UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development and Environment

More and more European cities are limiting car use in their city centres to reduce pollution and improve quality of life. How can citizens move around without problems if they cannot use their car in the centre? This is where Park and Ride (Park & Ride) parking comes into play.
This study applies a modified multi-criteria decision method, using the Mahalanobis distance, to classify P&R according to environmental, economic, functional and social criteria. The results allow authorities to identify the most sustainable solutions and prioritise improvements in urban mobility. Thanks to scientific tools like this, administrations can make more informed decisions to improve public transport, reduce traffic jams and decrease pollution. Sustainable mobility is not only a challenge, but a great opportunity to transform our cities into more accessible, efficient and healthy places for everyone.
This type of research is essential to move towards cleaner and more liveable cities, an objective also pursued by our UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development and Environment. In fact, initiatives like this are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and SDG13 (Climate action).

Read the full article in open access at Journal of Civil Engineering and Management

This study analyzes Iraq's electricity crisis situation, worsened by wars and frequent power outages. It critiques reliance on diesel generators and advocates transitioning to solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems, strongly supported by experts. Using adapted load data using the innovative ROSETTA transform, SPV was found technically viable but currently more expensive than existing rates. A hybrid microgrid system combining SPV and batteries emerged as the most economical solution, with quick cost recovery. The research highlights the need for a shift toward sustainable energy for Iraq's future.
See whole open source article on Renewable Energy

Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems integrate renewable sources, storage, and optionally conventional energies, offering an eco-friendly solution to fossil fuels. Microgrids bolster HRES integration, enhancing energy management, resilience, and reliability at various levels. This study, emphasizing the need for refined optimization methods, investigates three topics: renewable energy, microgrid, and multiobjective optimization, through a bibliometric analysis of 470 Scopus documents from 2010-2023, analyzed with an specific software.
See whole open source article on Sustainability

ROSETTA project: Modelling and optimisation of micro-grids oriented to areas in the context of social crisis with impact on energy infrastructure; a new mathematical tools for self-generated time transformation.
The objective of the project is to study the viability and optimal typology of micro-grids including solar photovoltaic for supply energy as an alternative (or complement) to the use of the national energy grid in countries with dammaged electrical infrastructure, for example as a result of an armed conflict, and where load data is lacking.
Our approach is based on first understanding the geographical and energy realities of each area to establish patterns that allow consumption data to be generated immediately and with the use of very few parameters, generating a very useful tool for our study or any subsequent study.
Interdisciplinary research project C-ING-288-UGR23 of the Plan Propio UGR 2023, funded by Programa operativo FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027 de la JJAA.

Blockchain is a disruptive technology ensuring the immutability of digital transactions. Initially used in cryptocurrencies, it now spans various sectors, including agriculture, which benefits from digitalization and Industry 4.0 technologies like IoT and Cyber-Physical Systems. Big Data shows promise in product traceability and agricultural supply chain management.
A review of 152 studies highlights current challenges and research opportunities, analyzed through the PESTELS framework (Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal, and Security), with significant technological hurdles driving potential advancements.
See whole open source article on IEEE Access

SUSTAINABLE project: Stop running, stop and start using our knowledge to be reachable.
This project aims to develop and validate innovative Artificial Intelligence as Decision Support System for suitable precision agriculture management procedures according to the specific climate, geographical, and environmental conditions. This will give optimized solutions in terms of energy efficiency, water consumption, and reuse, also in extreme conditions as we increasingly witness due to climate changes.
Research project Ref. 101007702, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie RISE Grant Agreement