,000 industrial parks, and most require improvements concerning their conservation and services. The integration between industrial parks and urban areas in Spain has plausible benefits. This work analyzes and simulates an urban-industrial sustainable energy community in San Juan de Mozarrifar (Spain), which comprises an urban area and an industrial park area. We classify the energy community using taxonomies found in the literature and the concept of Urban-Industrial Symbiosis considering photovoltaic energy; then, we analyze and estimate the electricity generation potential from photovoltaic panels in both the urban and industrial areas; finally, we simulate the energy community and propose improvements to increase its self-sufficiency. We also highlight that the industrial sector presents a great opportunity to install renewable energy resources and provide renewable energy to the co-located urban area; and adding photovoltaic panels to public buildings may be a strategy to meet residential energy demand, especially for households that do not have photovoltaic installations for self-consumption.

Assessment of potential for Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Systems for Spain

• GIS-based ATES potential method developed, and applied for in Spain • Geographically identification of cities that could benefit from ATES • Almost 30% of Spanish population lives in suitable ATES areas • Detailed case studies showed the ATES economic benefit and emissions savings • GHG emission reduction potential by ATES estimated to be 0.3-0.8 MTon CO 2 /y. Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) Systems is a technology to sustainably and economically provide space heating and cooling. However, it cannot be applied everywhere because successful application depends on the presence of a suitable aquifer and favorable climatic conditions. Despite some operational ATES systems, the Spanish ATES market is immature, and there are no regulations or guidelines developed. To foster ATES adoption in Spain, this paper introduces a potential study considering the resource potential, technical, economic, and environmental aspects. The GIS-based approach is focused on the geographical identification and assessment of the aquifer potential for ATES and climatic conditions. This allows to distinguish those areas considered more suitable for ATES systems for the residential and for the tertiary sector. The results show where in Spain potential for energy and GHG savings with ATES can be found. 38% of the aquifers in Spain show potential for ATES and 63% of large urban areas in Spain are located in such areas. Also, 50% of the population lives in areas where the residential sector seems to be suitable for ATES based on the climatic conditions. Energy and GHG savings can reach up to 91% and 68% respectively, derived from the use of ATES.

Analysis of vulnerability to heat in rural and urban areas in Spain: What factors explain Heat's geographic behavior?

IntroductionThere is currently little knowledge and few published works on the subject of vulnerability to heat in rural environments at the country level. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether rural areas are more vulnerable to extreme heat than urban areas in Spain. This study aimed to analyze whether a pattern of vulnerability depends on contextual, environmental, demographic, economic and housing variables. MethodsAn ecological, longitudinal and retrospective study was carried out based on time series data between January 01, 2000 and December 31, 2013 in 42 geographic areas in 10 provinces in Spain. We first analyzed the functional relationship between the mortality rate per million inhabitants and maximum daily temperature (Tmax). We then determined the summer temperature threshold (Pthreshold) (June–September) at which increases in mortality are produced that are attributable to heat. In a second phase, based on Pthreshold, a vulnerability variable was calculated, and its distribution was analyzed using mixed linear models from the Poisson family (link = log). In these models, the dependent variable was vulnerability, and the independent variables were exposure to high temperatures, aridity of the climate, deprivation index, percentage of people over age 65, rurality index, percentage of housing built prior to 1980 and condition of dwellings. ResultsRurality was a protective factor, and vulnerability in urban areas was six times greater. In contrast, risk factors included aridity (RR = 5.89 (2.26 15.36)), living in cool summer zones (2.69 (1.23, 5.91)), poverty (4.05 (1.91 8.59)) and the percentage of dysfunctional housing (1.13 (1.04 1.24)). ConclusionsRural areas are less vulnerable to extreme heat than the urban areas analyzed. Also, population groups with worse working conditions and higher percentages of dwellings in poor conditions are more vulnerable.

Study of Temporal Variations of Equivalent Black Carbon in a Coastal City in Northwest Spain Using an Atmospheric Aerosol Data Management Software

Light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols (including black carbon (BC)) pose serious health issues and play significant roles in atmospheric radiative properties. Two-year measurements (2015–2016) of aerosol light absorption, combined with measurements of sub-micrometric particles, were continuously conducted in A Coruña (northwest (NW) Spain) to determine their light absorption properties: absorption coefficients (σabs) and the absorption Ångström exponent (AAE). The mean and standard deviation of equivalent black carbon (eBC) during the period of study were 0.85 ± 0.83 µg m−3, which are lower than other values measured in urban areas of Spain and Europe. High eBC concentrations found in winter are associated with an increase in emissions from anthropogenic sources in combination with lower mixing layer heights and frequent stagnant conditions. The pronounced diurnal variability suggests a strong influence from local sources. AAE had an average value of 1.26 ± 0.22 which implies that both fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning influenced optical aerosol properties. This also highlights biomass combustion in suburban areas, where the use of wood for domestic heating is encouraged, as an important source of eBC. All data treatment was gathered using SCALA© as atmospheric aerosol data management support software program.

Dispersión y artificialización de las Áreas Urbanas Funcionales Españolas. Propuesta tipológica basada en el Programa Europeo Copernicus

European institutions focus their attention on urban areas, as an example of ecosystems, which are constantly changing. Nowadays peri-urban areas are the most important parts in urban areas. Peri-urban areas are complex and multi-functional spaces and they develop a fuzzy urban sprawl related to unsustainable ways of life. On the other hand, peri-urban areas suffer pressure associated to a dynamic artificialization process in the territory. Nevertheless, peri-urban areas must sure the ecosystem services in the whole area. Against this background, the article aims to calculate the degree or artificialization of functional urban areas in Spain, as a base to propose a classification of the main land uses. The study shows spatial patterns of many urban systems and it permits us to advance in the knowledge of urban peripheries, which is very important to face the national urban agenda

What drives migration moves to urban areas in Spain? Evidence from the Great Recession

ABSTRACT During the Great Recession international emigration skyrocketed while internal migration strongly declined. However, when the focus is on migration to the larger urban areas in Spain, an increase in population since the outbreak of the crisis is observed. This study determines the effect of labour market factors on migration flows to 45 Spanish functional urban areas for the recent recession period. The results indicate that wages and employment rates greatly influence migration to cities. The results are presented by considering both provinces and local labour market areas as flows’ origins. From the results, the strong role of labour markets in migration to cities can be confirmed.

Impact of a community contraceptive counselling intervention on adolescent fertility rates: a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundFrom 2000 to 2008, in urban areas in Spain, adolescent fertility and abortion rates underwent unprecedented increases, consecutive to intensive immigration from developing countries. To address unmet needs for contraception information and services, a community-based, gender-sensitive and culturally adapted brief counselling intervention (SIRIAN program) was launched in some deprived neighbourhoods with a high proportion of immigrants in Barcelona. Once a randomized controlled trial demonstrated its effectiveness in increasing the use of contraceptives, we aim to examine its population impact on adolescent fertility rates.MethodsQuasi-experimental study with comparison group, using population data from 2005 to 2016. Five neighbourhoods in the lowest tercile of Disposable Household Income were intervened in 2011–13. The comparison group included the three neighbourhoods which were in the same municipal district and in the lowest Disposable Household Income tercile, and displayed the highest adolescent fertility rates. Generalized linear models were fitted to assess absolute adolescent fertility rates and adjusted by immigrant population between pre-intervention (2005–10) and post-intervention periods (2011–16); Difference in Differences and relative pre-post changes analysis were performed.ResultsIn 2005–10 the intervention group adolescent fertility rate was 27.90 (per 1000 women 15–19) and 21.84 in the comparison group. In 2011–16 intervention areas experienced great declines (adolescent fertility rate change: − 12.30 (− 12.45 to − 12.21); p < 0.001), while comparison neighbourhoods remained unchanged (adolescent fertility rate change: 1.91 (− 2.25 to 6.07); p = 0.368). A reduction of − 10.97 points (− 13.91 to − 8.03); p < 0.001) is associated to the intervention.ConclusionAdolescent fertility rate significantly declined in the intervention group but remained stable in the comparison group. This quasi-experimental study provide evidence that, in a country with universal health coverage, a community counselling intervention that increases access to contraception, knowledge and sexual health care in hard-to-reach segments of the population can contribute to substantially reduce adolescent fertility rates. Reducing adolescent fertility rates could become a feasible goal in cities with similar conditions.

Congestion, Road Safety, and the Effectiveness of Public Policies in Urban Areas

Congestion and road accidents are both considered essential challenges for sustainable mobility in large cities, but their relationship is only partially explored by the literature. In this paper, we empirically examine different public policies aimed at reducing urban traffic congestion but which may also have indirect effects on road accidents and casualties. We use data from 25 large urban areas in Spain for the period 2008–2017 and apply econometric methods to investigate how a variety of public policies do affect both negative externalities. Although the relationship between congestion and road safety is complex, we find that the promotion of certain modes of public transportation and the regulation of parking spaces may contribute to making cities more sustainable, both in terms of the time spent traveling and the probability of being affected by an accident. Considering whether policies addressing congestion improve or damage road safety as an indirect result is a useful approach for local policy-makers and planners in their attempt to get sustainable transportation outcomes.

Water demand management strategies for water-scarce cities: The case of Spain

This paper provides an overview of pricing and non-pricing measures to reduce domestic water consumption at the household levels in five urban areas in Spain. Analyses are based on questionnaires sent to water utilities that provide water services in the metropolitan areas of Barcelona and Seville, the cities of Malaga and Saragossa and the region of Madrid. Our main contribution is that, compared to studies that are based on estimates of the water demand function, we asked directly the managers of the utilities on the effectiveness of the measures implemented. We found that all areas studied have implemented pricing and non-pricing measures to encourage the efficient use of water and that reduction in per capita water consumption has been the result of periods of drought, accompanied in certain cases by water restrictions and pricing and non-pricing measures. In all five areas studied, the utilities believe that non-pricing measures have had a greater impact on water consumption decisions compared to pricing measures.

What Drives Migration Moves Across Urban Areas in Spain? Evidence from the Great Recession

In Spain, economic disparities between regions have traditionally played a relevant role in migration. Nevertheless, during the previous high-instability period, analyses provided conflicting results about the effect of these variables. In this work, we aim to determine the role that labour market factors play in internal migration during the Great Recession, paying special attention to the migration response of the heterogeneous population groups. To do so, we resort to an extended gravity model and we consider as a territorial unit the 45 Spanish Functional Urban Areas. Our results point to real wages as having a significant influence on migration motivations.

Relationships between coastal urbanization and ecosystems in Spain

Coastal regions have long demonstrated growing demographic concentration. This process is of great importance in Spanish coastal zones, where cities develop the majority of economic activities. Moreover, the coastal zone is the region where vulnerable coastal ecosystems are located. This research aims to assess the influence of coastal urban areas on the coastal zone of Spain, which is defined as a social-ecological system. The main goals are focused on defining the Spanish coastal social-ecological system (CSES), analyzing coastal urban areas and their economic activities, and identifying coastal ecosystems linked to coastal urban areas.The results demonstrate that more than 11 million inhabitants are concentrated on the Spanish urban coast, and they develop economic activities related to the coast. Additionally, the results of the research establish the importance of coastal ecosystem services provided to the population. Eighty per cent of coastal urban areas and 90% of population are associated with coastal ecosystems of interest for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).This paper describes the main coastal urban areas in Spain where economic activities and coastal ecosystems converge. Coastal areas with more ecosystem diversity are preferred by the urban society, and therefore, they should have priority for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) programs.

Employment changes in knowledge-based industries in large urban areas of Spain: Impact of the economic crisis and austerity policies

The aim of this article is to analyse the impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures on knowledge-intensive industries in seven large urban areas in Spain. We will attempt to respond to three key questions: How have these activities evolved since the crisis? How have the fiscal austerity measures in force in the Eurozone since 2010 affected them? And finally, have large urban areas followed different development paths in recent years based on the extent of their exposure to the crisis? The analysis of employment tendencies confirms that both common trends and disparities exist, with knowledge-based industries displaying a resilient and countercyclical behaviour. Moreover, the implementation of fiscal austerity policies has had a very negative impact on these activities, but the individual consequences in each case depend on the strengths and weaknesses accumulated by each urban area over time.

Pedestrian- and driver-related factors associated with the risk of causing collisions involving pedestrians in Spain

This study aimed to quantify the association between pedestrian- and driver-related factors and the risk of causing road crashes involving pedestrians in urban areas in Spain between 1993 and 2011. From the nationwide police-based registry of road crashes with victims in Spain, we analyzed all 63,205 pairs of pedestrians and drivers involved in crashes in urban areas in which only the pedestrian or only the driver was at fault. Logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted odds ratios to assess the strength of association between each individual-related variable and the pedestrian’s odds of being at fault for the crash (and conversely, the driver’s odds of not being at fault).The subgroups of road users at high risk of causing a road crash with a pedestrian in urban areas were young and male pedestrians, pedestrians with psychophysical conditions or health problems, the youngest and the oldest drivers, and drivers with markers of high-risk behaviors (alcohol use, nonuse of safety devices, and driving without a valid license). These subgroups should be targeted by preventive strategies intended to decrease the rate of urban road crashes involving pedestrians in Spain.

Economic benefits of integrating Active Demand in distribution network planning: A Spanish case study

The recent advances in smart metering and communication technologies in electricity distribution networks could bring new opportunities to distribution system operators (DSOs). In particular, new forms of Active Demand (AD) could be developed to help DSOs to alleviate network congestions and decrease peak capacity requirements, which could in turn reduce or postpone the need for network reinforcements. This paper explores the mechanisms that would allow DSOs to incorporate AD procedures into their network planning strategies. A Reference Network Model (RNM) is used to quantify the potential economic benefits that AD could bring to distribution grids. The analysis is supported by a case study of two rural and urban areas of Spain, based on realistic large-scale exemplary networks and real consumption data.

Industrial sources of primary and secondary organic aerosols in two urban environments in Spain.

In urban areas, primary and secondary organic aerosols are typically considered to originate from vehicular traffic emissions. However, industrial emissions within or in the vicinity of urban areas may also be significant contributors to carbonaceous aerosol concentrations. This hypothesis was tested and validated in two urban areas in Spain. The observed unusual dominance of organic carbon (OC) over elemental carbon (EC), the analysis of the variability of OC, EC and OC/EC and their correlation with transport patterns suggested the presence of OC sources associated with industrial activities. A methodology based on chemical speciation of particulate matter (PM) followed by the application of receptor modelling techniques allowed for the identification of the specific industrial sources of OC, which were linked to primary OC emissions from a grain drying plant (cereal) and to secondary OC formation from paper production activities (paper mills), as well as from urban sources and biogenic emissions. This work presents an integrated approach to identifying and characterizing of industrial sources of carbonaceous aerosols in urban areas, aiming to improve the scarce body of literature currently available on this topic.

Analysis of Light Rail Systems in Spain According to Their Type of Funding

Since the year 1994, when the city of Valencia reintroduced the tramway (more specifically, the second generation of trams, known as Light Rail System), this means of transport has been introduced in many urban areas in Spain. It is an innovative transport system that substantially improves the features of the old trams that crossed Spanish cities until 1976.The technical characteristics of this means of transport make it a sustainable alternative for urban settings, as it produces less acoustic and environmental pollution, and it is safer than other modes of transport. In comparison with the underground and the bus, the Light rail offers an intermediate transport capacity, which makes it adequate for medium-sized cities or certain zones within large metropolitan areas. Finally, the modern design of these modern trams, together with the urban regeneration of the zone where it circulates, is frequently used to improve the image of a city. In 2012 there were 16 Light Rail Systems in 13 Spanish cities (Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, Parla, Sevilla, Vitoria, Bilbao, Murcia, Tenerife, Zaragoza, Jaén, and Vélez-Málaga).However, in some cases these Light Rail Systems have involved high costs of implementation and operation that the respective financing entities (Public Administration and/or private enterprise) can hardly face. Moreover, they are functioning at a much lower level of demand than their capacity, meaning they could be considered an economic and social failure.At this point in time, two decades after the introduction of Light Rails in Spain, there is a need to analyse the factors that may have influenced the success or failure of this novel type of transport. Although such an analysis should be approached from diverse perspectives, the present contribution focuses on the influence of private financing in these projects. More specifically, a qualitative and quantitative analysis is carried out to determine if there is a significant relationship between the percentage of private participation in financing this transport system and a series of relevant variables: total investment, cost per unit of length, operating and maintenance costs, percentage of length underground, passengers’ demand, investment per passenger, fares and subventions, etc. In view of the results, it will be assessed whether the private funding behind the Light Rail Systems in Spain has proven efficient for society.