A gender analysis of everyday mobility in urban and rural territories: from challenges to sustainability

Gender differences in mobility patterns between women and men have long been acknowledged. This study analyses how these differences are reproduced in different urban and rural contexts. Using mobility data from a large travel survey taken in 2006 in Spain, we examine the differences between gender mobility through age, modal split and trip purposes. Special attention is paid to how territory shapes mobility and how these territorial settings differently affect gendered mobilities. The use of this data source allows the comparison of all trips made by the total population, including all means of transport. By taking a global view on mobility, the uneven relationships that men and women have with different means of transport become more visible. After disaggregating data by age and territorial settings, results show that women are using sustainable transport modes more often than men, and travelling for more diverse reasons. Gender is thus a fundamental variable in understanding modal split and, by extension, transport sustainability, in terms of energy consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases. From this point of view, we consider women's mobility knowledge and practices – typically related to the most sustainable means of transport – as factors with rising value that could effectively guide public policy in its way to promote more sustainable mobility patterns.     

Applying the H/V Method to Dense Cities. A Case Study of Valencia City

The aim of this study was to apply Nakamura's technique to Valencia city center, after some preliminary tests in Barcelona. Previous studies of Barcelona had measured periods in restrictive conditions and in various types of material ranging from very soft soil (with a predominant period of approximately 2 s) to rock (0.3 s), and under different measurement conditions. The Valencia city center measurements were taken by using the distance from buildings and car and pedestrian traffic to construct a measurement grid that was as regular as possible. We also estimated possible soil-structure interaction to detect potential vulnerability.     

Application of Particle Motion Technique to Structural Modal Identification of Heritage Buildings

Determining the behavior of a structure estimated by means of finite elements analysis requires not only an in-depth knowledge of its geometry and dynamic properties but also an experimental validation to corroborate the adequacy of the characteristics of the structure. Most of the current structural identification techniques are based on linear methods that call for many measurement points and/or a relative simple structure. Complex structures are somewhat still an unexplored field due to the difficulties with the finite element method and the experimental corroboration of its results. This study presents the use of particle motion computation applied to each structural vibration mode to improve the identification of its dynamic properties, and its application to the Gothic Cathedral of Palma de Majorca (Spain).     

Introducing urban vitality as a determinant of children's healthy mobility habits: a focus on activity engagement and physical activity

In this study we introduce urban vitality as a determining factor for both physical activity (PA) and activity engagement in children living in Barcelona's Metropolitan Region. We compare the physical outcomes of children living in vital and non-vital areas using mobility data taken from a travel survey. Chi-square, and association tests were used to compare the health outcomes of children living in vital and non-vital areas. Specifically, we measured for activity engagement, walking for transport, minutes of PA and adequacy to World Health Organization PA recommendations. Results are stratified by age and gender and reveal how living in a vital area can produce up to 54 minutes more of PA per week, with a difference of nearly 20% in the number of outdoor activities undertaken. Neighbourhood vitality promotes healthier mobility habits, as children living in buzzing areas tend to engage in more activities and spend more minutes walking for transport.     

Human Right to Water: Contemporary Challenges and Contours of a Global Debate

Abstract: In recent years, significant debate has taken place around the concept of the “human right to water”. In this paper, we seek to respond to recent critiques and clarify the terms of the debate by presenting an in‐depth exploration of the human right to water. We explore several critiques of the concept, situate it in the context of the current neoliberalization of water provision and in relation to contemporary water challenges, and present some examples of how it has been deployed to further the cause of access to water for vulnerable populations in varied contexts. We conclude that, rather than abandoning the concept as critics have suggested, the human right to water maintains importance as a discourse and strategy in the contemporary moment.     

Integrated near-surface geophysical survey of the Cathedral of Mallorca

This paper describes an integrated near-surface geophysical study carried out in order to obtain high-resolution images of the shallow subsurface under and around the Cathedral of Mallorca. The study was a part of a global project focused on determining the state of the building structure and on evaluating the Cathedral's dynamical behaviour (natural frequencies and vibration modes). Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and the capacitively coupled resistivity method were used to obtain 2D images of the shallow subsurface. Refraction microtremor array measurements (ReMi) were also used to characterize the rock and soil properties and several invasive boreholes provided detailed and exact information on the stratigraphy. The information from the geophysical data was used to determine a final model of the ground, with indications of the most likely vulnerable zones.     

Nanozonation in Dense Cities: Testing a Combined Methodology in Barcelona City (Spain)

Microzonation is widely used in seismic risk evaluations to define the predominant period values, which are usually associated with extended areas of a few hundred meters. However, the representative values corresponding to these areas are obtained from few measurements in each area. Thereby, results are accurate only in the case of depth-dependent soils. However, not detected narrow and sharp lateral changes in soil are potentially the cause of imprecision and could be a source of specific errors. This article aims to present several tests conducted in order to emphasise the importance of accurate selection of points, to underscore the necessity of more precise and detailed evaluations, and to suggest a possible methodology to select the most appropriate data acquisition points. Results highlight the need to divide microzonation areas into smaller zones for a precise evaluation in locations where sudden changes in soil characteristics exist. Therefore, in such sites the requirement of nanozonation appears; defining zones with the same soil response. Distance between vibration measurements could be the main problem for nanozonation; data acquisition in areas with irregular geology can be time consuming when a precise analysis is required. In the most complicated environments or in dense cities, it could even be unfeasible. Consequently, it is necessary to establish a functional methodology to adequately distribute the measurement points throughout the area. On this occasion, three sites in Barcelona city were studied. This city is surrounded by mountains at NW, W, and S, and by the Mediterranean Sea at N and E. As a consequence, the shallow geology is characterized by many paleochannels and streams that are currently buried. These geological structures most likely affect the soil response. Several tests were carried out to determine this dependence. The tests were based on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys to define the paleochannels position and on vibration measurements in order to define properly the soil response. The results from both methods were compared to the known geology to accurately define the effect of the shallow geological structures in the predominant period and in the GPR images. Areas with the same geological unit but different materials were identified in the GPR images, allowing the selection of the most appropriate distance between vibration measurements in each place. As a final result, predominant periods that were measured over the same geological unit but over different material showed changes higher than the 40% in short distances. This procedure could improve the soil response maps, including nanozonation.     

Preventive Intervention for a Group of Buildings in the Historic Centre of Manresa (Barcelona)

The preservation of old downtowns has become a necessity of growing interest. New urban policies have been approved in different countries in order to revive the old city centers and make them economically sustainable. In this global trend, the municipality of Manresa (Barcelona) developed an important urban planning operation in the old district that included the demolition of a group of existing buildings and the construction of a new modern one in close proximity to a group of old residential buildings which are cultural heritage of the city. As a consequence, specific areas of risk were generated which lead to the adoption of precautionary measures to ensure safety. This article presents the preliminary analysis, diagnostics and monitoring carried out on this group of heterogeneous old buildings, as well as the results and precautionary measures taken to ensure their safety. The article also provides a translatable methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative aspects.