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Urban and transportation policies are increasingly recognized for their potential to mitigate climate change impacts and address transport externalities. Amidst efforts to shift modal preferences and reduce transport emissions, cities are turning to spatialbased policies, such as Superblocks, to reshape urban mobility. This research examines the electoral outcomes associated with the implementation of Superblocks in Barcelona, focusing on their impact on political support for Barcelona en Comú (BEC) during the local elections of 2015 and 2023. Utilizing a combination of adjusted difference-in-differences and propensity score matching methods, we assessed the public’s electoral response to the Superblock initiative amidst a backdrop of declining city-wide support for BEC. Our findings reveal that Superblock areas demonstrated significantly stronger support for BEC, suggesting a political premium for the party responsible for these urban interventions. Specifically, electoral support in Superblock districts saw an increase of 10–14% compared to the rest of the city. This result highlights the potential of urban transformation policies to influence political preferences locally and potentially validate the use of local electoral data as a tool for evaluating public response to highly contested urban policies.

Este estudio profundiza en las experiencias de agresión y estrategias de evasión en la movilidad cotidiana de las personas LGBTIQ+ en Barcelona, una ciudad conocida por su mentalidad abierta y descrita como socialmente progresista. La investigación ayuda a reconocer a las personas LGBTIQ+ como sujetos dentro de la urbe y contribuye a realizar los estudios sobre movilidades disidentes, haciendo de portavoz de las vivencias de agresión potencial y experimentada en el espacio público durante los desplazamientos cotidianos. Además, amplía el enfoque de los estudios de movilidad y género —centrado principalmente en las limitaciones de las mujeres cuando experimentan sus movilidades— a otros grupos minoritarios. Mediante 15 entrevistas a sujetos pertenecientes al colectivo LGBTIQ+, se ha identificado un alto nivel de vulnerabilidad de las personas con sexualidades no normativas a incidencias de acoso, lo que fuerza el uso de distintas estrategias que moldean la manera en la que se desplazan por la ciudad. Los resultados de esta investigación pueden informar futuras actuaciones de planificación de la movilidad o modificar las existentes, integrando las necesidades de todos aquellos individuos que confluyen en los distintos espacios que componen los soportes de las movilidades cotidianas.

This study explores the capability of machine learning techniques (MLTs) in predicting IAQ in apartments. Sensor data from kitchen air monitoring were used to determine the conditions in the living room. The analysis was based on several air parameters—temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and TVOC—recorded in five apartments. Multiple input–multiple output prediction models were built. Linear (multiple linear regression and multilayer perceptron (MLP)) and nonlinear (decision trees, random forest, k-nearest neighbors, and MLP) methods were investigated. Five-fold cross-validation was applied, where four apartments provided data for model training and the remaining one was the source of the test data. The models were compared using performance metrics (R2, MAPE, and RMSE). The naive approach was used as the benchmark. This study showed that linear MLTs performed best. In this case, the coefficients of determination were highest: R2 = 0.94 (T), R2 = 0.94 (RH), R2 = 0.63 (CO2), R2 = 0.84 (TVOC, based on the SGP30 sensor), and R2 = 0.92 (TVOC, based on the SGP30 sensor). The prediction of distinct indoor air parameters was not equally effective. Based on the lowest percentage error, best predictions were attained for indoor air temperature (MAPE = 1.57%), relative humidity (MAPE = 2.97%RH), and TVOC content (MAPE = 0.41%). Unfortunately, CO2 prediction was loaded with high error (MAPE = 20.83%). The approach was particularly effective in open-kitchen apartments, and they could be the target for its application. This research offers a method that could contribute to attaining effective IAQ control in apartments.

This work presents a multisensor device which is intended as an element of IoT for indoor environment (IE) monitoring. It is a portable, small-size, lightweight, energy-efficient direct-reading instrument. The device has an innovative design and construction. It offers real-time measurements of a wide spectrum of physical and chemical quantities (light intensity, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, CO2 concentration, content of volatile organic compounds including formaldehyde, NO2, and particulate matter), data storage (microSD; server as an option), transmission (WiFi; GSM and Ethernet as options), and visualization (smartphone application; PC as an option). Commercial low-cost sensors were utilized, which have been arranged in the individual sensing modules. In the case of gas sensors, dynamic exposure was chosen to ensure a minimum response time. The MQTT protocol was applied for data transmission and communication with other devices, as well as with the user. The multisensor device can collect huge amounts of data about the indoor environment to provide the respective information to the IoT. The device can be configured to control actuators of various auxiliary devices and equipment including external systems used for ventilation, heating, and air conditioning. The prototype is fully operational. The exemplary results of IE monitoring were shown.

Highlights Static and dynamic exposures were estimated for a set of basic exposures (NO2, PM2.5, PM10, dB, NDVI) among 113 seniors in Barcelona. Static exposures were based on residential location while 7-day GPS tracking was used for dynamic exposures. Dynamic assessments using GPS-tracking are not providing enough accuracy across all the range of exposures. PM2.5, and noise exposures significantly benefited from GPS-tracking use. NO2, PM10, and exposures to greenness did not lose significant accuracy using only residential static exposures with Barcelona’s seniors

High-quality indoor air is essential in open-kitchen restaurants for ensuring a healthy workplace and comfortable conditions for visitors. In this study, indoor air quality interdependence between the kitchen and the dining zones in open-kitchen restaurants was analyzed. The method was based on measurements of selected air parameters using a sensor technique and mutual information (MI) analysis. A long-term approach (based on a several-hour time series) and a short-term approach (based on a several-minute time series) were applied. This study involved four open-kitchen restaurants. The indoor conditions were represented by the temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and content of the total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in the air. The MI analyses showed that the long-term co-dependence of the indoor conditions between the kitchen and the dining zones was smaller during business hours (MI = 0.12 ÷ 0.40) compared to night hours (MI = 0.24 ÷ 0.58). The ranking of the long-term MI values for the individual air parameters was MICO2 (0.34) ≅ MIT (0.34) > MIRH (0.28) > MITVOC (0.23). The short-term interdependencies were smaller during night hours (median MI = 0.01 ÷ 0.56) compared to business hours (MI = 0.23 ÷ 0.61). Additionally, the short-term MI was subject to high temporal variability. The ranking of the short-term MI values for the individual air parameters was MICO2 (0.48) > MIT (0.46) > MIRH (0.37) > MITVOC (0.26). Due to the weak and highly variable co-dependence of the air parameters between the kitchen and dining areas, multi-zone monitoring of air parameters with an emphasis on TVOC measurements is recommended to ensure proper indoor conditions in open-kitchen restaurants. The presented approach may be applied to design indoor air quality monitoring and ventilation systems not only in open-kitchen restaurants but also in other interiors with functionally different zones.

Public transport (PT) systems face the challenge of retaining users and preventing a shift towards individual transport modes. While satisfaction is recognized as a key factor in user loyalty, there is a need to understand the specific PT attributes that contribute to passenger satisfaction and foster loyalty. This study aims to assess the impact of PT service attributes on user loyalty, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. Data from an online survey conducted in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a country with high car dependency, were analysed using logistic regression models. The findings highlight the importance of attributes such as reliable service, in-vehicle travel time, number of transfers, and feeling safe, while also identifying differences in attribute importance between bus and train loyalty. The study provides valuable insights for transport agencies and policymakers to enhance user loyalty and develop effective ridership retention strategies. These findings are particularly relevant in the post-pandemic scenario and can contribute to addressing car dependency challenges in diverse metropolitan areas. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to improve PT services based on the identified attributes.

Background: Many cities are putting cycling at the centre of their sustainable transportation policies after the COVID pandemic. Cycling is seen as a desirable mode of transport in dense and compact areas and needs to be promoted accordingly. However, to date, only a handful of different bikeability indexes exist attempting to map biking conditions and the built environment’s potential to promote biking as a modal choice on a city scale. Methods: In this article, we use objective GIS data to map bikeability potential in the city of Barcelona. To do so we extracted the main bikeability components from an adhoc cycling survey and then create an index using ten spatial indicators. This bikeability index is mapped at a 100 × 100 m scale in the city of Barcelona. We then use actual travel behavior data extracted from a local representative travel survey to test the reliability of the index in predicting daily bike use. Results: Results confirm the validity of the bikeability index as a predictor of the frequency of cycling. People living in areas with higher levels of built environment features associated with bikeability such as dedicated infrastructure, low accident rates and small slopes are more likely to use the bike more often. Conclusions: Results validate our approach providing new methods to be used in further biking studies and a useful tool for policy and decision making. The use of our new bikeaiblity index is especially indicated for highly-dense, compact, Mediterranean-style cities.

El objetivo de este estudio es el de explorar la influencia de las características del entorno residencial en los patrones de caminar de hombres y mujeres, mediante la utilización de datos de movimiento geolocalizados o tracking. Para ello, se ha seleccionado un grupo de jóvenes adultos que estudian o trabajan en la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona y cuyo desplazamiento al lugar de estudio/trabajo se realiza fuera de su municipio de residencia, requiriendo así el uso de un medio de transporte motorizado. A través de una aplicación de geolocalización para smartphone se han analizado datos de movilidad de 1.194 días de participación correspondientes a 199 personas. Los resultados obtenidos indican que los territorios urbanos densos y compactos favorecen el caminar de ambos géneros, pero presentan un mayor impacto en el comportamiento de las mujeres, en comparación con territorios menos densos y de carácter suburbano. Estos hallazgos resaltan la importancia de la configuración del territorio para facilitar un modelo de movilidad más sostenible, equitativo y saludable.

La ubicació suburbana del campus de la UAB implica que el 94,2% de la comunitat universitària fa servir el transport motoritzat en el desplaçament quotidià al seu lloc d’estudi o treball. En tractar-se d’uns desplaçaments definits per un mateix motiu i una única destinació, es facilita l’anàlisi de la influència que el gènere i l’edat exerceixen en la utilització dels mitjans de transport, especialment l’elecció entre el transport públic i el privat. Aquest article analitza el repartiment modal i els principals motius d’elecció del mitjà de transport d’accés al campus universitari de la UAB. Es troben evidències significatives entre alumnat i personal (docent i administratiu), i també entre homes i dones. Una comprensió profunda de l’ús dels diferents mitjans de transport motoritzat amb relació a diferents grups poblacionals és fonamental per al disseny i la implementació de polítiques públiques dirigides a la reducció dels transports menys sostenibles.

Abstract Background Senior centers offer important opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. Seniors who visit a senior center regularly can gain physical activity from transportation and from specific activities offered within the senior center. However, there is very little knowledge regarding the specific physical activity gains obtained from regular visits to senior centers, and no effort has been made to use device-based measures of physical activity to test the potential physical activity benefits of attending a senior center. Methods To fill this gap, the present study examined the physical activity patterns of 227 seniors living in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area in Spain. Using GPS and Accelerometer 7-day tracking data, and GIS measures we assessed the light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) benefits of attending the senior center on a weekly and daily basis. Results Seniors who attended a senior center at least once a week did not accumulate significantly more daily physical activity (211.6 min; 95% CI 196.6; 226.6) than seniors without any visit 215.9 min; 95% CI 202.7; 229). However, on a day-to-day basis, it was found that visiting a senior center had positive effects in physical activity and was associated with less sedentary time among younger participants in general (− 18.2 daily min 95% CI − 33.2;-3.3 p = 0.016) and among older female participants in particular (− 19.7 daily min 95% CI -21.06;-18.5 p = 0.011). Conclusions The benefits of attending senior centers in terms of physical activity should not be viewed as universal, but rather as contingent to the demographics of the user, and the type of activity that the visit is replacing.

A serious factor that limits the environmental applications of drones is the disturbance of the air pollution concentration field by the drone propulsion system. This work presents a gas-sensing drone offering measurements that are unaffected by this phenomenon. The novel development was based on the idea that, during measurements, the sensing device should be spatially separated from a zone influenced by the drone’s rotors. To attain this goal, special equipment was designed that allows one to undock and lower the sensing device for measurement, lift it and dock for flight. The field experiments demonstrated the full functionality of the developed system and its superiority compared to a sensing platform mounted at the bottom of the drone. Higher measurement sensitivity and resolution were attained by lowering the sensing platform to the measurement point. This solution minimizes the rotor flow effect, ground effect, and pollution concentration field flattening. The test in real conditions confirmed that the designed construction assures drone stability. The presented technology may be an important step in developing effective mobile measurement tools that allow one to reach poorly accessible or dangerous places and perform measurements at a low cost and with high efficiency.

Urban beekeeping has become increasingly popular, despite having different objectives than the large-scale professional/commercial one. Not so much focused on financial profit, urban apiculture provides valuable educational opportunities, promotes the greening of cities, and creates environmental awareness. Many companies and institutions make it a valuable component of their public relations strategy. Urban beekeeping benefits may be enhanced by applying specialized technical infrastructure. In particular, the use of modern technologies attracts the younger generation to be involved in beekeeping. This paper aims to present the abilities of the automatic monitoring system, which meets the goals of urban beekeeping. The set of equipment consists of a sensor module, video cameras, a unit for data acquisition, and a system for data transmission, presentation, and visualization. The monitoring system allows for real-time observation of the beehive interior and entrance. It continuously measures selected physical and chemical parameters of the beehive atmosphere and provides a record of the beehive’s weight. Additionally, ambient air is monitored for reference. The video streaming and measurement results are available to the public online through the dedicated webpage. System performance was evaluated regarding the interactions with honey bees, sensor measurement characteristics, and data collection efficiency. Three months of operation in the urban apiary confirmed that the system is fully functional and fulfills its objectives. System development continues.

Elemental carbon (EC) content in air is considered a proxy for the diesel exhaust impact at workplaces. This paper examines the possibility of estimating EC content in mine air on the basis of measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOC). The measurement study was carried out in an underground metal mine. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was applied for VOC determination, and thermal-optical analysis (TOA) with an FID detector was utilized for EC measurements. A correlation was found between the measurements of EC and total VOC (TVOC) as well as the content of individual hydrocarbons C12–C14 in the air of an extraction zone in the mine. A regression model was developed which predicts EC based on C12, C13, and C14, considered individually, and the remaining VOCs detected with GC/MS taken in total. The model was statistically significant (p = 0.053), and it offered an EC prediction error of RMSE = 4.60 µg/sample. The obtained result confirms the possibility of using VOC measurements for the preliminary estimation of EC concentrations in mine air. This approach is feasible given the availability of portable GC/MS and offers easy and fast measurements providing qualitative and quantitative information.

Our attention was focused on the identification of activities affecting air quality, which occur in quick-service restaurants (QSR). The work was based on a measurement study of selected kebab stores in the Polish city of Wrocław. It demonstrated that activities taking place in kebabs altered air quality. The associated changes in air parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and the content of volatile organic compounds could be detected by utilizing a simple, multi-sensor device. In the measurement data, there were identified multidimensional patterns, which proved to be specific for the following categories of activities: Night Hours, Outlet Preparation, Food Preparation, Operation Hours, and Cleaning. Their occurrence was recognized by pattern recognition methods with a true positive rate greater than 99%. We demonstrated that the recognition may be based on measurements performed in various locations within the kebab store. Although patterns of the individual categories of activities largely varied between kebab stores, a similar performance of recognition was achieved for all restaurants. The obtained results entitled us to conclude that it is possible to detect activities of QSR, which influenced air quality, with the application of sensor technique and pattern recognition. The proposed approach may be applied to this type of object in general.

La ubicación suburbana del campus de la UAB implica que el 94,2% de la comunidad universitaria usa el transporte motorizado en el desplazamiento cotidiano a su lugar de estudio o trabajo. Al tratarse de unos desplazamientos definidos por un mismo motivo y un único destino, se facilita el análisis de la influencia que el género y la edad ejercen en la utilización de los medios de transporte, especialmente en la elección entre el transporte público y el privado. Este artículo analiza el reparto modal y los principales motivos de elección del modo de transporte de acceso al campus universitario de la UAB. Se encuentran diferencias significativas entre alumnado y personal (docente y administrativo), y también entre hombres y mujeres. Una comprensión profunda del uso de los distintos modos de transporte motorizado con relación a diferentes grupos poblacionales es fundamental para el diseño y la implementación de políticas públicas dirigidas a la reducción de los transportes menos sostenibles.

Artykuł odnosi się do jednej z potencjalnych ścieżek działania w zakresie kształcenia pedagogów i nawiązuje do możliwości wykorzystania badań stosowanych w procesie rozpoznawania problemów społecznych przez studentów. Jest próbą odpowiedzi na pytania o to, w jaki sposób przygotowywać absolwentów studiów wyższych do rozpoznawania w pracy zawodowej zupełnie nowych sytuacji i rozstrzygania nieznanych im dotąd dylematów, wynikających z szybkiego rozwoju cywilizacyjnego. Struktura prezentowanego opracowania odzwierciedla kolejne etapy poszukiwania możliwości rozwiązywania zarysowanego powyżej problemu metodycznego. Część pierwsza obejmuje podstawowe założenia etnografii wizualnej ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem fotoetnografii oraz podstawy teorii ekspansywnego uczenia się Yjro Engeströma, na których oparto pomysł działania. W części drugiej zarysowano schemat podstawowego działania, zaś szczególną uwagę zwrócono na przedmiot działalności, w którym zastosowane zostały elementy etnografii wizualnej jako sposób na zmianę aktywności i wykorzystanie potencjału obu podmiotów (nauczyciela i studentów) biorących w niej udział.

The basis of effective beekeeping is the information about the state of the bee colony. A rich source of respective information is beehive air. This source may be explored by applying gas sensing. It allows for classifying bee colony states based on beehive air measurements. In this work, we discussed the essential aspects of beehive air sampling and sensing device operation in apicultural applications. They are the sampling method (diffusive vs. dynamic, temporal aspects), sampling system (sample probe, sampling point selection, sample conditioning unit and sample delivery system) and device operation mode (‘exposure-cleaning’ operation). It was demonstrated how factors associated with the beehive, bee colony and ambient environment define prerequisites for these elements of the measuring instrument. These requirements have to be respected in order to assure high accuracy of measurement and high-quality information. The presented results are primarily based on the field measurement study performed in summer 2020, in three apiaries, in various meteorological conditions. Two exemplars of a prototype gas sensing device were used. These sensor devices were constructed according to our original concept.

The aim of this study is to understand the modal choice of mothers who commute to a suburban destination. The analysis, takes into account trips related to all daily activities they are engaged in, and not just the commuting. However, the fact of having an intermunicipal trip to work is crucial since it conditions other travels. Using 15 in-depth interviews, we focus on feelings, perceptions and beliefs expressed by the respondents about their regular modal choice and the existing transportation alternatives. All participants commute to a suburban activity node in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region (Spain). Understanding the experience of this particular population segment may be useful to policymakers in creating effective programs and policies aimed at replacing car usage with more sustainable modes of transport.

In underground mines, mobile mining equipment is critical for the production system. The microenvironment inside the mobile machine may cause exposure to strongly polluted mine air, which adversely affects the health and working performance of the operator. Harmful pollutants may access the cabin together with the ventilation air delivered from the machine’s surroundings. This work proposes a solution that is able to ensure that the air for the machine operator is of proper quality. The proposal emerged from an analysis of the compliance of cabins of mobile machines working underground in mines with occupational health and safety (H&S) standards. An analytical model of air quality in a well-mixed zone was utilized for this purpose. The cabin atmosphere was investigated with regard to the concentration of gaseous species in the surrounding air, the cabin ventilation rate, and human breathing parameters. The analysis showed that if currently available ventilation approaches are used, compliance with multiple H&S standards cannot be attained inside the cabin if standards are exceeded in the surroundings of the machine. The proposed solution overcomes this problem by combining elements that are already in place, i.e., ventilation, air-conditioning, and filtration with a personal supply of clean air. The concept is generic and may be adapted to various specific requirements.

Honey bees are subject to a number of stressors. In recent years, there has been a worldwide decline in the population of these insects. Losses raise a serious concern, because bees have an indispensable role in the food supply of humankind. This work is focused on the method of assessment of honey bee colony infestation by Varroa destructor. The approach allows to detect several categories of infestation: “Low”, “Medium” and “High”. The method of detection consists of two components: (1) the measurements of beehive air using a gas sensor array and (2) classification, which is based on the measurement data. In this work, we indicate the sensitivity of the bee colony infestation assessment to the timing of measurement data collection. It was observed that the semiconductor gas sensor responses to the atmosphere of a defined beehive, collected during 24 h, displayed temporal variation. We demonstrated that the success rate of the bee colony infestation assessment also altered depending on the time of day when the gas sensor array measurement was done. Moreover, it was found that different times of day were the most favorable to detect the particular infestation category. This result could indicate that the representation of the disease in the beehive air may be confounded during the day, due to some interferences. More studies are needed to explain this fact and determine the best measurement periods. The problem addressed in this work is very important for scheduling the beekeeping practices aimed at Varroa destructor infestation assessment, using the proposed method.

W debatach podejmowanych w obszarze pedagogiki ogólnej istotne miejsce zajmują kwestie metodologiczne, związane z poszukiwaniem nowych możliwości wytwarzania wiedzy pedagogicznej. Wynika to z kilku przesłanek. Przede wszystkim jest odpowiedzią na zmiany zachodzące w szeroko rozumianej edukacji i stawianych na nowo pytań o użyteczność wiedzy pedagogicznej. Stanowi też istotny fragment budowania tożsamości dyscypliny, wpisujący się w dynamiczny proces jej wewnętrznych zmian i rozwoju. Pojawiają się nowe pytania w obszarze konceptualizacji przedmiotu badań, zarysowywane są również nowe sposoby formułowania problemów badawczych, a to wymaga nowych rozwiązań metodologicznych. Prezentowane opracowanie pomyślane zostało jako głos w dyskusji nad usytuowaniem badań określanych jako praktyczne/stosowane w odniesieniu do pojawiających się potrzeb praktyki i teorii pedagogicznej. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na badania ewaluacyjne w edukacji, które zdaniem autorki generują wiele możliwości rozpoznawania ważkich kwestii pedagogicznych.

The study focused on a method of detection for bee colony infestation with the Varroa destructor mite, based on the measurements of the chemical properties of beehive air. The efficient detection of varroosis was demonstrated. This method of detection is based on a semiconductor gas sensor array and classification module. The efficiency of detection was characterized by the true positive rate (TPR) and true negative rate (TNR). Several factors influencing the performance of the method were determined. They were: (1) the number and kind of sensors, (2) the classifier, (3) the group of bee colonies, and (4) the balance of the classification data set. Gas sensor array outperformed single sensors. It should include at least four sensors. Better results of detection were attained with a support vector machine (SVM) as compared with the k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) algorithm. The selection of bee colonies was important. TPR and TNR differed by several percent for the two examined groups of colonies. The balance of the classification data was crucial. The average classification results were, for the balanced data set: TPR = 0.93 and TNR = 0.95, and for the imbalanced data set: TP = 0.95 and FP = 0.53. The selection of bee colonies and the balance of classification data set have to be controlled in order to attain high performance of the proposed detection method.