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Becoming solar

In this article we examine the experiences of the first and second author who have changed themselves to become newly attuned to the sun, or who have “become solar”. Motivated by calls to approach solar design in novel, less technocratic ways, we reflect on their one-year journey to gain a new relationship with solar energy as an explicitly more-than-human design (MTHD) approach. We argue that their perception of solar energy progressively worked to decentre them as human actors in this new solar-energy arrangement, revealing other nonhuman actors at play, instigating situations of care and attention to those nonhumans and ultimately guiding them towards what it means to be solar. For solar design, we see this approach as creating a new lens for solar designers to draw from. For MTHD, we see this acting as a practical example for designers seeking to begin transforming themselves in their own practice by taking initial steps towards a MTHD approach.

Reducing airport environmental footprint using a disruption-aware stand assignment approach

Modern airport management is challenged by the task of operating aircraft parking positions most efficiently while complying with environmental policies, restrictions, schedule disruptions, and capacity limitations. This study proposes a novel framework for the stand allocation problem that uses a divide-and-conquer approach in combination with Bayesian modelling, simulation, and optimisation to produce less-pollutant solutions under realistic conditions. The framework presents three innovative aspects. First, inputs from the stochastic analysis module are used in a multivariate optimisation for generating variability-robust solutions. Second, a combination of optimisation and simulation is used to finely explore the impact of realistic uncertainty uncaptured by the framework. Lastly, the framework considers the role of human beings as the final control of operational conditions. A case study is presented as a proof of concept and demonstrates results achievable and benefits of the framework proposed. The experimental results demonstrate that the framework generates less-pollutant solutions under realistic conditions.

Analysing capacity challenges in the Multi-Airport System of Mexico City

The relentless growth in Mexico City’s aviation traffic has inevitably strained capacity development of its airport, raising thedilemma between the possible solutions. In the present study, Mexico’s Multi-Airport System is subjected to analysis by meansof multi-model simulation, focusing on the capacity-demand problem of the system. The methodology combines phases ofmodelling, data collection, simulation, experimental design, and analysis. Drawing a distinction from previous works involvingtwo-airport systems. It also explores the challenges raised by the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico City airport operations, with adiscrete-event simulation model of a multi-airport system composed by three airports (MEX, TLC, and the new airport NLU).The study is including the latest data of flights, infrastructures, and layout collected in 2021. Therefore, the paper aims toanswer to the question of whether the system will be able to cope with the expected demand in a short-, medium-, and longtermby simulating three future scenarios based on aviation forecasts. The study reveals potential limitations of the system astime evolves and the feasibility of a joint operation to absorb the demand in such a big region like Mexico City.

Estados Unidos audita la seguridad de los cielos mexicanos

El abismo de las redes sociales

¿Quién hace la crítica de las redes? ¿Quién habla de las infraestructuras de la redes? Se pregunta Geert Lovink, uno de los teóricos del internet contemporáneos más puntuales. A diario, millones de usuarios actualizan sus timelines, actualizan fotos, documentan su bienestar o malestar y lo comparten en sus redes sociales. Somos usuarios tentados a no abandonar nunca estos espacios, aunque en el fondo reneguemos de la lógica absorbente de dichas redes. ¿Qué necesitamos para librar esta batalla con la imperante necesidad de actualizarnos o declararnos activistas en la red en épocas de flujo perpetuo ? Esa misma red que también implica lógicas de vigilancia, mercado y control. Este libro reúne una serie de ensayos telúricos que nos lleva a pensar en el trabajo, la economía, las redes organizadas, los algoritmos, la vigilancia y la urgente necesidad de construir redes sostenibles para el intercambio de ideas y que no sean no únicamente espacios marcados por los intereses de unos cuantos.

Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: impact and possible policy responses

This study addresses the complex phenomenon of overtourism in the EU. By focusing on a set of case studies, the study reports on overtourism indicators, discusses management approaches implemented within different destinations and assesses policy responses. It concludes that a common set of indicators cannot be defined because of the complex causes and effects of overtourism. Avoiding overtourism requires custom-made policies in cooperation between destinations' stakeholders and policymakers